The occurrence of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway in bacteria

The occurrence of the two key enzymes of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, gluconate-6-phosphate dehydrase and 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate-6-phosphate aldolase, was determined in approximately 150 strains belonging to 37 different bacterial genera. The following results were obtained:

1. 24 out of 37 genera have at least one representative with the Entner-Doudoroff mechanism. It is thus more widespread than previously thought.
2. The Entner-Doudoroff mechanism occurs mainly in gram-negative bacteria with a DNA base composition in the range 52–70% GC. Eighty-five per cent of these organisms contain the system, while only 20% (6 strains) of the gram-negative organisms with less than 52% GC possess both enzymes.
3. This pathway is absent in all gram-positive organisms investigated except in 5 out of 12Nocardia strains.
4. Erwinia and some strains of theAchromobacter-Alcaligenes group are exceptional, since they possess only 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate-6-phosphate aldolase.

     

Anti-biofilm and anti-inflammatory effects of Lycosin-II isolated from spiders against multi-drug resistant bacteria

Currently, multidrug-resistant bacteria are rapidly increasing worldwide because of the misuse or overuse of antibiotics. In particular, few options exist for treating infections caused by long-persisting oxacillin-resistant strains and recently proliferating carbapenem-resistant strains. Therefore, alternative treatments are urgently needed. The antimicrobial peptide (AMP) Lycosin-II is a peptide consisting of 21 amino acids isolated from the venom of the spider Lycosa singoriensis. Lycosin-II showed strong antibacterial activity and biofilm inhibition effects against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria including oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and meropenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) isolated from patients. In addition, Lycosin-II was not cytotoxic against human foreskin fibroblast Hs27 or hemolytic against sheep red blood cells at the concentration of which exerted antibacterial activity. The mechanism of action of Lycosin-II involves binding to lipoteichoic acid and lipopolysaccharide of gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial membranes, respectively, to destroy the bacterial membrane. Moreover, Lycosin-II showed anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines that are increased during bacterial infection in Hs27 cells. These results suggest that Lycosin-II can serve as a therapeutic agent against infections with multidrug-resistant strains.     

Membrane Damage and Microbial Inactivation by Chlorine in the Absence and Presence of a Chlorine-Demanding Substrate

The relationship between cell inactivation and membrane damage was studied in two gram-positive organisms, Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus subtilis, and two gram-negative organisms, Yersinia enterocolitica and Escherichia coli, exposed to chlorine in the absence and presence of 150 ppm of organic matter (Trypticase soy broth). L. monocytogenes and B. subtilis were more resistant to chlorine in distilled water. The addition of small amounts of organic matter to the chlorination medium drastically increased the resistance of both types of microorganisms, but this effect was more marked in Y. enterocolitica and E. coli. In addition, the survival curves for these microorganisms in the presence of organic matter had a prolonged shoulder. Sublethal injury was not detected under most experimental conditions, and only gram-positive cells treated in distilled water showed a relevant degree of injury. The exposure of bacterial cells to chlorine in distilled water caused extensive permeabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane, but the concentrations required were much higher than those needed to inactivate cells. Therefore, there was no relationship between the occurrence of membrane permeabilization and cell death. The addition of organic matter to the treatment medium stabilized the cytoplasmic membrane against permeabilization in both the gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria investigated. Exposure of E. coli cells to the outer membrane-permeabilizing agent EDTA increased their sensitivity to chlorine and caused the shoulders in the survival curves to disappear. Based on these observations, we propose that bacterial envelopes could play a role in cell inactivation by modulating the access of chlorine to the key targets within the cell.     

Antagonistic and antimicrobial activities of some bacterial isolates collected from soil samples

Thirty seven bacterial cultures isolated from soil samples obtained from different locations were tested for their antagonistic activity against some fungal pathogens, viz., Sclerotium rolfsii, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani, causal agents of collar rot of sunflower, wilts and root rots, respectively. Among them, 5 bacterial strains, viz., A1 6 (Bacillus sphaericus), K1 24 (Pseudomonas fluorescens), M1 42 (Bacillus circulans), M1 66 (Bacillus brevis) and T1 22 (Bacillus brevis) showed positive antagonistic activity. M1 66 was the most effective in inhibiting mycelial growth of S. rolfsii in vitro followed by M1 42, T1 22, K1 24 and A1 6. Only one bacterial strain i.e. M1 42 exhibited antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum, and none of the bacterial strains gave positive activity against R. solani. Furthermore, antimicrobial activities of all the 5 strains were checked against different test organisms. These strains showed their extensive inhibition effect particularly against gram-positive test bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and the test fungal strain (Candida albicans). On the other hand, B. brevis M1 66 and B. brevis T1 22 strains had an inhibitory effect against gram positive and gram-negative test bacteria (Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris) as well as the test fungal strain.     

