Background: Quorum sensing inhibitionis an advanced strategy that aims to interfere with bacterial cell-to-cell communication systems (quorum sensing), which regulate virulence factors production in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in order to overcome the globalcrisis of antimicrobial resistance.
Objectives: Study the potential quorum sensing inhibitory effect of Zinc oxide (ZnO)nanoparticlesin
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the impact on production of virulence factors.
Methods: Quorum sensing inhibitory effect of ZnO was evaluated by assessing its ability to reducePseudomonas aeruginosa
virulence factors production; rhamnolipids, pyocyanin, pyoverdin, hemolysins, elastase and proteases. Furthermore, qRT-PCR
was performed to determine ZnO inhibitory effect onQS-regulatory geneslasI, lasR,rhlI, rhlR, pqsA and pqsR that control
virulence factors secretion. Moreover, mice survival test was conducted to investigate the influence of ZnO on Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced mortality in vivo.
Results: ZnO revealed a statistically significant reduction in the production of QS-controlled virulence factors rhamnolipids,
pyocyanin, pyoverdin, hemolysins, elastase and proteases. Furthermore, ZnO exhibited a significant decrease in the relative expression of QS-regulatory geneslasI, lasR,rhlI, rhlR,pqsA and pqsR. Additionally, ZnO significantly reduced the pathogenesis
of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivo
Conclusion: ZnO nanoparticles can be used as a quorum sensing inhibitor in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections either as an adjuvant or alternative to conventional antimicrobials.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.28
Cite as: Saleh MM, Sadeq RA, Abdel Latif HK, Abbas HA, Askoura M. Zinc oxide nanoparticles inhibits quorum sensing and virulence in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Afri Health Sci.2019;19(2): 2043-2055. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.28 
