Comparative activity of ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin as a function of bacterial growth rate probed by Escherichia coli chromosome replication in the mouse peritonitis model

Maria Schei Haugan, Anders Løbner-Olesen, Niels Frimodt-Møller

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Commonly used antibiotics exert their effects predominantly on rapidly growing bacterial cells; yet, the growth dynamics taking place during infection in a complex host environment remain largely unknown. Hence, a means to measure in situ bacterial growth rate is essential to predict the outcome of antibacterial treatment. We have recently validated chromosome replication as a readout of in situ bacterial growth rate during Escherichia coli infection in the mouse peritonitis model. By the use of two complementary methods (quantitative PCR and fluorescence microscopy) for differential genome origin and terminus copy number quantification, we demonstrated the ability to track bacterial growth rate, both on a population average level and on a single-cell level, from one single biological specimen. Here, we asked whether the in situ growth rate predicts antibiotic treatment effect during infection in the same model. Parallel in vitro growth experiments were conducted as a proof of concept. Our data demonstrate that the activities of the commonly used antibiotics ceftriaxone and gentamicin correlated with pretreatment bacterial growth rate; both drugs performed better during rapid growth than during slow growth. Conversely, ciprofloxacin was less sensitive to bacterial growth rate, both in a homogenous in vitro bacterial population and in a more heterogeneous in vivo bacterial population. The method serves as a platform to test any antibiotic’s dependency on active in situ bacterial growth. Improved insight into this relationship in vivo could ultimately prove helpful in evaluating future antibacterial strategies.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere-02133-18
JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Volume63
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)1-13
ISSN0066-4804
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2019

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Comparative activity of ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin as a function of bacterial growth rate probed by Escherichia coli chromosome replication in the mouse peritonitis model'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this