Inhibition by Levorphanol and Related Drugs of Amino Acid Transport by Isolated Membrane Vesicles from Escherichia coli

Levorphanol inhibits the transport of the amino acids proline and lysine by cytoplasmic membrane vesicles derived from Escherichia coli. The degree of inhibition increases with increasing levorphanol concentration and ranges from 26% at 10⁻⁶ M levorphanol to 92% at 10⁻³ M levorphanol. The effect is independent of the energy source, since levorphanol inhibits proline uptake to the same extent in the presence of 20 mM d-lactate or 20 mM succinate and in the absence of an exogenous energy source. Levorphanol does not irreversibly alter the ability of membrane vesicles to transport proline, since incubation of membrane vesicles for 15 min in the presence of 0.25 mM levorphanol, a concentration which inhibits proline transport by more than 75%, has no effect on the rate of proline transport by these vesicles once the drug is removed. Both the maximum velocity and the K_m of proline transport are modified by levorphanol, hence, the type of inhibition produced by levorphanol is mixed. The inhibitor constant (K_i) for levorphanol inhibition of proline transport is approximately 3 × 10⁻⁴ M. Membrane vesicles incubated in the presence of levorphanol accumulate much less proline at the steady state than do control vesicles. Furthermore, the addition of levorphanol to membrane vesicles preloaded to the steady state with proline produces a marked net efflux of proline. Levorphanol does not block either temperature-induced efflux or exchange of external proline with [¹⁴C]proline present in the intravesicular pool. Dextrorphan, the enantiomorph of levorphanol, and levallorphan, the N-allyl analogue of levorphanol, inhibit proline and lysine transport in a similar manner. Possible mechanisms of the effects of these drugs on cell membranes are discussed.     

Function of the Outer Membrane of Escherichia coli as a Permeability Barrier to Beta-Lactam Antibiotics

On the basis of a simple theoretical model, the ease of penetration of beta-lactam antibiotics through the outer membrane of Escherichia coli was measured. The cell envelope was found to act as a diffusion barrier to both penicillins and cephalosporins. The validity of the model and the cooperative action of cell-bound beta-lactamase and outer membrane were further verified by comparing calculated and experimentally determined velocities of beta-lactam hydrolysis by intact cells and sonically treated cell suspensions. The results showed good correspondence at five different antibiotic concentrations. Similar conclusions could be drawn from a comparison of beta-lactam concentrations on both sides of the outer membrane, calculated from enzyme kinetic measurements and minimal inhibitory concentrations for both a beta-lactamase-producing E. coli and its enzyme-negative variant. in the case of benzylpenicillin and cephalothin, however, no correspondence was found. The joint action of several parameters determining the efficacy of penicillins and cephalosporins against beta-lactamase-producing E. coli is discussed.     

Outer-Membrane Penetration Barriers as Components of Intrinsic Resistance to Beta-Lactam and Other Antibiotics in Escherichia coli K-12

A new technique has been devised to investigate the penetration of antibiotics through the gram-negative outer membrane; the application here was to study intrinsic resistance of Escherichia coli K-12. Exponential cells in broth were briefly treated with 2.5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid at 5 degrees C to disrupt the outer membrane penetration barrier, and the response of treated and untreated cells to antibiotics was compared by turbidimetry. A barrier index was derived to describe the ability of 7 beta-lactam and 10 other antibiotics to penetrate the outer membrane of strain Y10. There was correlation between the molecular weight and log(10) barrier index (r = 0.59, P congruent with 0.01). The envelope mutant D22 (envA) had low barrier indexes for erythromycin, rifampin, ampicillin, and cloxacillin. For the beta-lactams, outer membrane penetration and affinity for inner membrane target site(s) triggering cell lysis were measured as independent components of the overall activity; although penetration and overall activity varied greatly, the affinities of most were within a narrow range.     

Comparative Physiological Effects of Incorporated Amino Acid Analogs In Escherichia coli

