title: Structural changes induced by mupirocin in Staphylococcus aureus cells.
abstract: Cells of mupirocin-sensitive, moderately-resistant and highly-resistant cultures of Staphylococcus aureus (mupirocin MICs 0.13, 16 and > 512 mg/l, respectively) were exposed to various concentrations of the antibiotic and examined by transmission electron microscopy. The most severe damage occurred in mupirocin-sensitive cells. Cells from moderately-resistant cultures trained in vitro to high-level mupirocin resistance were more hydrophobic than the parent cells. The antibiotic was slowly lethal to the mupirocin-sensitive strain and sub-inhibitory concentrations prevented or reduced growth of the other strains over a 6 h incubation period, irrespective of whether the drug was added at zero time or in the exponential growth phase.
authors.affiliation: Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hann
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016712:Mupirocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016712:Mupirocin