An overview of potential algae-derived bioactive compounds against urease-positive microorganisms

Urease (EC 3.5.1.5) is a virulence factor found in various microorganisms, including Helicobacter pylori, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. As a nickel-containing enzyme, urease plays the most significant role in the colonization and maintenance of microorganisms in host organisms, making it a potential target for the treatment of resistant urease-positive infections. Notably, urease positive pathogens pose significant public health concerns due to their association with gastric ulcers, gastritis, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and other diseases. This review focuses on exploring ureases' structure and catalytic properties, with a special emphasis on H. pylori. Moreover, the other virulence factors of H. pylori, including flagella, outer membrane proteins, accessory proteins, cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA), and vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA), are discussed. Also, the adaptive mechanism of H. pylori, relying on urease to survive the acidic gastric environment, is explored, along with the detrimental effects of ammonium on gastric epithelial cells produced by urease. Urease inhibitors have garnered interest as potential therapeutic agents to reduce the complications of urease-positive microorganisms. In this context, natural bioactive compounds gain interest in developing alternative therapeutic strategies. Algae are rich in several biochemical compounds with various biological attributes, particularly antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Numerous studies have explored to identify the novel perspective anti-H. pylori agents from different algae species. This review also provides insights into the potential of algal bioactive compounds as effective agents against urease-positive infections. The significance of exploring new therapeutic strategies to address H. pylori-induced diseases is highlighted, considering the emergence of antibiotic resistance and the need for improved therapeutic approaches.