Skip Navigation


JAC Advance Access originally published online on January 16, 2004
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
53/2/240    most recent
dkh079v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (8)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Minahk, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Morero, R. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Minahk, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Morero, R. D.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?


Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (2004) 53, 240-246
© 2004 The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

Enhancement of antibiotic activity by sub-lethal concentrations of enterocin CRL35

Carlos J. Minahk, Fernando Dupuy and Roberto D. Morero*

Departamento de Bioquímica de la Nutrición, Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas—Universidad Nacional de Tucumán), and Instituto de Química Biológica ‘Dr. Bernabé Bloj’, Chacabuco 461, 4000 San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina

Received 8 September 2003; returned 10 October 2003; revised 6 November 2003; accepted 17 November 2003

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction of several conventional antibiotics with sub-lethal concentrations of enterocin CRL35, a cationic peptide, on Listeria innocua 7.

Methods: Susceptibility of L. innocua 7 cells to the combination of enterocin CRL35 and non-peptide antibiotics (cefalexin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin and tetracycline) was assayed using the broth dilution method and killing curves. Fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index was calculated to assess synergy. The transmembrane electrical potential and pH gradient were determined by specific fluorescent probes.

Results: We found positive interactions between the cationic peptide and three conventional antibiotics (tetracycline, erythromycin and chloramphenicol) which are excluded from the cells by efflux pumps dependent on the membrane proton gradient. Furthermore, enterocin CRL35 even at sub-lethal concentrations induced the dissipation of both components of the proton motive force ({Delta}p), i.e. transmembrane electrical potential and pH gradient and hence the alteration of processes dependent on it.

Conclusion: We hypothesize that enterocin CRL35 increases the effectiveness of these antibiotics by impairment of the bacterial active efflux systems and the consequent accumulation of these toxic compounds in the cytoplasm.

Keywords: antibiotic, cationic peptides, bacteriocins, multidrug efflux

* Corresponding author. Fax: +54-381-4248025; E-mail: rdmore{at}unt.edu.ar


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Appl. Environ. Microbiol.Home page
J. Rihakova, V. W. Petit, K. Demnerova, H. Prevost, S. Rebuffat, and D. Drider
Insights into Structure-Activity Relationships in the C-Terminal Region of Divercin V41, a Class IIa Bacteriocin with High-Level Antilisterial Activity
Appl. Envir. Microbiol., April 1, 2009; 75(7): 1811 - 1819.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Antimicrob ChemotherHome page
E. Salvucci, L. Saavedra, and F. Sesma
Short peptides derived from the NH2-terminus of subclass IIa bacteriocin enterocin CRL35 show antimicrobial activity
J. Antimicrob. Chemother., June 1, 2007; 59(6): 1102 - 1108.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.Home page
L. Saavedra, C. Minahk, A. P. de Ruiz Holgado, and F. Sesma
Enhancement of the Enterocin CRL35 Activity by a Synthetic Peptide Derived from the NH2-Terminal Sequence
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., July 1, 2004; 48(7): 2778 - 2781.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.