Diffusible signal factor (DSF) quorum sensing signal and structurally related molecules enhance the antimicrobial efficacy of antibiotics against some bacterial pathogens
Deng, Y Lim, A Lee, J Chen, S An, S Dong, Y.-H Zhang, L.-H
Deng, Y
Lim, A
Lee, J
Chen, S
An, S
Dong, Y.-H
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Abstract
Background: Extensive use of antibiotics has fostered the emergence of superbugs that are resistant to multidrugs, which becomes a great healthcare and public concern. Previous studies showed that quorum sensing signal DSF (diffusible signal factor) not only modulates bacterial antibiotic resistance through intraspecies signaling, but also affects bacterial antibiotic tolerance through interspecies communication. These findings motivate us to exploit the possibility of using DSF and its structurally related molecules as adjuvants to influence antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial pathogens. Results: In this study, we have demonstrated that DSF signal and its structurally related molecules could be used to induce bacterial antibiotic susceptibility. Exogenous addition of DSF signal (cis-11-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid) and its structural analogues could significantly increase the antibiotic susceptibility of Bacillus cereus, possibly through reducing drug-resistant activity, biofilm formation and bacterial fitness. The synergistic effect of DSF and its structurally related molecules with antibiotics on B. cereus is dosage-dependent. Combination of DSF with gentamicin showed an obviously synergistic effect on B. cereus pathogenicity in an in vitro model. We also found that DSF could increase the antibiotic susceptibility of other bacterial species, including Bacillus thuringiensis, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Neisseria subflava and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Conclusion: The results indicate a promising potential of using DSF and its structurally related molecules as novel adjuvants to conventional antibiotics for treatment of infectious diseases caused by bacterial pathogens. © 2014 Deng et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Keywords
11 methyl 2 dodecenoic acid, ampicillin, antibiotic agent, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, kanamycin, medium chain fatty acid, rifampicin, tetracycline, trimethoprim, unclassified drug, unsaturated fatty acid, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic sensitivity, article, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, bacterial growth, bacterial virulence, biofilm, controlled study, drug potentiation, female, growth rate, human, human cell, minimum inhibitory concentration, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Neisseria, neisseria subflava, nonhuman, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, quorum sensing, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacteria (microorganisms), Mycobacterium smegmatis, Neisseria subflava, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Synergism, Gentamicins, Gram-Negative Bacteria, Gram-Positive Bacteria, Humans, Lauric Acids, Quorum Sensing
Source Title
BMC Microbiology
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Series/Report No.
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Rights
Attribution 4.0 International
Date
2014
DOI
10.1186/1471-2180-14-51
Type
Article