title: [The biological activity of quaternary ammonium salts (QASs)].
abstract: Quaternary ammonium salts (QASs), especially those of cationic surfactant character, are applied as antibacterial and antifungal disinfectants. QASs affect lipid-enveloped viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), but not non-enveloped viruses. These compounds are extensively used in domestic (as ingredients of shampoos, hair conditioners), agricultural (as fungicides, pesticides, insecticides), healthcare (as medications), and industrial applications (as biocides, fabric softeners, corrosion inhibitors). The extensive use of quaternary ammonium disinfectants in recent years has led to the development of resistance in microorganisms to these drugs. Thus Staphylococcus aureus strains contain the plasmid-carrying genes qacA and qacB encoding resistance to quaternary ammonium compounds and acriflavine. The membrane proteins QacA and QacB confer multidrug resistance by exporting the compound by the proton motive force which is generated by the transmembrane electrochemical proton gradient.
authors.affiliation: Instytut Genetyki i Mikrobiologii, Uniwersytet Wrocławski. ewa.oblak@micro.uni.wroc.pl
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Obłak
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamian
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000187:drug effects*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000187:drug effects*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C099272:QacB protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C068498:qacA protein, Staphylococcus aureus