title: Efficacy of Lantibiotic Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus-Induced Skin Infections, Monitored by In Vivo Bioluminescent Imaging.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterial pathogen responsible for the majority of skin and soft tissue infections. Antibiotics are losing their efficacy as treatment for skin and soft tissue infections as a result of increased resistance in a variety of pathogens, including S. aureus It is thus imperative to explore alternative antimicrobial treatments to ensure future treatment options for skin and soft tissue infections. A select few lantibiotics, a group of natural defense peptides produced by bacteria, inhibit the growth of numerous clinical S. aureus isolates, including methicillin-resistant strains. In this study, the antimicrobial activities of nisin, clausin, and amyloliquecidin, separately administered, were compared to that of a mupirocin-based ointment, which is commonly used as treatment for S. aureus-induced skin infections. Full-thickness excisional wounds, generated on the dorsal surfaces of mice, were infected with a bioluminescent strain of S. aureus (strain Xen 36). The infections were monitored in real time using in vivo bioluminescent imaging. Lantibiotic treatments significantly reduced the bioluminescence of S. aureus Xen 36 to a level similar to that recorded with mupirocin treatment. Wound closure, however, was more pronounced during lantibiotic treatment. Lantibiotics thus have the potential to be used as an alternative treatment option for S. aureus-induced skin infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa lmtd@sun.ac.za advstaden@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Anton Du Preez
authors.initials: Adu P
authors.lastname: van Staden
authors.affiliation: SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Tiaan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heunis
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Shelly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deane
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa lmtd@sun.ac.za advstaden@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Leon M T
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dicks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009561:Nisin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001430:Bacteriocins; D009561:Nisin; C102526:nisin A