Mycobacterial response to organic solvents and possible implications on cross-resistance with antimicrobial agents

Cátia Pacífico, Pedro Fernandes, Carla C.C.R. de Carvalho

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mycobacterium vaccae, a bacterium found in soil, has been receiving attention as adjuvant to antituberculosis treatment, vaccines and immunotherapies and even as antidepressant. This bacterium is also able to degrade several pollutants, including aromatic compounds. The increasing presence of organic solvents in the environment may lead to M. vaccae adapted populations. A possible relationship between solvent tolerance and decreased susceptibility to other types of chemicals, including antibiotics, may pose a problem during opportunistic infections. The present study thus aimed at assessing if solvent adapted cells presented higher tolerance to antibiotics and efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs). M. vaccae cells were able to thrive and grow in the presence of up 20% (v/v) glycerol, 5% (v/v) ethanol, 1% (v/v) methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and 0.1% (v/v) toluene. During adaptation to increasing concentration of ethanol and MTBE, the cells changed their fatty acid profile, zeta potential and morphology. Adapted cells acquired an improved tolerance toward the EPIs thioridazine and omeprazole, but became more susceptible to the antibiotics levofloxacin and teicoplanin when compared with non-adapted cells.

Original languageEnglish
Article number961
JournalFrontiers in Microbiology
Volume9
Issue numberMAY
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 May 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Pacífico, Fernandes and de Carvalho.

Keywords

  • Antibiotic
  • Cell adaptation
  • Efflux pump inhibitor
  • Membrane
  • Mycobacterium vaccae
  • Tolerance

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mycobacterial response to organic solvents and possible implications on cross-resistance with antimicrobial agents'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this