Effects of boronic acids on the production of virulence factors by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The intercellular communication (Quorum sensing) in bacteria is based on using small diffusible signal molecules called as autoinducers to communicate with each other. Studies have shown that QS controls a large number of microbial processes, including the expression of virulence factors. The aim of this work is to investigate the potential inhibitory effect of boronic acid molecules on the production of virulence factors controlled by the intercellular communication system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this study, the effects of some boronic acid derivatives were investigated on the production of virulence factors (elastase and pyocyanin), biofilm formation and swarming motility in P. aeruginosa PA01. The results indicate that production of elastase and pyocyanin, the formation of biofilm and swarming motility were significantly reduced by 4-Bromofenilboronic acid. This study tends to support the potential inhibitory effects of boronic acid derivatives on the production of virulence factors in some pathogens such as P. aeruginosa