Quorum Sensing and Some Promising Virulence Inhibitors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium frequently found in clinical specimens of hospitalized patients, mainly those with suppressed immune systems. It is one of the topmost ubiquitous nosocomial pathogens in humans and is considered life-threatening. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the chief causative agent of pneumonia, urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, burns infections and infections in immunosuppressed patients. Pyocyanin, pyoverdin, exotoxin-A, rhamnolipids, and protease enzymes are only a few of the virulence factors produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa that contribute to its pathogenesis. Long-term treatment of antimicrobial agents resulted in the development of multi-drug resistant strains, which are highly complicated to be treated. Therefore, there is a great interest in discovering innovative strategies for managing MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Quorum sensing inhibitors offer a substitutional policy to combat microbial infections. This policy depends on disarming microbial pathogens by attenuating virulence factors production regulated by quorum sensing and eliminating the pathogen's capacity to harm the host. It is anticipated that quorum sensing inhibitors could be valuable in treating infections caused by MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa by acting as adjuvants or alternatives to conventional antibiotics. The strategy of finding quorum sensing inhibitors is beginning to produce promising outcomes.