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Identification of echinacoside as a tobramycin potentiator against Pseudomonas aeruginosa aggregates

Cai, Y.-M.; Crabbe, A.; Coenye, T.

2024-02-09 microbiology
10.1101/2024.02.09.579617 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is a central biofilm regulator, where increased intracellular levels promote biofilm formation and antibiotic tolerance. Targeting the c-di-GMP network is a promising anti-biofilm approach. Most agents reported previously decreased c-di-GMP to eliminate surface-attached biofilms, which did not recapitulate in vivo biofilms well and may thus impede their clinical impact. Here, the expression profile of genes encoding proteins associated with c-di-GMP metabolism was analysed among 32 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains grown as suspended aggregates in synthetic sputum or planktonic cells. A diguanylate cyclase, SiaD, proved essential for auto-aggregation under in vivo-like conditions. Virtual screening against SiaD identified echinacoside as an inhibitor, which reduced intracellular c-di-GMP levels and aggregate sizes and potentiated the efficacy of tobramycin against aggregates established by >80% of tested strains. This synergistic effect was also observed for in vivo-like 3-D alveolar cells infected by cytotoxic P. aeruginosa, demonstrating its high potential as an adjunctive therapy for recalcitrant P. aeruginosa infections.

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