10.3389/fcimb.2021.718213 Cysteamine inhibits glycine utilisation and disrupts virulence in pseudomonas aeruginosa. [Dataset] Fraser-Pitt, Douglas J. Douglas J. Fraser-Pitt Dolan, Stephen K. Stephen K. Dolan Toledo-Aparicio, David David Toledo-Aparicio Hunt, Jessica G. Jessica G. Hunt Smith, Daniel W. Daniel W. Smith Lacy-Roberts, Niamh Niamh Lacy-Roberts Nupe Hewage, Piumi Sara Piumi Sara Nupe Hewage Stoyanova, Teodora N. Teodora N. Stoyanova Manson, Erin Erin Manson McClean, Kevin Kevin McClean Inglis, Neil F. Neil F. Inglis Mercer, Derry K. Derry K. Mercer O'Neil, Deborah A. Deborah A. O'Neil Unknown 2021 Virulence; Biofilm; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Novel therapeutic; Glycine cleavage complex 2021-07-07 Dataset Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major opportunistic human pathogen which employs a myriad of virulence factors. In people with cystic fibrosis (CF) P. aeruginosa frequently colonises the lungs and becomes a chronic infection that evolves to become less virulent over time, but often adapts to favour persistence in the host with alginate-producing mucoid, slow-growing, and antibiotic resistant phenotypes emerging. Cysteamine is an endogenous aminothiol which has been shown to prevent biofilm formation, reduce phenazine production, and potentiate antibiotic activity against P. aeruginosa, and has been investigated in clinical trials as an adjunct therapy for pulmonary exacerbations of CF. Here we demonstrate (for the first time in a prokaryote) that cysteamine prevents glycine utilisation by P. aeruginosa in common with reported activity blocking the glycine cleavage system in human cells. Despite the inhibition of glycine metabolism, cysteamine inhibits hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production by P. aeruginosa, implicating interference in the regulation of virulence. Cysteamine impaired chemotaxis and reductions in pyocyanin and exopolysaccharide production in cysteamine-treated P. aeruginosa and reduced toxicity of secreted factors in a Galleria mellonella model. Thus, cysteamine has additional potent anti-virulence properties targeting P. aeruginosa, further supporting its therapeutic potential in CF and other infections.