Bactericidal effect of colistin on planktonic Pseudomonas aeruginosa is independent of hydroxyl radical formation

Rikke Prejh Brochmann, Anders Toft, Oana Ciofu, Alejandra Briales, Mette Kolpen, Casper Hempel, Thomas Bjarnsholt, Niels Høiby, Peter Østrup Jensen

    38 Citationer (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The bactericidal effect of several major types of antibiotics has recently been demonstrated to be dependent on the formation of toxic amounts of hydroxyl radicals (OHbull;) resulting from oxidative stress in metabolically active cells. Since killing by the antimicrobial peptide colistin does not require bacterial metabolic activity, we tested whether the bactericidal effect of colistin depends on the formation of OHbull;. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures, OHbull;-mediated killing by ciprofloxacin was demonstrated by decreased bacterial survival and induction of 3′-(p-hydroxyphenyl) fluorescein (HPF) fluorescence. OH bull;-mediated killing by ciprofloxacin was further confirmed by rescue of cells and reduction of HPF fluorescence due to prevention of OH bull; accumulation by scavenging with thiourea, by chelating with dipyridyl, by decreasing metabolism as well as by anoxic growth. In contrast, no formation of OHbull; was seen in P. aeruginosa during killing by colistin, and prevention of OHbull;accumulation could not rescue P. aeruginosa from killing by colistin. These results therefore demonstrate that the bactericidal activity of colistin on P. aeruginosa is not dependent on oxidative stress. In conclusion, antimicrobial peptides that do not rely on OHbull;formation should be considered for treatment of Gram-negative bacteria growing at low oxygen tension such as in endobronchial mucus and paranasal sinuses in cystic fibrosis patients, in abscesses and in infectious biofilm.

    OriginalsprogEngelsk
    TidsskriftInternational Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
    Vol/bind43
    Udgave nummer2
    Sider (fra-til)140-147
    Antal sider8
    ISSN0924-8579
    DOI
    StatusUdgivet - feb. 2014

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