Can the quorum sensing inhibitor resveratrol function as an aminoglycoside antibiotic accelerant against Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is a serious disease in cystic fibrosis patients and is difficult to treat owing to biofilm persistence and emerging multidrug resistance. Considering the essential role of quorum sensing (QS) in P. aeruginosa infections, the enhanced effects between the quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI) resveratrol and several antibiotics against P. aeruginosa PAO1 were investigated. Crystal violet staining assay revealed that biofilms of P. aeruginosa PAO1 grown in the presence of resveratrol were more susceptible to aminoglycoside antibiotics. Scanning electron and fluorescence microscopy showed architectural disruption of the biofilms when treated with resveratrol and aminoglycoside antibiotics. Furthermore, quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis demonstrated that expression of lasI and rhlI, two genes encoding enzymes that synthesise signal molecules in QS systems, were inhibited in the P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms by resveratrol. These results indicate that the QSI resveratrol can significantly enhance the effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics (e.g. tobramycin, gentamicin, amikacin and netilmicin) on P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms. These findings suggest that resveratrol is a potential accelerant in the treatment of P. aeruginosa biofilms and can restore or enhance the efficacy of aminoglycoside antibiotics.