Gallium(III) nitrate inhibits pathogenic Vibrio splendidus vs by interfering with the iron uptake pathway

Abstract

It is well known that iron is critical for bacterial growth and pathogenic virulence. Due to chemical similarity, Ga3+ competes with Fe3+ for binding to compounds that usually bind Fe3+, thereby interfering with various essential biological reactions. In our present study, gallium(III) nitrate [Ga(NO3)3] could repress the growth of V. splendidus Vs without complete inhibition. In the presence of Ga(NO3)3, the secretion of homogentisic acid-melanin (HGAmelanin) in V. splendidus Vs cells could be increased by 4.8-fold, compared to that in the absence of Ga(NO3)3. HGA-melanin possessed the ability to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+. In addition, HGA-melanin increased the mRNA levels of feoA and feoB, genes coding Fe2+ transport system proteins to 1.86- and 6.1-fold, respectively, and promoted bacterial growth to 139.2%. Similarly, the mRNA expression of feoA and feoB was upregulated 4.11-fold and 2.71-fold in the presence of 640 µM Ga(NO3)3, respectively. In conclusion, our study suggested that although Ga(NO3)3 could interfere with the growth of V. splendidus Vs, it could also stimulate both the production of Fe3+-reducing HGA-melanin and the expression of feoA and feoB, which facilitate Fe2+ transport in V. splendidus Vs.