title: Exploiting the antivirulence efficacy of an ajoene-ciprofloxacin combination against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm associated murine acute pyelonephritis.
abstract: The study investigated the in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo efficacy of ajoene and ciprofloxacin (CIP) alone and in combination against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms and biofilm-associated murine acute pyelonephritis. The ajoene-CIP combination exhibited significant greater (p < 0.05) antimotility and biofilm inhibitory effects than those obtained when they were applied individually. The combined action of the agents resulted in a significant increase in serum sensitivity and phagocytic uptake and killing of P. aeruginosa (p < 0.001) compared to the untreated control. Mice groups treated with an ajoene (25 mg kg(-1)) and CIP (30 mg kg(-1) or 15 mg kg(-1)) combination showed a significantly (p < 0.001) reduced bacterial load in the kidney and bladder as compared to that of infected controls and mice treated with solo agents on the fifth day post-infection. The decreased levels of biomarkers and photomicrographs of the kidney tissue of the treated mice showed a reduced severity of damage. Hence, the study highlights the antivirulent and therapeutic efficacy of the ajoene-CIP combination at the minimal dosage of CIP.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology , Panjab University , Chandigarh , India.
authors.forename: Anitha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vadekeetil
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology , Panjab University , Chandigarh , India.
authors.forename: Hina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saini
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology , Panjab University , Chandigarh , India.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chhibber
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology , Panjab University , Chandigarh , India.
authors.forename: Kusum
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harjai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004220:Disulfides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013454:Sulfoxides; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D013454:Sulfoxides; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; C048980:ajoene; D005980:Glutathione Reductase
keywords: Ajoene; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; biofilm-associated acute pyelonephritis; ciprofloxacin; combination treatment