title: [Mini review: a factor enhanced the antibacterial effect of beta-lactams on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus].
abstract: We found a factor (Factor T) in aged mixtures of tungstate and phosphate which greatly enhances the antibacterial effects of beta-lactams on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), while Factor T alone did not strongly inhibit bacterial growth. The effect on methicillin-susceptible S.aureus was weak. There was no synergism of Factor T with other classes of antibiotics, nor with other groups of bacteria. Factor T is probably a complex of phosphate and tungstate, and reduced the expression of penicillin-binding protein-2', thus sensitizing the MRSA strains to beta-lactams.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Saga Medical School Hospital.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tajima
mesh_terms: D004357:Drug Synergism; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; D047090:beta-Lactams