On structural damage incurred by bacteria upon exposure to hydrophobic polycationic coatings.
Hydrophobic polycations previously developed by us efficiently kill E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus on contact. As visualized by electron microscopy herein, these pathogenic bacteria incur marked morphological damage from the exposure to these N-alkylated-polyethylenimine "paints" which results in the leakage of an appreciable fraction of the total cellular protein. The quantity and composition of that leaked protein is similar to that released upon traditional lysozyme/EDTA treatment, thus providing insights into the mechanism of action of our microbicidal coatings.
Hsu
Bryan B
BB
Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Ouyang
Jie
J
Wong
Sze Yinn
SY
Hammond
Paula T
PT
Klibanov
Alexander M
AM
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011094:Polyethyleneimine