Membrane disruption by antimicrobial fatty acids releases low-molecular-weight proteins from Staphylococcus aureus.
AuthorsParsons JB, Yao J, Frank MW, Jackson P, Rock CO,
JournalJ Bacteriol
PubMed ID22843840
The skin represents an important barrier for pathogens and is known to produce fatty acids that are toxic toward gram-positive bacteria. A screen of fatty acids as growth inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus revealed structure-specific antibacterial activity. Fatty acids like oleate (18:1?9) were nontoxic, whereas palmitoleate (16:1?9) was a potent growth ... More
Comparative analysis of antimicrobial activities of valinomycin and cereulide, the Bacillus cereus emetic toxin.
AuthorsTempelaars MH, Rodrigues S, Abee T,
JournalAppl Environ Microbiol
PubMed ID21357430
'Cereulide and valinomycin are highly similar cyclic dodecadepsipeptides with potassium ionophoric properties. Cereulide, produced by members of the Bacillus cereus group, is known mostly as emetic toxin, and no ecological function has been assigned. A comparative analysis of the antimicrobial activity of valinomycin produced by Streptomyces spp. and cereulide was ... More
Two heme-dependent terminal oxidases power Staphylococcus aureus organ-specific colonization of the vertebrate host.
AuthorsHammer ND, Reniere ML, Cassat JE, Zhang Y, Hirsch AO, Indriati Hood M, Skaar EP,
Journal
PubMed ID23900169
'Staphylococcus aureus is a significant cause of infections worldwide and is able to utilize aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, or fermentation as the means by which it generates the energy needed for proliferation. Aerobic respiration is supported by heme-dependent terminal oxidases that catalyze the final step of aerobic respiration, the reduction ... More
The biocide chlorine dioxide stimulates biofilm formation in Bacillus subtilis by activation of the histidine kinase KinC.
AuthorsShemesh M, Kolter R, Losick R,
JournalJ Bacteriol
PubMed ID20971918
'Bacillus subtilis forms biofilms in response to signals that remain poorly defined. We report that biofilm formation is stimulated by sublethal doses of chlorine dioxide (ClO(2)), an extremely effective and fast-acting biocide. ClO(2) accelerated biofilm formation in B. subtilis as well as in other bacteria, suggesting that biofilm formation is ... More
Fullerene water suspension (nC60) exerts antibacterial effects via ROS-independent protein oxidation.
AuthorsLyon DY, Alvarez PJ,
JournalEnviron Sci Technol
PubMed ID19031913
Buckminsterfullerene (C60) can form water suspensions (nC60) that exert toxic effects. While reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation has been implicated as the mechanism for mammalian cytotoxicity, we propose that nC60 exerts ROS-independent oxidative stress in bacteria, with evidence of protein oxidation, changes in cell membrane potential, and interruption of cellular ... More
Decoding the functional roles of cationic side chains of the major antimicrobial region of human cathelicidin LL-37.
Human cathelicidin LL-37 is a critical cationic antimicrobial peptide for host defense against infection, immune modulation, and wound healing. This article elucidates the functional roles of the cationic side chains of the major antimicrobial region of LL-37, corresponding to residues 17 to 32 (designated GF-17). Antimicrobial assays, killing kinetics studies, ... More
Responses of Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus to simulated food processing treatments, determined using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and plate counting.
AuthorsKennedy D, Cronin UP, Wilkinson MG,
JournalAppl Environ Microbiol
PubMed ID21602370
Three common food pathogenic microorganisms were exposed to treatments simulating those used in food processing. Treated cell suspensions were then analyzed for reduction in growth by plate counting. Flow cytometry (FCM) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) were carried out on treated cells stained for membrane integrity (Syto 9/propidium iodide) or ... More
Deciphering the mode of action of the synthetic antimicrobial peptide Bac8c.
AuthorsSpindler EC, Hale JD, Giddings TH, Hancock RE, Gill RT,
JournalAntimicrob Agents Chemother
PubMed ID21282431
Bac8c (RIWVIWRR-NH(2)) is an 8-amino-acid peptide derived from Bac2A (RLARIVVIRVAR-NH(2)), a C3A/C11A variant of the naturally occurring bovine peptide, bactenecin (also known as bovine dodecapeptide), the smallest peptide with activity against a range of pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as yeast. The effects of Bac8c on Escherichia coli ... More
The cell membrane as a major site of damage during aerosolization of Escherichia coli.
This study aimed to provide data on the survival and site of damage of Escherichia coli cells following aerosolization using two different techniques, nebulization and flow focusing. Four metabolic stains were assessed for their ability to detect respiratory activities and membrane homeostasis in aerosolized E. coli cells. The degree of ... More
The response of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 to spaceflight in the international space station.
AuthorsLeys N, Baatout S, Rosier C, Dams A, s'Heeren C, Wattiez R, Mergeay M,
JournalAntonie Van Leeuwenhoek
PubMed ID19572210
The survival and behavior of Cupriavidus metallidurans strain CH34 were tested in space. In three spaceflight experiments, during three separate visits to the 'International Space Station' (ISS), strain CH34 was grown for 10-12 days at ambient temperature on mineral agar medium. Space- and earth-grown cells were compared post-flight by flow ... More