Premium
The intrinsic resistance of Escherichia coli to various antimicrobial agents requires ppGpp and σ s
Author(s) -
Greenway D. L. A.,
England R. R.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1046/j.1472-765x.1999.00642.x
Subject(s) - escherichia coli , antimicrobial , sigma factor , microbiology and biotechnology , strain (injury) , biology , stringent response , bacteria , enterobacteriaceae , antibiotic resistance , gene , antibiotics , genetics , rna polymerase , anatomy
We have examined the effect of a wide range of antimicrobial compounds (antibiotics and biocides) on the growth of various strains of Escherichia coli which vary in their ability to produce ppGpp and σ s. We conclude that strains able to synthesize ppGpp, either in a RelA‐ or SpoT‐dependent manner, possess a greater resistance to antimicrobial compounds compared with strains that cannot produce ppGpp. Investigation of an E. coli strain, unable to produce σ s , and an isogenic parent strain, suggests that there is a requirement for this sigma factor in increased expression of intrinsic resistance. We propose that ppGpp is required to induce production of σ s , which in turn directs gene expression of intrinsic resistance determinants.