earticle

영어

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common Gram-negative bacterium found in nosocomial and life-threatening infections of cystic fibrosis patients. The virulence of the human pathogen P. aeruginosa depends on a large number of extracellular factors and biofilm formation that is associated with persistent infection due to their antibiotic resistance. Since silver nanoparticle has been widely used, thirty-five non-toxic metal ions were initially screened to identify zinc ion (ZnCl) as novel anti-biofilm and anti-virulence metal. Then, it was found that ZnO nanoparticle significantly inhibits biofilm formation, toxin production such as 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone, pyochelin, pyocyanin production, and hemolytic activity of P. aeruginosa, while ZnO nanoparticle increased swarming motility of P. aeruginosa. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that ZnO nanoparticle repressed expression of phenazine and pyochelin synthesis genes and hemolytic phospholipase genes in P. aeruginosa. Therefore, ZnO nanoparticle is a potential candidate for use in an antivirulence approach against persistent P. aeruginosa infection.