Immunochemical study of nutritionally variant streptococci

Nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) have been characterized by their growth as satellite colonies around colonies of staphylococci or several other gram-positive or gram-negative bacterial strains. The majority of the NVS strains were isolated from patients with subacute bacterial endocarditis. Organisms identified as NVS were subdivided into three serotypes by rocket-line electrophoresis and hemagglutination inhibition assays. Ninety-nine of 103 strains expressed one or more of the three serotype antigens; however, a group antigen was not demonstrated in the various extracts of these streptococci. Surface protein studies confirmed the NVS differentiation into serotypes. Serotype I organisms expressed surface protein(s) specific for the serotype, whereas the serotype II and III NVS demonstrated common protein(s) on their surface. Furthermore, SDS extraction released a greater amount of radioiodinatable surface protein from serotypes I and III bacteria than serotype II. Finally, there was no correlation between the serotype or the disease of the patients from which the NVS strains were isolated.     

Sorption of humic acids by bacteria

Capacity for sorption of humic acid (HA) from water solutions was shown for 38 bacterial strains. Isotherms of HA sorption were determined for the cells of 10 strains. The bonding strength between the cells and HA (k) and the terminal adsorption (Q _max) determined from the Langmuir equation for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were reliably different. Gram-positive bacteria sorbed greater amounts of HA than gram-negative ones (Q _max = 23 ± 10 and 5.6 ± 1.2 mg/m², respectively). The bonding strength between HA and the cells was higher in gram-negative bacteria than in gram-positive: k = 9 ± 5 and 3.3 ± 1.1 mL/mg, respectively.     

Rapid method for distinction of gram-negative from gram-positive bacteria

Summary A rapid method for distinction between gram-negative and grampositive bacteria by means of a 3% solution of potassium hydroxide is tested on 71 gram-positive and 55 gram-negative bacterial strains. The method proved reliable with one exception only, a Bacillus macerans strain. That strain was definately gram-negative on staining. Other Bacillus strains were proved gram-positive by the test, even those being gram-negative on staining.     

Glycerol monolaurate antibacterial activity in broth and biofilm cultures

Background

Glycerol monolaurate (GML) is an antimicrobial agent that has potent activity against gram-positive bacteria. This study examines GML antibacterial activity in comparison to lauric acid, in broth cultures compared to biofilm cultures, and against a wide range of gram-positive, gram-negative, and non-gram staining bacteria.

Methodology/Principal Findings

GML is ≥200 times more effective than lauric acid in bactericidal activity, defined as a ≥3 log reduction in colony-forming units (CFU)/ml, against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes in broth cultures. Both molecules inhibit superantigen production by these organisms at concentrations that are not bactericidal. GML prevents biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae, as representative gram-positive and gram-negative organisms, tested in 96 well microtiter plates, and simultaneously is bactericidal for both organisms in mature biofilms. GML is bactericidal for a wide range of potential bacterial pathogens, except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae. In the presence of acidic pH and the cation chelator ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, GML has greatly enhanced bactericidal activity for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae. Solubilization of GML in a nonaqueous delivery vehicle (related to K-Y Warming®) enhances its bactericidal activity against S. aureus. Both R and S, and 1 and 2 position lauric acid derivatives of GML exhibit bactericidal activity. Despite year-long passage of Staphylococcus aureus on sub-growth inhibitory concentrations of GML (0.5 x minimum bactericidal concentration), resistance to GML did not develop.

Conclusions/Significance

GML may be useful as a broad-spectrum human or animal topical microbicide and may be useful as an environmental surface microbicide for management of bacterial infections and contamination.     

