Genistein Inhibits the Pathogenesis of Aeromonas hydrophila by Disrupting Quorum Sensing Mediated Biofilm Formation and Aerolysin Production.

Jing Dong,Yongtao Liu,Yibin Yang,Shun Zhou,Ning Xu,Jianrong Li,Defu Zhang,Qiuhong Yang,Xiaohui Ai

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.753581

Jing Dong, Yongtao Liu + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.753581

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Abstract

Aeromonas hydrophila is an opportunistic pathogen that is responsible for a variety of infectious diseases both in human and animals, particularly aquatic animals. Moreover, the pathogen has become a foodborne pathogen by transmitting from seafood to human. The abuse of antibiotics in aquaculture results in the emergence of antibiotic resistance and treatment failure. Therefore, novel approaches are urgently needed for managing resistant A. hydrophila associated infections. Aerolysin, an essential virulence factor of pathogenic A. hydrophila strain, has been identified as target developing novel drugs against pathogenesis of A. hydrophila. In the present study, genistein, without anti-A. hydrophila activity, was identified that could decrease the production of aerolysin and biofilm formation at a dose-dependent manner. Transcription of aerolysin encoding gene aerA and quorum sensing related genes ahyI and ahyR was significantly down-regulated when co-cultured with genistein. Cell viability studies demonstrated that genistein could significantly improve aerolysin mediated A549 cell injury. Furthermore, genistein could provide a remarkable protection to channel catfish infected with A. hydrophila. These findings indicate that targeting quorum sensing and virulence can be a useful approach developing drugs against A. hydrophila infections in aquaculture. Moreover, genistein can be chosen as a promising candidate in developing drugs against A. hydrophila.

Highlights

Aquatic products have become one of the major sources of high quality proteins for human, playing critical role in global food security, in developing countries
The MIC of genistein against A. hydrophila XS-91-41 was higher than 512 μg/ml, while 4 μg/ml for enrofloxacin when determined by micro-dilution method
The results revealed that genistein could reduce the hemolytic activity of bacterial supernatants when co-cultured with A. hydrophila at no-inhibitory concentrations by decreasing the production of aerolysin

Summary

Introduction

Aquatic products have become one of the major sources of high quality proteins for human, playing critical role in global food security, in developing countries. China has become the largest producer and exporter of aquatic products all over the world since 2015 (Mo et al, 2018). Diseases caused by bacterial pathogens threatened the healthy development of aquaculture industry and safety of aquatic products. Controlling of bacterial infection in aquaculture can reduce the mortality of cultured fish, but decrease the risks of foodborne infection. Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila), the leading cause of bacterial infections in freshwater aquaculture, is widely distributed in nature, particular aquatic environments (Velazquez et al, 2001). The bacterium is responsible for a number of diseases in aquatic animals, such as hemorrhagic septicemia, exophthalmia and dropsy (Patel et al, 2017).

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