The relative toxicities of several incorporated analogs of phenylalanine, methionine, arginine, and proline were assessed by a variety of criteria in a derivative of Escherichia coli 15 requiring the antagonized amino acids. Toxicity of the analog-substituted cell protein was most consistently indicated by its insolubility at graded temperatures, its increased breakdown, the relative suppression of further cell growth, and lethality. The relative toxicity of poorly utilized analogs could be judged clearly only by the first two criteria. Toxicity generally increased as follows: selenomethionine < 2,5-dihydrophenylalanine and m-fluorophenylalanine < o-fluorophenylalanine and norleucine < ethionine < p-fluorophenylalanine < azetidine-2-carboxylate < canavanine. The overall perturbation of cell protein structure indicated by the toxicity of the methionine and phenylalanine analogs correlated with their alteration of charge and bulk and was greatly modified by minor positional modifications of fluorine. Among the more specific functional impairments, the activity and heat stability of beta-galactosidase were lowered in parallel by substitutions of phenylalanine and methionine analogs, but not in the usual order of toxicity. Flagella were transiently motile with p-fluorophenylalanine, moderately motile with m-fluorophenylalanine, and fully motile with all methionine analogs. Usually the analog incorporations were no more than bacteriostatic in E. coli strains, canavanine killing only the E. coli 15 substrain extensively in minimal media. Selenomethionine supported indefinite growth of procaryotes such as Bacillus subtilis and certain E. coli strains, but only upon supplementation, at least initially, with many nonessential metabolites.     

Miracil D: Inhibition of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase-Deficient Escherichia coli

Miracil D preferentially inhibited the growth of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase-deficient Escherichia coli strain. This is taken to indicate that miracil D is capable of altering the DNA of living cells and that it may thereby be a potential mutagen and carcinogen.     

Synergy of Mecillinam, a Beta-Amidinopenicillanic Acid Derivative, Combined with Beta-Lactam Antibiotics

Mecillinam, a β-amidinopenicillanic acid derivative, was combined with ampicillin, amoxicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, cefamandole, and cefoxitin and tested against most members of the Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas. Synergy was demonstrated with selected isolates of most of the organisms tested. Isolates highly susceptible to mecillinam (minimum inhibitory concentration, <0.8 μg/ml) were not synergistically inhibited by addition of another β-lactam antibiotic. Synergy of mecillinam and a β-lactamase-resistant penicillin, cloxacillin, was demonstrated. In media of osmolality >10 mOsm or of conductivity >6 mS, mecillinam and β-lactam antibiotics showed synergy in most instances, whereas at low osmolality and conductivity the activity of mecillinam is so great that synergy cannot be demonstrated. The proportion of mecillinam to β-lactam antibiotic that will be synergistic ranged from 100:1 to 1:1 to 1:100. Mecillinam did not increase the activity, minimum inhibitory concentration or minimum bactericidal concentration values, of β-lactam compounds against streptococci, staphylococci, clostridia, listeria, or bacteroides. Synergy was not demonstrated with combinations of mecillinam and aminoglycosides (kanamycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin), chloramphenicol, tetracycline, or polymyxins.     

大肠埃希菌耐药性分析

目的：了解大肠埃希菌对常用抗生素的耐药性以及不同来源大肠埃希菌耐药性的差异，以指导临床合理用药。方法：应用WHONET5分析我院2000年1月-2002年7月临床分离的430株大肠埃希菌的药敏结果。结果：大肠埃希菌对氨苄西林、哌拉西林、阿莫西林-克拉维酸、复方磺胺甲嗯唑、环丙沙星、庆大霉素、头孢唑啉和头孢呋辛的耐药率分别为87％、78％、80％、67％、65％、53％、55％和42％；对头孢噻肟、头孢曲松、头孢他啶和氨曲南的耐药率分别为23％、18％、4％和18％；对哌拉西林-三唑巴坦、头孢吡肟、头孢西丁、亚胺培南、阿米卡星和呋喃妥因的耐药率分别为22％、15％、22％、0、15％和20％。痰液标本中的大肠埃希菌耐药率显著高于其他各类标本中分离者。结论：大肠埃希菌对青霉素类、磺胺类、喹诺酮类和庆大霉素，第一代、第二代头孢菌素等均已高度耐药，临床不宜选用；哌拉西林-三唑巴坦、第四代头孢菌素、头霉素类、碳青霉烯类、阿米卡星和呋喃类耐药率较低，临床可选用；不同来源的大肠埃希菌耐药率存在差异，痰标本中细菌耐药率最高，其余无明显差别。     

Inhibition of Escherichia coli by thioglycerol.

Thioglycerol inhibits the growth of various Escherichia coli strains and other microorganisms, both gram positive and gram negative. The susceptibility of organisms varies. The bactericidal action of this substance is not continuous and stops after an initial burst. At subbactericidal concentrations synthesis of ribonucleic acid is the most strongly affected. This is not due to interference with nucleoside biosynthesis or to direct inhibition of ribonucleic acid polymerase by thioglycerol.     