Antimicrobial properties of membrane-active dodecapeptides derived from MSI-78

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics known by their ability to disrupt bacterial membranes and their low tendency to induce bacterial resistance, arising as excellent candidates to fight bacterial infections. In this study we aimed at designing short 12-mer AMPs, derived from a highly effective and broad spectrum synthetic AMP, MSI-78 (22 residues), by truncating this peptide at the N- and/or C-termini while spanning its entire sequence with 1 amino acid (aa) shifts. These designed peptides were evaluated regarding antimicrobial activity against selected gram-positive Staphylococcus strains and the gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa).The short 12-mer peptide CEM1 (GIGKFLKKAKKF) was identified as an excellent candidate to fight P. aeruginosa infections as it displays antimicrobial activity against this strain and selectivity, with negligible toxicity to mammalian cells even at high concentrations. However, in general most of the short 12-mer peptides tested showed a reduction in antimicrobial activity, an effect that was more pronounced for gram-positive Staphylococcus strains. Interestingly, CEM1 and a highly similar peptide differing by only one aa-shift (CEM2: IGKFLKKAKKFG), showed a remarkably contrasting AMP activity. These two peptides were chosen for a more detailed study regarding their mechanism of action, using several biophysical assays and simple membrane models that mimic the mammalian and bacterial lipid composition.We confirmed the correlation between peptide helicity and antimicrobial activity and propose a mechanism of action based on the disruption of the bacterial membrane permeability barrier.     

A Fluorescent Gram Stain for Flow Cytometry and Epifluorescence Microscopy

The fluorescent nucleic acid binding dyes hexidium iodide (HI) and SYTO 13 were used in combination as a Gram stain for unfixed organisms in suspension. HI penetrated gram-positive but not gram-negative organisms, whereas SYTO 13 penetrated both. When the dyes were used together, gram-negative organisms were rendered green fluorescent by SYTO 13; conversely, gram-positive organisms were rendered red-orange fluorescent by HI, which simultaneously quenched SYTO 13 green fluorescence. The technique correctly predicted the Gram status of 45 strains of clinically relevant organisms, including several known to be gram variable. In addition, representative strains of gram-positive anaerobic organisms, normally decolorized during the traditional Gram stain procedure, were classified correctly by this method.Gram’s staining method is considered fundamental in bacterial taxonomy. The outcome of the Gram reaction reflects major differences in the chemical composition and ultrastructure of bacterial cell walls. The Gram stain involves staining a heat-fixed smear of cells with a rosaniline dye such as crystal or methyl violet in the presence of iodine, with subsequent exposure to alcohol or acetone. Organisms that are decolorized by the alcohol or acetone are designated gram negative.Alternative Gram staining techniques have recently been proposed. Sizemore et al. (19) reported on the use of fluorescently labeled wheat germ agglutinin. This lectin binds specifically to N-acetylglucosamine in the peptidoglycan layer of gram-positive bacteria, whereas gram-negative organisms contain an outer membrane that prevents lectin binding. Although simpler and faster than the traditional Gram stain, this method requires heat fixation of organisms.Other Gram stain techniques suitable for live bacteria in suspension have been described. Allman et al. (1) demonstrated that rhodamine 123 (a lipophilic cationic dye) rendered gram-positive bacteria fluorescent, but its uptake by gram-negative organisms was poor. This reduced uptake by gram-negative bacteria was attributed to their outer membranes. The outer membrane can be made more permeable to lipophilic cations by exposure to the chelator EDTA (4). Shapiro (18) took advantage of this fact to form the basis of another Gram stain, one which involved comparing the uptake of a carbocyanine dye before and after permeabilizing organisms with EDTA. All of these methods, however, rely on one-color fluorescence, making analysis of mixed bacterial populations difficult.An alternative to the use of stains is the potassium hydroxide (KOH) test. The method categorizes organisms on the basis of differences in KOH solubility. After exposure to KOH, gram-negative bacteria are more easily disrupted than gram-positive organisms. This technique has been used to classify both aerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria, including gram-variable organisms (8). In a study by Halebian et al. (9), however, this technique incorrectly classified several anaerobic strains, giving rise to the recommendation that the method should only be used in conjunction with the traditional Gram stain.In this study we demonstrate a Gram staining technique for unfixed organisms in suspension, by using clinically relevant bacterial strains and organisms notorious for their gram variability. The method uses two fluorescent nucleic acid binding dyes, hexidium iodide (HI) and SYTO 13. Sales literature (11) published by the manufacturers of HI (Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, Oreg.), which displays a red fluorescence, suggests that the dye selectively stains gram-positive bacteria. SYTO 13 is one of a group of cell-permeating nucleic acid stains and fluoresces green (11). These dyes have been found to stain DNA and RNA in live or dead eukaryotic cells (16). Both dyes are excited at 490 nm, permitting their use in fluorescence instruments equipped with the most commonly available light sources. We reasoned that a combination of these two dyes applied to mixed bacterial populations would result in all bacteria being labeled, with differential labeling of gram-positive bacteria (HI and SYTO 13) and gram-negative bacteria (SYTO 13 only). The different fluorescence emission wavelengths of the two dyes would ensure differentiation of gram-positive from gram-negative bacteria by either epifluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry when equipped with the appropriate excitation and emission filters. While a commercial Gram stain kit produced by Molecular Probes includes HI and an alternative SYTO dye, SYTO 9, we are unaware of any peer-reviewed publications regarding either its use or its effectiveness with traditionally gram-variable organisms.     

