The Effect of Dillapiole on Acinetobacter baumannii, a Gram-Negative Opportunistic Pathogen

Authors

  • Katherine E Phillips West Liberty University
  • Joseph Horzempa West Liberty University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55632/pwvas.v93i1.813

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii is an encapsulated, non-motile, gram-negative bacterium. A. baumannii has become an increasingly important hospital-acquired pathogen, specifically affecting immunocompromised individuals in intensive care units. This bacterium can cause several diseases, including bacteremia, pneumonia, wound infections, and urinary tract infections. A. baumannii has several virulence factors and can acquire antibiotic resistance genes, which have led to multidrug resistant (MDR) strains. Due to the increasing number of MDR A. baumannii strains, the development of new therapeutics is critical. The Horzempa Lab previously discovered that dillapiole, a natural product extracted from fennel, is effective in decreasing virulence factor expression in Francisella tularensis, a gram-negative bacterium. Dillapiole is structurally similar to acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs, a class of quorum-sensing molecules in gram-negative bacteria); quorum sensing is a process that regulates bacterial pathogenesis and biofilm production. The focus of current investigations is to determine if dillapiole decreases biofilm formation and virulence factor expression in A. baumannii.

Author Biographies

Katherine E Phillips, West Liberty University

Graduate Student

Department of Biological Sciences

Joseph Horzempa, West Liberty University

Associate Professor of BiologyChair of the Department of Biological SciencesCo-Program Director of the MA/MS in Biology

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Published

2021-04-01

How to Cite

Phillips, K. E., & Horzempa, J. (2021). The Effect of Dillapiole on Acinetobacter baumannii, a Gram-Negative Opportunistic Pathogen. Proceedings of the West Virginia Academy of Science, 93(1). https://doi.org/10.55632/pwvas.v93i1.813