Open AccessIntermedilysin release by Streptococcus intermedius : effects of various antibacterial drugs at sub‐MIC levels
Author(s) -
Taylor Mark B.,
Oh Janice H.L.,
Kang K.L.,
Chow Vincent T.K.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsle.2004.12.028
Subject(s) - antibiotics , streptococcus intermedius , clindamycin , minimum inhibitory concentration , microbiology and biotechnology , toxin , biology , bacteria , streptococcus , in vitro , streptococcus pyogenes , nucleic acid , chemistry , biochemistry , staphylococcus aureus , genetics
Intermedilysin is a cytolytic toxin produced by Streptococcus intermedius , a pathogen of humans. In vitro studies showed that exposure of S. intermedius to sub‐minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels (1/2 MIC) of protein‐inhibiting antibiotics and nucleic acid‐inhibiting antibiotics decreased intermedilysin release by S. intermedius . The most potent antibiotic was clindamycin. On the other hand, exposure to cell wall‐inhibiting antibiotics generally showed insignificant changes in intermedilysin release at sub‐MIC concentrations. Investigations into possible mechanisms underlying this sub‐MIC effect with clindamycin showed that there was selective decrease in biosynthesis and release of toxin after exposure to 1/2 MIC condition. However, no significant differences in the mRNA levels of the intermedilysin gene were observed.