title: High sensitivity of Mycobacterium species to the bactericidal activity by polylysine.
abstract: Bactericidal effects of polylysine on different bacterial species were measured. Marked differences in sensitivity were observed. Based on the concentration of polylysine required to reduce cell viability by 50%, Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were found to be the most sensitive and Escherichia coli the most resistant. In addition, two Gram-positive organisms, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus salivarius exhibited significant differences in sensitivity which suggests that the relationship between sensitivity towards polylysine and bacterial cell type is not necessarily a function of the overall cell envelope structure. The high sensitivity of mycobacteria suggests the possible use of polylysine, or a conjugate of polylysine and another agent in anti-mycobacterial drug design.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794-5222, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Delihas
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poltoratskaia
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000187:drug effects*; D011107:Polylysine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011107:Polylysine