Mechanisms of action of acriflavine: electron microscopic study of cell wall changes induced in Staphylococcus aureus by acriflavine |
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Authors: | Mako Kawai Jun-ichi Yamagishi |
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Affiliation: | Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Himeji Dokkyo University, 7-2-1, Kamiohno, Himeji, Hyogo 670-8524;and Technology Research and Development Division, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, 5-51 Ebie 1-chome Fukushima-ku, Osaka 553-0001, Japan |
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Abstract: | The antimicrobial action of acriflavine, a quaternary ammonium compound, on Staphylococcus aureus was studied by electron microscopic observation. The bactericidal activity of acriflavine was dose-dependent over the 4 hr of exposure time. Scanning electron micrographs showed a wavy wrinkled cell surface following treatment with acriflavine. Transmission electron micrographs showed thickened cell walls following treatment with acriflavine. Acriflavine-induced cell wall thickness seemed to affect both the peripheral and cross walls, but was reversible after treatment removal. These findings indicate that cell wall thickness is a characteristic phenotype of S. aureus exposed to acriflavine. It is therefore believed that cell wall thickness plays an important role in the mechanism of action of acriflavine. |
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Keywords: | acriflavine cell wall thickness electron microscopy Staphylococcus aureus |
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