Variation in synergistic activity by flavone and its related compounds on the increased susceptibility of various strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to beta-lactam antibiotics.
We found that some flavonoids had a weak antibacterial effect on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but that at sub-MIC concentrations they greatly increased the susceptibility of these strains to beta-lactam antibiotics. Flavone showed diverse synergistic effects on the susceptibility of MRSA to beta-lactam antibiotics. The variation of the synergistic effects of the flavones to increase the susceptibility of strains of MRSA to beta-lactam antibiotics coincided with their varying effects on growth-inhibition of these strains. Based on these findings, we have proposed a model for the mechanisms of high resistance of MRSA to beta-lactams and the massive reduction in the beta-lactams MIC caused by flavones.
Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, 1-78, Shomachi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan.
Youichi
Y
Sato
Hirofumi
H
Shibata
Tsutomu
T
Arai
Akira
A
Yamamoto
Yousuke
Y
Okimura
Naokatu
N
Arakaki
Tomihiko
T
Higuti
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D047309:Flavones; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D047309:Flavones; D005419:Flavonoids; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D047090:beta-Lactams; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus; C043562:flavone