title: Determination of Bacterial Membrane Impairment by Antimicrobial Agents.
abstract: The bacterial cytoplasmic membrane separates the cell from its environment and acts as a selective permeability barrier. In addition, it functions in energy conservation, transport, and biosynthesis processes. Antimicrobial agents disrupting these functions may lead to pleiotropic effects, including leakage of low molecular weight compounds such as ions, amino acids and ATP, and subsequent membrane depolarization. This article describes two techniques to assess antibiotic-induced membrane impairment in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University of Bonn, 53105, Bonn, Germany. mwilmes@uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilmes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University of Bonn, 53105, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Sahl
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009861:Onium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D009861:Onium Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D011188:Potassium; C013289:tetraphenylphosphonium
keywords: Depolarization; Membrane permeabilization; Membrane potential; Potassium efflux; Tetraphenylphosphonium bromide