Vitamin E and K 1 as anti-quorum sensing agents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. - GreenMedInfo Summary

Today, anti-virulence compounds which attenuate bacterial pathogenicity and have no interference with bacterial viability or growth are introduced as next generation of antibacterial agents. However, the development of such compounds that can be used by humans is restricted by various factors, including the need for extensive economic investments, the inability of many molecules to penetrate the membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, or unfavorable pharmacological properties and cytotoxicity.Here, we take a new and different insight into two frequent supplements, vitamin E and K, as anti-quorum sensing agents against; one of the hazardous pathogens to human life responsible for several diseases. Both vitamins showed significant anti-biofilm activity (62% and 40.3% reduction by vitamin E and K, respectively) and the expression of virulence factors including pyocyanin, pyoverdine, and protease was significantly inhibited, especially in the presence of vitamin E. Co-treatment of constructed biofilms with these vitamins plus tobramycin significantly reduced the number of bacterial cells sheltered inside the impermeable matrix (71.6% and 69% by a combination of tobramycin and vitamin E or K, respectively). Thestudies besides the similarities of chemical structures, reinforce the possibility that both vitamins act through inhibition of the PqsR protein.This is the first report about the anti-virulent and anti-pathogenic activity of vitamin E and Kagainstand confirms their potential for further research against other multi-drug resistant bacteria.