title: Evaluation of antibacterial and antibiofilm mechanisms by usnic acid against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: To evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm mechanisms of usnic acid (USN) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from cystic fibrosis patients.
  
  
  
  The effects exerted by USN at subinhibitory concentrations on S. aureus Sa3 strain was evaluated by proteomic, real-time PCR and electron microscopy analyses.
  
  
  
  Proteomic analysis showed that USN caused damage in peptidoglycan synthesis, as confirmed by microscopy. Real-time PCR analysis showed that antibiofilm activity of USN is mainly due to impaired adhesion to the host matrix binding proteins, and decreasing lipase and thermonuclease expression. Our data show that USN exerts anti-staphylococcal effects through multitarget inhibitory effects, thus confirming the rationale for considering it 'lead compound' for the treatment of cystic fibrosis infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.|Aging Research Center and Translational Medicine, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pompilio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.|Aging Research Center and Translational Medicine, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.|Stem TeCh Group, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riviello
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.|Aging Research Center and Translational Medicine, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Crocetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.|Aging Research Center and Translational Medicine, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.|Stem TeCh Group, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Giuseppe
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.|Aging Research Center and Translational Medicine, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pomponio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.|Aging Research Center and Translational Medicine, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.|Stem TeCh Group, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Marilisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sulpizio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.|Aging Research Center and Translational Medicine, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.|Stem TeCh Group, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Ilio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.|Aging Research Center and Translational Medicine, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.|Stem TeCh Group, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Angelucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Science, LIME, University Roma Tre, Viale G Marconi 446, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.affiliation: Department of Science, LIME, University Roma Tre, Viale G Marconi 446, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Giulio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.|Aging Research Center and Translational Medicine, 'G d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Via L Polacchi 13, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Bonaventura
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D015536:Down-Regulation; D008049:Lipase / Q000187:drug effects; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D011419:Propidium / Q000378:metabolism; D060066:Protein Interaction Maps; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014774:Virulence / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001572:Benzofurans; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010457:Peptidoglycan; C073339:usnic acid; D011419:Propidium; D008049:Lipase
keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; biofilm; usnic acid