Antibacterial activity of synthetic fire ant venom: the solenopsins and isosolenopsins.
BACKGROUND
We determined the in vitro activity of 9 synthetic fire ant venom alkaloids (+/-)-solenopsin A, (2R, 6R)-solenopsin A, (2S, 6S)-solenopsin B, (+/-)-isosolenopsin A, (2S, 6R)-isosolenopsin A,(2R, 6S)-isosolenopsin A, (+/-)-isosolenopsin B, (2S, 6R)-isosolenopsin B, and (2R, 6S)-isosolenopsin B against 6 species of bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).


METHODS
The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bacteriocidal concentration were determined in accordance with the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Time kill studies used American Type Culture Collection bacterial isolates tested at 5 times the minimum inhibitory concentration.


RESULTS
None of the venom alkaloids inhibited E. coli or P. aeruginosa, whereas all the alkaloids inhibited S. pneumoniae. Only 4 alkaloids inhibited S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and S. maltophilia. Time-kill kinetics indicates that all 4 active alkaloids had bactericidal activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Specific isomers of synthetic fire ant venom alkaloids have antibacterial activity against human pathogens.
Sullivan
Donna C
DC
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4505, USA. dsullivan@medicine.umsmed.edu
Flowers
Heather
H
Rockhold
Robin
R
Herath
H M T Bandara
HM
Nanayakkara
N P Dhammika
NP
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000862:Ant Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
D000470:Alkaloids; D000862:Ant Venoms; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents