title: Antibacterial activity of synthetic fire ant venom: the solenopsins and isosolenopsins.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4505, USA. dsullivan@medicine.umsmed.edu
authors.forename: Donna C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flowers
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rockhold
authors.forename: H M T Bandara
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Herath
authors.forename: N P Dhammika
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Nanayakkara
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000862:Ant Venoms; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents