Urolithins, ellagitannin metabolites produced by colon microbiota, inhibit Quorum Sensing in Yersinia enterocolitica: Phenotypic response and associated molecular changes

• Published in: Food chemistry 2012-06, Vol.132 (3), p.1465-1474
• Main Authors: Giménez-Bastida, J.A., Truchado, P., Larrosa, M., Espín, J.C., Tomás-Barberán, F.A., Allende, A., García-Conesa, M.T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biofilms; Biological and medical sciences; Cell–cell communication; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; LC–MS/MS spectrometry; Microbial infection; N-Acylhomoserine lactones; Plant polyphenols; Quorum Quenching; Yersinia enterocolitica
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.12.003

► Urolithins inhibit QS associated processes in Yersinia enterocolitica. ► Urolithins reduce the levels of C6-HSL and 3-oxo-C6-HSL in Y. enterocolitica. ► Urolithins do not downregulate the expression of yenI or yenR. ► Exposure to urolithins is associated to an induction of motility genes. ► Urolithins may contribute to ameliorate the inflammatory response to enteropathogens. The mammalian enteropathogen Yersinia enterocolitica produces two main N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) involved in Quorum Sensing (QS)-mediated infection processes, such as virulence, biofilm maturation and motility. Ellagitannin (ET)-rich fruits exhibit anti-QS activity but in vivo effects against intestinal pathogens may be associated to the ETs gut microbiota derived metabolites, urolithin-A (Uro-A) and urolithin-B (Uro-B). In this work we show that urolithins, at concentrations achievable in the intestine through the diet, reduce the levels of N-hexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL) and N-(3-oxo-hexanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C6-HSL) in Y. enterocolitica and inhibit QS-associated biofilm maturation and swimming motility. These inhibitory effects were not associated to downregulation of the expression of some of the genes involved in the synthesis of AHLs (yenI and yenR) or in motility (flhDC, fliA, fleB). Our results suggest that urolithins may exert antipathogenic effects in the gut against Y. enterocolitica and highlight the need to investigate the antipathogenic in vivo properties of plant derived metabolites.