Biochanin A as an α-hemolysin inhibitor for combating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a multidrug-resistant pathogen that poses a significant risk to global health today. In S. aureus, α-hemolysin is an important virulence factor as it contributes to the capacity of the bacteria to infect the host. Here, we showed that biochanin A (bioA), an isoflavone present in red clover, cabbage and alfalfa, effectively inhibited hemolytic activity at a dose as low as 32 μg/mL. Further, western blot and RT-qPCR data showed that bioA reduced the production and expression of MRSA hemolysin in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, when different concentrations of bioA were added to a coculture system of A549 cells and S. aureus, it could significantly decrease cell injury. Importantly, the in vivo study showed that bioA could protect mice from pneumonia caused by a lethal dose of MRSA, as evidenced by improving their survival and reducing the number of bacterial colonies in lung tissues, the secretion of hemolysin into alveolar lavage fluid and the degree of pulmonary edema. In conclusion, biochanin A protected the host from MRSA infection by inhibiting the expression of the hemolysin of MRSA, which may provide experimental evidence for its development to a potential anti-MRSA drug.

• Authors: Jiaxuan Feng, Dazhong Sun, Li Wang, Xueting Li, Jiyu Guan, Lin Wei, Donghui Yue, Xingye Wang, Yicheng Zhao, Haimiao Yang, Wu Song, Bingmei Wang
• Journal: World journal of microbiology & biotechnology (World J Microbiol Biotechnol) Vol. 38 Issue 1 Pg. 6 (Nov 27 2021) ISSN: 1573-0972 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 34837116 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Bacterial Proteins
• Hemolysin Proteins
• Genistein
• biochanin A

Topics

• A549 Cells
• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Bacterial Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial (drug effects)
• Genistein (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Hemolysin Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Hemolysis (drug effects)
• Humans
• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (drug effects, genetics, pathogenicity)
• Mice
• Pneumonia (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Staphylococcal Infections (drug therapy, microbiology)