The effect of reserpine, a modulator of multidrug efflux pumps, on the in vitro activity of tetracycline against clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) possessing the tet(K) determinant.
As part of a screening programme to identify modulators of multidrug efflux in methicillin resistant Staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA), we have validated our assays using the antihypertensive plant alkaloid reserpine. Clinical isolates of MRSA were resistant to tetracycline and shown to possess the tet(K) determinant which encodes for the Tet(K) efflux protein, which conferred high level resistance to tetracycline (MIC = 128 microg/mL). In the presence of reserpine, a known inhibitor of multidrug resistance (mdr) efflux pumps, this MIC was significantly reduced (MIC = 32 microg/mL).
Gibbons
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Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
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D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C084212:tet(K) protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D012110:Reserpine; D013752:Tetracycline