Alterations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factors following Maoto treatment

Abstract

In healthy individuals, Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is less toxic and rarely causes symptoms. However, it often causes opportunistic infections in immunocompromised hosts. P. aeruginosa infection routes may be exogenous (from contaminated catheters) or endogenous (involving infiltration of P. aeruginosa from the intestinal niche into the blood). P. aeruginosa also has several pathogenic factors that can facilitate evasion from the host immune system. Maoto, a herbal medicine, is reported to exert anti-influenza virus effects; however, the effects of Maoto on P. aeruginosa infection is unknown. In this study, we examined in vitro the effects of Maoto on the growth rate, biofilm formation, and protease-producing abilities of P. aeruginosa strain PAO1, as well as its swarming, swimming, and twitching motility and capacity of invading Caco-2 cells. PAO1 showed a significantly suppressed growth rate at 4 and 8 h after Maoto treatment, but showed no suppression after 18 h. The swarming motility was 61%, the total protease was 15%, and the cell invasion ability was significantly suppressed. These changes were accompanied by a significant reduction in the cellular invasive capacity of P. aeruginosa.