Diaryl azo derivatives as anti-diabetic and antimicrobial agents: synthesis,in vitro,kinetic and docking studies

In the present study, a series of azo derivatives (TR-1 to TR-9) have been synthesised via the diazo-coupling approach between substituted aromatic amines with phenol or naphthol derivatives. The compounds were evaluated for their therapeutic applications against alpha-glucosidase (anti-diabetic) and pathogenic bacterial strains E. coli (gram-negative), S. aureus (gram-positive), S. aureus (gram-positive) drug-resistant strain, P. aeruginosa (gram-negative), P. aeruginosa (gram-negative) drug-resistant strain and P. vulgaris (gram-negative). The IC₅₀ (µg/mL) of TR-1 was found to be most effective (15.70 ± 1.3 µg/mL) compared to the reference drug acarbose (21.59 ± 1.5 µg/mL), hence, it was further selected for the kinetic studies in order to illustrate the mechanism of inhibition. The enzyme inhibitory kinetics and mode of binding for the most active inhibitor (TR-1) was performed which showed that the compound is a non-competitive inhibitor and effectively inhibits the target enzyme by binding to its binuclear active site reversibly.     

Characterization of Subsurface Bacteria Associated with Two Shallow Aquifers in Oklahoma

The bacterial microflora of two shallow aquifers (saturated subsurface zones) in Oklahoma was characterized by direct observation with light and electron microscopy, by plating, and by examination of colony morphology and distribution. Isolated bacterial strains were also examined. Total cell counts varied only slightly (2.9 × 10⁶ to 9.8 × 10⁶ g [dry wt]⁻¹) from sample to sample, whereas colony counts varied widely (6.3 × 10² to 6.5 × 10⁶ CFU g [dry wt]⁻¹). Colony counts on nutritionally rich media were lower than on low-nutrient media, especially in samples from the saturated zone. The variety of colony types growing on nutritionally rich media decreased with increasing depth and saturation. Colony counts of anaerobic bacteria also decreased with depth but were at least 100-fold lower than aerobic counts on most media. Cell morphologies of bacteria grown aerobically on plates included short rods, cocci, and actinomycete-like forms. Direct light microscopic observation of sediments revealed short, rod-shaped, and coccoid bacterial cells; endospores, actinomycete spores, and eucaryotic forms were not observed by light microscopy. Electron microscopic observation of bacteria released from the samples revealed that 85 to 90% of them were coccoid, gram-positive, Arthrobacter-like organisms, some of which were dividing or contained completed division septa; other types of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were present in lower numbers. Isolated bacterial strains were able to grow on both nutritionally rich and low-nutrient media. A higher proportion of gram-negative organisms was isolated than gram-positive organisms. Most of the isolates were capable of storing polyphosphate, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, or polysaccharide. The results of this study suggest that the microbial population of these two shallow aquifers is dominated by aerobic, nutritionally versatile bacteria that can subsist on low concentrations of organic compounds without forming specialized resting cells. Other types of microorganisms, such as facultatively anaerobic bacteria and microeucaryotes, may also be present, but they represent only a small fraction of the microflora.     

Studies on the sensitivity and specificity of the Limulus amebocyte lysate test and rabbit pyrogen assays.

The sensitivity and specificity of the Limulus amebocyte lysate test and rabbit pyrogen assay were studied by means of artificially contaminated parenterals. Various gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial strains were used as was one strain of the yeast Candida albicans. The numbers of organisms needed to elicit positive responses in distilled water and normal saline were recorded and compared. The sensitivity and specificity of the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay for the detection of bacterial endotoxin from gram-negative bacteria were demonstrated. Variable results were recorded with gram-positive bacteria and Candida albicans.     

