Sains Malaysiana 55(9)(2026): 1454-1461

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5509-04

 

Growth Inhibition Underlies the Suppression of QseBC-Regulated Virulence by Trace Amines and Dopamine

(Perencatan Pertumbuhan Mendasari Penindasan Virulens yang Dikawal QseBC oleh Surih Amina dan Dopamin)

 

ARIF LUQMAN1, RUBEN AMIAN RUIZ2, FRIEDRICH GÖTZ2 & MAYA SHOVITRI1,*

 

1Department of Biology, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, 60111 Surabaya, Indonesia

2Microbial Genetics, University of Tübingen, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz, Auf der Morgenstelle, 72076 Tübingen, Germany

 

Received: 8 December 2025/Accepted: 18 August 2026

 

*Corresponding author; email: mshovitri@its.ac.id

 

Abstract

Trace amines (TAs) and dopamine are neuroactive compounds that can interact with bacterial adrenergic receptors like QseC, a membrane-bound sensor histidine kinase. QseC is the core sensing component of the QseBC two-component system, which regulates virulence gene expression in Gram-negative pathogens via quorum sensing. This study investigated whether TAs (tryptamine, phenethylamine, tyramine) and dopamine act as specific QseBC modulators or exert indirect effects via growth inhibition in Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, and Vibrio cholerae O1. Our results show that at high concentrations (≥ 50-250 µg/mL), these compounds significantly inhibited bacterial motility and modestly downregulated QseBC-regulated virulence genes (eae, ler, sipA, sopB) and Shiga toxin production. However, these effects were concurrent with a pronounced, concentration-dependent growth inhibition. While dopamine exhibited iron-chelating activity in the CAS assay, this did not mitigate its growth-suppressive effect. In conclusion, the anti-virulence effects of TAs and dopamine are secondary consequences of a general antibacterial activity that compromises cellular fitness, rather than a result of specific QseBC antagonism.

Keywords: Bacterial virulence; dopamine; growth inhibition; QseBC; trace amines

 

Abstrak

Surih amina (TA) dan dopamin adalah sebatian neuroaktif yang boleh berinteraksi dengan reseptor adrenergik bakteria seperti QseC, yang merupakan histidin kinase sensor yang terikat membran. QseC adalah komponen pengesanan teras sistem dua komponen QseBC yang mengawal selia pengekspresan gen virulens dalam patogen Gram-negatif melalui pengesanan kuorum. Penyelidikan ini mengkaji sama ada TA (triptamina, fenetilamina, tiramina) dan dopamin bertindak sebagai modulator QseBC khusus atau memberikan kesan tidak langsung melalui perencatan pertumbuhan dalam Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, dan Vibrio cholerae O1. Hasil menunjukkan bahawa pada kepekatan tinggi (≥ 50-250 µg/mL), sebatian ini menghalang motiliti bakteria dengan ketara serta menurunkan pengekspresan gen virulens yang dikawal selia oleh QseBC (eae, ler, sipA, sopB) dan penghasilan toksin Shiga. Walau bagaimanapun, kesan ini serentak dengan perencatan pertumbuhan yang ketara dan bergantung kepada kepekatan. Walaupun dopamin menunjukkan aktiviti pengkelat zat besi dalam ujian CAS, ini tidak mengurangkan kesan penindasan pertumbuhannya. Kesimpulannya, kesan anti-virulens TA dan dopamin adalah akibat sekunder daripada aktiviti antibakteria umum yang menjejaskan kecergasan sel dan bukannya hasil daripada antagonisme QseBC tertentu.

Kata kunci: Dopamin; kevirulenan bakteria; perencatan pertumbuhan; QseBC; surih amina

 

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