title: Surfactants, aromatic and isoprenoid compounds, and fatty acid biosynthesis inhibitors suppress Staphylococcus aureus production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 1550 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USA. pjmcnamara@wisc.edu
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.forename: Rae Ellen
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Syverson
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Milligan-Myhre
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Frolova
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kidder
authors.forename: Thanh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Proctor
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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