Fumarate-Mediated Persistence of Escherichia coli against Antibiotics

Bacterial persisters are a small fraction of quiescent cells that survive in the presence of lethal concentrations of antibiotics. They can regrow to give rise to a new population that has the same vulnerability to the antibiotics as did the parental population. Although formation of bacterial persisters in the presence of various antibiotics has been documented, the molecular mechanisms by which these persisters tolerate the antibiotics are still controversial. We found that amplification of the fumarate reductase operon (FRD) in Escherichia coli led to a higher frequency of persister formation. The persister frequency of E. coli was increased when the cells contained elevated levels of intracellular fumarate. Genetic perturbations of the electron transport chain (ETC), a metabolite supplementation assay, and even the toxin-antitoxin-related hipA7 mutation indicated that surplus fumarate markedly elevated the E. coli persister frequency. An E. coli strain lacking succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), thereby showing a lower intracellular fumarate concentration, was killed ∼1,000-fold more effectively than the wild-type strain in the stationary phase. It appears that SDH and FRD represent a paired system that gives rise to and maintains E. coli persisters by producing and utilizing fumarate, respectively.     

Inhibition of Transpeptidase Activity in Escherichia coli by Thienamycin

Thienamycin was shown to be a more potent inhibitor than ampicillin of the enzyme peptidoglycan transpeptidase from Escherichia coli.     

Irreversible Effects of Serum Proteins on Beta-Lactam Antibiotics

The chromogenic cephalosporin nitrocefin (87/312) demonstrates rapid and visible instability to serum from many species. This phenomenon was distinct from serum binding, being significantly slower. Destruction of another cephalosporin, 10485, by serum appeared to account for some anomalous results during investigation into its human pharmacokinetics. Many cephalosporins of very different structures also showed serum instability, unrelated to their degrees of serum binding as measured by plate assay. Extrapolation could not be made from one species to another with regard to either binding or instability. Small changes in the chemical structures of the 3- and 7-substituents of the cephalosporins made profound changes in their susceptibility to serum attack. The decomposition is pH dependent, occurring more slowly at acid pH, and is due to a high-molecular-weight component of serum that resists boiling for several minutes. Isoelectric focusing of serum from several animal species gave various species-specific bands that decomposed nitrocefin. The inactivation of nitrocefin was not entirely parallel with that of 10485 and was inhibited by it. All other beta-lactam compounds tested also inhibited the reaction, much greater concentrations usually being necessary when the inhibitor was stable to serum. The complex that causes breakdown of the beta-lactam compounds is not necessarily the same as the one causing serum binding. It is postulated that serum may affect most other beta-lactam antibiotics in a similar way, although in most cases, this only occurs to a very slight extent.     

Beta-Lactamase Production and Resistance to Beta-Lactam Antibiotics in Nocardia

Although ampicillin has been suggested as a useful agent for the treatment of nocardiosis in man, little is known regarding the presence of beta-lactamase in Nocardia or its possible role in determining resistance to ampicillin and the other beta-lactam antibiotics. We have evaluated 55 isolates of Nocardia for susceptibility to five beta-lactam antibiotics and for the presence of beta-lactamase. Nocardia were resistant to penicillin G, cloxacillin, and cefazolin, but 27 and 62% were susceptible to 3.1 and 25 mug of ampicillin per ml, respectively. Almost 90% of these ampicillin-susceptible or intermediate strains were also susceptible to carbenicillin. The combination of ampicillin and cloxacillin was synergistic against many ampicillin-resistant strains. Beta-lactamase was detected in 89% of Nocardia isolates when intact cells were used and in six of six strains after cell fractionation. This beta-lactamase was most active against penicillin G and ampicillin, with lesser activity against carbenicillin and cephaloridine. These studies suggest that beta-lactamase may be present in all clinical isolates of Nocardia and that mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance other than or in addition to beta-lactamase are responsible for resistance of Nocardia to ampicillin and carbenicillin.     

Inhibition of respiration of Escherichia coli by thioglycerol.

Anaerobic growth on glucose significantly protected Escherichia coli from growth inhibition by thioglycerol. Methionine and anaerobiosis completely overcame growth inhibition by 2 to 90 mM thioglycerol. The respiration of aerobically growing cells was partially inhibited by 20 to 90 mM thioglycerol.     

Comparative Activities of Selected Beta-Lactam Antibiotics Against Haemophilus influenzae

The comparative activities of ampicillin, cefamandole, cefoxitin, cefaclor, and cefatrizine against both beta-lactamase-producing and non-beta-lactamase-producing isolates of Haemophilus influenzae were determined by using an agar dilution susceptibility test procedure. Ampicillin was the most active drug tested against non-beta-lactamase-producing isolates, whereas cefamandole was most active against beta-lactamase-producing strains.     

