Substrate-dependent cadmium toxicity affecting energy-linked K+/86Rb transport in Staphylococcus aureus

Resistance index of penicillin-resistant bacteria to various physicochemical agents

Widespread use of various antimicrobial agents resulted in the emergence of bacterial resistance. Mechanisms like direct efflux, formation, and sequestration of metals and drugs in complexes and antiporter pumps are some examples. This investigation aims to investigate the resistance pattern of penicillin-resistant bacterial strains to some physicochemical agents. Sensitivity/resistance pattern of common bacterial strains to antimicrobial agents were evaluated by disk diffusion assay. Broth and agar dilution method were used for determination of minimum inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration. The impact of UV ray on the bacterial growth under laminar flow hood was measured using photonmeter. Our data demonstrates that the most prevalent metal resistance was against arsenate (95.92%), followed by cadmium (52.04%) and mercury (36.73%). There was significant difference between cetrimide resistances among studied microbial strains especially for P. aeruginosa (P < 0.05). High rate of pathogen resistance to various antibacterial agents in our study supports previously published data. This great rate of bacterial resistance is attributed to the emergence of defense mechanisms developed in pathogens. The higher general bacterial resistance rate among Staphylococcus strains rather than E. coli and P. aeruginosa strains draws attention towards focusing on designing newer therapeutic compounds for Staphylococcus strains.

Energy conservation in aerobically grown Staphylococcus aureus

The present studies provide new data on the involvement of menaquinol oxidases in substrate oxidation and energy conservation in aerobically grown, resting cells of Staphylococcus aureus 17810R, starved of endogenous energy reserves and supplemented with glutamate or L-lactate. These cells were energetically competent, since they oxidized both substrates, generated an electrochemical proton gradient (deltamuH+) and synthesized ATP via oxidative phosphorylation. Studies with KCN showed that: (i) L-lactate oxidation occurred via two terminal menaquinol oxidases - the ba3-type sensitive to low KCN and the bo-type insensitive to cyanide, (ii) glutamate oxidation proceeded via the bo-type oxidase, and (iii) ATP synthesis with glutamate or L-lactate was coupled only to the bo-type oxidase. Also in glucose-grown cells oxidizing L-lactate, ATP synthesis was coupled to the highly repressed bo-type oxidase. It is suggested that in the respiratory chain of strain 17810R two energy coupling sites may be present: in the complex of NADH-menaquinone oxidoreductase and in the complex of the bo-type menaquinol oxidase. The rate of ATP synthesis was similar with both substrates, but the rate of their oxidation differed significantly: the P/O ratios were 1.5 and 0.03 with glutamate and L-lactate, respectively. CCCP accelerated glutamate oxidation by 50% but was without effect on L-lactate oxidation. In cell lysates, the rates of NADH and L-lactate oxidation were equal. It is concluded that in whole cells of S. aureus 17810R oxidation of NADH derived from glutamate breakdown is tightly coupled to phosphorylation, while L-lactate oxidation seems to be rather loosely coupled.