Heterologous expression of human paraoxonases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa inhibits biofilm formation and decreases antibiotic resistance

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2009 May;83(1):135-41. doi: 10.1007/s00253-009-1890-2. Epub 2009 Feb 10.

Abstract

Quorum sensing (QS) regulates virulence and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other medically relevant bacteria. Human paraoxonases (hPONs) are a family of closely related enzymes with multiple functions, including inactivation of the QS signal molecule in P. aeruginosa. However, there is no direct evidence to show the functions of hPONs on biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa. In the present study, hPONs (hPON1, hPON2, and hPON3) genes were respectively cloned into the pMEKm12 shuttle vector and transformed into P. aeruginosa strain PAO1. Expression of the three recombinant proteins was confirmed by Western blotting, and growth of the recombinant strains was not affected by the hPONs gene expression. Biofilm formation and antibiotics resistance of the hPONs recombinant strains were analyzed. Our results showed that biofilm formation was significantly inhibited in all of the three hPONs recombinant strains. Interestingly, this inhibition can be reverted by addition of the corresponding hPONs polyclonal antibodies in the culture media, further indicating that the inhibition of biofilm formation was due to hPONs protein expression. In addition, we also demonstrated that hPONs expression decreased resistance of P. aeruginosa to gentamicin and ceftazidima, two antibiotics clinically used for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Aryldialkylphosphatase / biosynthesis
  • Aryldialkylphosphatase / genetics*
  • Biofilms / growth & development*
  • Ceftazidime / pharmacology
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial*
  • Gene Expression*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Gentamicins / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / enzymology*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Transformation, Genetic

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Gentamicins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ceftazidime
  • Aryldialkylphosphatase