Assessment of efflux-mediated antibiotic-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium under simulated gastrointestinal conditions

Vancomycin-induced biofilm formation by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is associated with the secretion of membrane vesicles

Chronic burn wound infections caused by Stapyhylococcus aureus (S. aureus) are largely associated with biofilm formation. However, the mechanism by which S. aureus form biofilm in clinical environments is far less understood. In the present study we addressed the association between biofilm formation and membrane vesicle (MV) secretion of S. aureus during vancomycin treatment. A representative methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain BWMR22 obtained from a chronic burn wound was used in this study. Transmission electron microscope was used to observe the MV secretion. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to analyze the chemical component of MV. Biofilm formation was assayed under conditions of sub-inhibitory concentrations of vancomycin. Functional potencies of MV in surface adhesion and auto-aggregation were assayed in the presence of additional purified MVs. Biofilm formation by S. aureus BWMR22 was enhanced in the presence of sub-inhibitory concentration of vancomycin. Vancomycin treatment caused an increase in the chemical composition of protein relative to carbohydrates of secreted MVs, a property which was highly associated with bacterial hydrophobicity, surface adhesion, and intercellular aggregation. These findings suggest that MV secretion is correlated with biofilm formation by MRSA especially under clinical conditions with improper vancomycin chemotherapy. This study first demonstrates a potential role of MVs in the biofilm formation by S. aureus, stresses on the importance of avoiding low dose of antibiotic therapy in controlling of S. aureus infections, and provides further information to reveal the mechanisms behind MRSA infections.

Multidrug Efflux Systems in Microaerobic and Anaerobic Bacteria

Active drug efflux constitutes an important mechanism of antibiotic and multidrug resistance in bacteria. Understanding the distribution, expression, and physiological functions of multidrug efflux pumps, especially under physiologically and clinically relevant conditions of the pathogens, is the key to combat drug resistance. In animal hosts, most wounded, infected and inflamed tissues display low oxygen tensions. In this article, we summarize research development on multidrug efflux pumps in the medicinally relevant microaerobic and anaerobic pathogens and their implications in the effort to combat drug-resistant infections.