title: Allicin reduces the production of α-toxin by Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus causes a broad range of life-threatening diseases in humans. The pathogenicity of this micro-organism is largely dependent upon its virulence factors. One of the most extensively studied virulence factors is the extracellular protein α-toxin. In this study, we show that allicin, an organosulfur compound, was active against S. aureus with MICs ranged from 32 to 64 μg/mL. Haemolysis, Western blot and real-time RT-PCR assays were used to evaluate the effects of allicin on S. aureus α-toxin production and on the levels of gene expression, respectively. The results of our study indicated that sub-inhibitory concentrations of allicin decreased the production of α-toxin in both methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the transcriptional levels of agr (accessory gene regulator) in S. aureus were inhibited by allicin. Therefore, allicin may be useful in the treatment of α-toxin-producing S. aureus infections.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China. llcffnn@gmail.com
authors.forename: Bing-Feng
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Jia-Zhang
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Xiao-Han
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Jian-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ming-Jing
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Hong-En
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Di
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong-Xing
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.forename: Xu-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004220:Disulfides; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006461:Hemolysis; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C095698:Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004220:Disulfides; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; D015534:Trans-Activators; C021091:staphylococcal alpha-toxin; C006452:allicin