title: Polymyxin E Induces Rapid Paenibacillus polymyxa Death by Damaging Cell Membrane while Ca2+ Can Protect Cells from Damage.
abstract: Polymyxin E, produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa, is an important antibiotic normally against Gram-negative pathogens. In this study, we found that polymyxin E can kill its producer P. polymyxa, a Gram-positive bacterium, by disrupting its cell membrane. Membrane damage was clearly revealed by detecting the leakage of intracellular molecules. The observation using scanning electron microscopy also supported that polymyxin E can destroy the cell membrane and cause an extensive cell surface alteration. On the other hand, divalent cations can give protection against polymyxin E. Compared with Mg2+, Ca2+ can more effectively alleviate polymyxin E-induced damage to the cell membrane, thus remarkably increasing the P. polymyxa survival. Our findings would shed light on a not yet described bactericidal mechanism of polymyxin E against Gram-positive bacteria and more importantly the nature of limited fermentation output of polymyxin E from P. polymyxa.
authors.affiliation: College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhiliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuanning
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wangrong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jianxun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Juanping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry*; D002412:Cations; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D003091:Colistin / Q000737:chemistry*; D005285:Fermentation; D005470:Fluorometry; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D056507:Paenibacillus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010539:Permeability; D013234:Stem Cells
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002412:Cations; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium; D003091:Colistin