Scholarlink

<p><i>Leptospira interrogans</i>, the causative agent of leptospirosis, presents major challenges due to its ability to form environmental biofilms, persistent virulence, and emerging antimicrobial resistance. Plant-derived bioactive compounds offer promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics in targeting bacterial biofilms. This study investigates the antibiofilm and antimicrobial potential of quercetin, a plant-derived polyphenol, against <i>L. interrogans</i>. Quercetin significantly inhibited biofilm formation (91%), induced 44% biofilm dispersion at 500&#xa0;µg/mL, and reduced viable cell counts by 92% at 1000&#xa0;µg/mL compared to the untreated control. These effects were further validated using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), which demonstrated reduction in the live cells in the presence of quercetin. The expression levels of key genes associated with virulence and biofilm regulation were assessed using quantitative RT-PCR, revealing downregulation of <i>csrA</i> and upregulation of <i>lipL32</i> in quercetin-treated cells. Potential molecular interactions between several leptospiral proteins and quercetin were proven through AutoDock Vina and PyMOL. These findings highlight quercetin’s potential as an anti-leptospiral agent for managing leptospiral biofilm formation and dispersions.</p> Graphical abstract <p><Table Float="No" ID="Taba"> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec align="left" colname="c1" colnum="1" /> <colspec align="left" colname="c2" colnum="2" /> <tbody> <row> <entry align="left" nameend="c2" namest="c1"> <p><b>Highlights</b></p> <p>• Quercetin inhibits the growth and biofilm formation of <i>Leptospira interrogans</i>.</p> <p>• Quercetin disrupts the biofilm integrity and reduces leptospiral colonization.</p> <p>• Quercetin treatment modulates the expression profiles of key biofilm-associated genes.</p> <p>• Our findings highlight quercetin’s potential as an antibiofilm and anti-leptospiral agent.</p> </entry> </row> </tbody> </tgroup> </Table></p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Exploring the impact of quercetin on the growth and biofilm formation of Leptospira interrogans

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月23日

查看全文
  • Elumalai Rajalakshmi,
  • Evangeline Seles J. L.,
  • Anandkumar Balakrishnan,
  • Kakithakara Vajravelu Leela,
  • Mohandass Ramya

摘要

Leptospira interrogans, the causative agent of leptospirosis, presents major challenges due to its ability to form environmental biofilms, persistent virulence, and emerging antimicrobial resistance. Plant-derived bioactive compounds offer promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics in targeting bacterial biofilms. This study investigates the antibiofilm and antimicrobial potential of quercetin, a plant-derived polyphenol, against L. interrogans. Quercetin significantly inhibited biofilm formation (91%), induced 44% biofilm dispersion at 500 µg/mL, and reduced viable cell counts by 92% at 1000 µg/mL compared to the untreated control. These effects were further validated using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), which demonstrated reduction in the live cells in the presence of quercetin. The expression levels of key genes associated with virulence and biofilm regulation were assessed using quantitative RT-PCR, revealing downregulation of csrA and upregulation of lipL32 in quercetin-treated cells. Potential molecular interactions between several leptospiral proteins and quercetin were proven through AutoDock Vina and PyMOL. These findings highlight quercetin’s potential as an anti-leptospiral agent for managing leptospiral biofilm formation and dispersions.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

• Quercetin inhibits the growth and biofilm formation of Leptospira interrogans.

• Quercetin disrupts the biofilm integrity and reduces leptospiral colonization.

• Quercetin treatment modulates the expression profiles of key biofilm-associated genes.

• Our findings highlight quercetin’s potential as an antibiofilm and anti-leptospiral agent.