Myricetin protects Galleria mellonella against Staphylococcus aureus infection and inhibits multiple virulence factors

L Nogueira-Silva, G. C.A. Da Hora, Goncalo Teofilo Afonso Pinheiro Soares, M. S. Bojer, H. Ingmer, A. J. Macedo*, D. S. Trentin

*Corresponding author for this work
51 Citations (Scopus)
335 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen related to a variety of life-threatening infections but for which antimicrobial resistance is liming the treatment options. We report here that myricetin, but not its glycosylated form, can remarkably decrease the production of several S. aureus virulence factors, including adhesion, biofilm formation, hemolysis and staphyloxanthin production, without interfering with growth. Myricetin affects both surface proteins and secreted proteins which indicate that its action is unrelated to inhibition of the agr quorum sensing system. Analysis of virulence related gene expression and computational simulations of pivotal proteins involved in pathogenesis demonstrate that myricetin downregulates the saeR global regulator and interacts with sortase A and α-hemolysin. Furthermore, Myr confers a significant degree of protection against staphylococcal infection in the Galleria mellonella model. The present findings reveal the potential of Myr as an alternative multi-target antivirulence candidate to control S. aureus pathogenicity.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2823
JournalScientific Reports
Volume7
Number of pages16
ISSN2045-2322
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

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