Relative Morphological Effects Induced by Cefoxitin and Other Beta-Lactam Antibiotics In Vitro

Cefoxitin, a new semisynthetic cephamycin antibiotic, induced filament formation at subinhibitory concentrations with a beta-lactamaseless strain of Enterobacter cloacae (HSC 18410 M66). The extent of filament induction by cefoxitin was similar to that seen with cephalothin, cefazolin, and benzylpenicillin. Filament induction by cefoxitin was markedly less than that seen with cephalexin, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, cephradine, and cephapirin. Antibiotics which failed to induce filaments at any level tested included cephaloridine, cephacetrile, cephalosporin C, the cephamycins, 6-aminopenicillanic acid, 7-aminocephalosporanic acid, A16884, A16886, and FL-1060. Those antimicrobial agents tested which lacked an aromatic substituent in the 7-position (for cephems) or in the 6-position (for penams) did not induce filaments. These observations suggest a possible relationship between filament induction of the test organism and the molecular nature of constituents in the 7- or 6-position of beta-lactams.     

Mutational Enzymatic Resistance of Enterobacter Species to Beta-Lactam Antibiotics

Mutants with enhanced β-lactam resistance were selected from strains of Enterobacter cloacae and E. aerogenes by using three antibiotics. High-level β-lactamase-producing mutants had similar degrees of increased resistance, enzyme substrate profiles, and isoelectric (pI) values irrespective of the selective agent. Reverse mutants from a resistant E. cloacae mutant regained the susceptibility pattern originally exhibited by the wild type, or were of enhanced susceptibility, and no longer expressed increased β-lactamase production. β-Lactamases of the mutants were similar in pI values to the wild-type enzyme. The increased resistance of the mutants therefore appeared to be accounted for by increased β-lactamase production.     

Factors Contributing to Resistance to Beta-Lactam Antibiotics in Bacteroides fragilis

Fifteen strains of Bacteroides fragilis, five highly resistant, five moderately resistant, and five susceptible to benzylpenicillin and cephaloridine, were tested for beta-lactamase production. In the highly resistant and the moderately resistant groups of strains, a correlation between formation of beta-lactamase and minimal inhibitory concentrations was demonstrated. In the presence of the beta-lactamase inhibitors clavulanic acid and CP-45,899 at concentrations of 1 mug/ml, the susceptibility to cephaloridine increased fourfold or more in the beta-lactamase-producing strains. Crypticity measurements (beta-lactamase activity broken/intact cells) with cephaloridine as substrate could indicate a diffusion barrier in the cell wall.     

Inhibition of R-plasmid transfer in Escherichia coli by 4-quinolones.

Inhibition of transfer of four conjugative R plasmids by ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, and pipemidic acid was investigated in an Escherichia coli mating system. The absolute concentrations needed for inhibition of conjugation varied from 0.12 microgram/ml for ciprofloxacin to 16 micrograms/ml for pipemidic acid, but the relationship to the MICs for the parent strains was identical for all substrates. Concentrations for a 90% reduction of transconjugants were in the range of one to six times the MIC for the parent strains, which also had lethal effects on donors and recipients. A similar effect on conjugation was found with chloramphenicol. These observations question the specificity of transfer inhibition by quinolones and cast doubt on the clinical importance of such an effect.     

Bacteriological Study on Effects of Beta-Lactam Group Antibiotics in High Concentrations

The growth and viability of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exposed to various concentrations of a number of β-lactam group antibiotics were determined. In S. aureus, the bacteriolytic and bactericidal activity of these drugs was lower at very high drug concentrations than that occurring at low concentrations, but these phenomena were not observed in E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Under phase-contrast and scanning electron microscopy, S. aureus treated with high concentrations of β-lactam group antibiotics revealed a lower frequency of bacteriolysis than at low drug concentrations, and similarly by transmission electron microscopy fewer cells were transformed into spheroplasts at high drug concentrations. However, swelling of the cell wall septum was seen in many cells. Spheroplast formation occurred with the highest frequency at drug levels near the minimum inhibitory concentration and became less frequent as drug concentrations were increased.     

Mutants of Escherichia coli That Are Resistant to Certain Beta-Lactam Compounds Lack the ompF Porin

Carbenicillin-resistant mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 and B/r were found to produce greatly diminished levels of the porin coded by the ompF gene. Physiological and ecological implications of these findings are discussed.