Studies on the sensitivity and specificity of the Limulus amebocyte lysate test and rabbit pyrogen assays

The sensitivity and specificity of the Limulus amebocyte lysate test and rabbit pyrogen assay were studied by means of artificially contaminated parenterals. Various gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial strains were used as was one strain of the yeast Candida albicans. The numbers of organisms needed to elicit positive responses in distilled water and normal saline were recorded and compared. The sensitivity and specificity of the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay for the detection of bacterial endotoxin from gram-negative bacteria were demonstrated. Variable results were recorded with gram-positive bacteria and Candida albicans.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of novel phosphonium salts on the basis of pyridoxine

A series of 13 phosphonium salts on the basis of pyridoxine derivatives were synthesized and their antibacterial activity against clinically relevant strains was tested in vitro. All compounds were almost inactive against gram-negative bacteria and exhibited structure-dependent activity against gram-positive bacteria. A crucial role of ketal protection group in phosphonium salts for their antibacterial properties was demonstrated. Among synthesized compounds 5,6-bis[triphenylphosphonio(methyl)]-2,2,8-trimethyl-4H-[1,3]dioxino[4,5-c]pyridine dichloride (compound 20) was found to be the most effective towards Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains (MIC 5 μg/ml). The mechanism of antibacterial activity of this compound probably involves cell penetration and interaction with genomic and plasmid DNA.     

Addition of ethylamines to the phenols of bithionol and synthetic retinoids does not elicit activity in gram-negative bacteria

Our labs have demonstrated the activity of bithionol and synthetic retinoids against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as their membrane-acting mechanism of action. However, the compounds lack activity in gram-negative species. Herein, we apply a known strategy for converting gram-positive agents into broad-spectrum therapies: addition of an alkylamine. By appending an alkylamine to the phenols of these known membrane disruptors, we test whether this approach is applicable to our compounds. Ultimately, biological testing in four MRSA strains and three gram-negative species showed abolished or diminished activity in all our analogs compared to their parent compounds and no gram-negative activity. Thus, we find that alkylamines would not elicit broad-spectrum activity from bithionol or CD437 derivatives.     

Antibacterial Activity of the Lactoperoxidase System in Milk Against Pseudomonads and Other Gram-Negative Bacteria

Products of thiocyanate oxidation by lactoperoxidase inhibit gram-positive bacteria that produce peroxide. We found these products to be bactericidal for such gram-negative bacteria as Pseudomonas species and Escherichia coli, provided peroxide is supplied exogenously by glucose oxidase and glucose. By the use of immobilized glucose oxidase the bactericidal agent was shown to be dialyzable, destroyed by heat and counteracted, or destroyed by reducing agents. Because the system is active against a number of gram-negative bacteria isolated from milk, it may possibly be exploited to increase the keeping quality of raw milk.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives for development as broad-spectrum antibiotics

The reality and intensity of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria calls for the rapid development of new antimicrobial drugs. In bacteria, trans-translation is the primary quality control mechanism for rescuing ribosomes arrested during translation. Because trans-translation is absent in eukaryotes but necessary to avoid ribosomal stalling and therefore essential for bacterial survival, it is a promising target either for novel antibiotics or for improving the activities of the protein synthesis inhibitors already in use. Oxadiazole derivatives display strong bactericidal activity against a large number of bacteria, but their effects on trans-translation were recently questioned. In this work, a series of new 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives and analogs were synthesized and assessed for their efficiency as antimicrobial agents against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic strains. Despite the strong antimicrobial activity observed in these molecules, it turns out that they do not target trans-translation in vivo, but they definitely act on other cellular pathways.     

Rhizobacteria of Cotton and Their Repression of Seedling Disease Pathogens

During the 1983 field season, the rhizobacteria (including organisms from rhizosphere soil and the root rhizoplane) of cotton plants at one location in Mississippi were inventoried at different plant growth stages. Isolates (1,000) were identified to the genus level and characterized for repression of Pythium ultimum and Rhizoctonia solani. Cotton seedlings were initially colonized by bacteria of many different genera, and populations quickly reached 10⁸ CFU/g of root tissue. As the season progressed, the bacterial populations declined as root mass increased and the roots became more woodlike in consistency. Fluorescent pseudomonads were the most numerous gram-negative rhizobacterial isolates of those that were randomly collected and identified, and they provided the largest number of isolates with fungal repressive activity. Several other gram-negative bacterial genera were recovered throughout the growing season, and some gram-positive bacteria were also isolated routinely, but at lower numbers. There was no correlation between the proportion of rhizobacterial isolates that possessed fungal repressive activity and the plant growth stage from which the isolates were obtained. Approximately twice as many bacterial isolates demonstrated fungal repression in the agar assay compared with the inplanta assay, and isolates were found more frequently with fungal repressive activity against P. ultimum than against R. solai.