Marine-Source Quorum Quenching Enzyme YtnP to Improve Hygiene Quality in Dental Units

Abstract

Biofilm in dental unit water lines may pose a health risk to patients and dental practitioners. An AdiC-like quorum quenching enzyme, YtnP, was cloned from a deep-sea probiotic Bacillus velezensis, and heterologously expressed in E. coli to examine the application on the improvement of hygiene problems caused by biofilm infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in dental units. Pseudomonas bacteria were isolated from dental chair units and used to grow static biofilms in the laboratory. A water filter system was designed to test the antifouling activity of YtnP in Laboratory, to simulate the biofilm contamination on water filter in dental unit water lines. The results demonstrated that the enzyme of YtnP was able to degrade the N-acyl homoserine lactones, significantly inhibited the EPS generation, biofilm formation, and virulence factors production (pyocyanin and rhamnolipid) of P. aeruginosa, and was efficient on the antifouling against P. aeruginosa. The findings in this study indicated the possibility of YtnP as novel disinfectant reagent for hygiene treatment in dental units.

The Anti-Viral Applications of Marine Resources for COVID-19 Treatment: An Overview

“…These marine metabolites are thought to be promising leads for inhibition of the main protease, which plays an important role in the life cycle of the virus. Similarly, Gentile et al identified seventeen potential M pro inhibitors from the class phlorotannins isolated from Sargassum spinuligerum brown algea [ 30 ]. Docking energies ranged from −14.6 to −10.7 kcal/mol and the compounds interacted with M pro through extensive hydrogen bonding as well as hydrophobic interactions.…”

“…Docking energies ranged from −14.6 to −10.7 kcal/mol and the compounds interacted with M pro through extensive hydrogen bonding as well as hydrophobic interactions. In addition, the Sars-Cov-2 RNA polymerase along with nsp7/8 are required for the RNA replication and viral protein synthesis [ 30 ]. Remdesivir is a known inhibitor of the RNA dependent-RNA polymerase, and three marine Scleractinia metabolites were found to bind the polymerase in the same position as Remdesivir [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 30 ].…”

“…In addition, the Sars-Cov-2 RNA polymerase along with nsp7/8 are required for the RNA replication and viral protein synthesis [ 30 ]. Remdesivir is a known inhibitor of the RNA dependent-RNA polymerase, and three marine Scleractinia metabolites were found to bind the polymerase in the same position as Remdesivir [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 30 ]. This finding suggests that these marine metabolites are promising leads for the inhibition of viral replication and thus, treatment of COVID-19.…”

“…Some marine compounds that do share similar mechanisms of action with other known approved drugs have shown to be more potent. As discussed above, PCBs and sulfated polysaccharides have shown to bind and inhibit RdRp with higher affinity than current standard therapy Remdesivir [ 27 , 30 ]. Furthermore, each marine compound serves not one single role, rather multiple roles proving valuable for different applications.…”

“…M pro is a crucial protein enzyme of the virus and has a critical role in mediating the replication and transcription of the viral particles, making it a potential drug target against the virus [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. As depicted by Figure 1 , several marine metabolites such as phycocyanbillins were found to bind to RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) with equivalent or higher potency than Remdesivir, making them advantageous over standard therapy [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Notably, marine organisms are not limited in the production of only one compound.…”