Surfactants, aromatic and isoprenoid compounds, and fatty acid biosynthesis inhibitors suppress Staphylococcus aureus production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1.
Menstrual toxic shock syndrome is a rare but potentially life-threatening illness manifest through the actions of Staphylococcus aureus toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1). Previous studies have shown that tampon additives can influence staphylococcal TSST-1 production. We report here on the TSST-1-suppressing activity of 34 compounds that are commonly used additives in the pharmaceutical, food, and perfume industries. Many of the tested chemicals had a minimal impact on the growth of S. aureus and yet were potent inhibitors of TSST-1 production. The TSST-1-reducing compounds included surfactants with an ether, amide, or amine linkage to their fatty acid moiety (e.g., myreth-3-myristate, Laureth-3, disodium lauroamphodiacetate, disodium lauramido monoethanolamido, sodium lauriminodipropionic acid, and triethanolamine laureth sulfate); aromatic compounds (e.g. phenylethyl and benzyl alcohols); and several isoprenoids and related compounds (e.g., terpineol and menthol). The membrane-targeting and -altering effects of the TSST-1-suppressing compounds led us to assess the activity of molecules that are known to inhibit fatty acid biosynthesis (e.g., cerulenin, triclosan, and hexachlorophene). These compounds also reduced S. aureus TSST-1 production. This study suggests that more additives than previously recognized inhibit the production of TSST-1.
McNamara
Peter J
PJ
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 1550 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USA. pjmcnamara@wisc.edu
Syverson
Rae Ellen
RE
Milligan-Myhre
Kathy
K
Frolova
Olga
O
Schroeder
Sarah
S
Kidder
Joshua
J
Hoang
Thanh
T
Proctor
Richard A
RA
D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003470:Culture Media; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054872:Fatty Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018089:Superantigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D003470:Culture Media; D004768:Enterotoxins; D054872:Fatty Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D018089:Superantigens; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D013729:Terpenes; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal