A biomedical perspective of pyocyanin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: its applications and challenges

AbstractPyocyanin is a bioactive pigment produced byPseudomonas aeruginosa. It is an important virulence factor that plays a critical role inP. aeruginosa infections as a redox-active secondary metabolite and a quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecule. Pyocyanin production from chorismic acid requires the involvement of two homologous operons,phz1 andphz2, which are activated by QS regulatory proteins. Pyocyanin inhibits the proliferation of bacterial, fungal, and mammalian cells by inducing oxidative stress due to which it acts as a potent antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer agent. Its potential role as a neuroprotectant needs further exploration. However, pyocyanin exacerbates the damaging effects of nosocomial infections caused byP. aeruginosa in immunocompromised individuals. Further, cystic fibrosis (CF)  patients are highly susceptible to persistentP. aeruginosa infections in the respiratory system. The bacterial cells form colonies and three interconnected QS networks —pqs, las, andrhl—get activated, thus stimulating the cells to produce pyocyanin which exacerbates pulmonary complications. As an opportunistic pathogen,P. aeruginosa produces pyocyanin to impede the recovery of injuries like burn wounds through its anti-proliferative activity. Moreover, pyocyanin plays a vital role in compoundingP. aeruginosa infections by promoting biofilm formation. This review begins with a brief description of the characteristics of pyocyanin, its activity, and the different...
Source: World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research