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A Sandwich Cup Method for the Penetration Assay of Antimicrobial Agents through Pseudomonas Exopolysaccharides
Author(s) -
Kumon Hiromi,
Tomochika Kenichi,
Matunaga Tosiyuki,
Ogawa Masatoshi,
Ohmori Hiroyuki
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1994.tb01831.x
Subject(s) - penetration (warfare) , antimicrobial , microbiology and biotechnology , pseudomonas aeruginosa , gentamicin , gellan gum , biology , biofilm , pseudomonas , in vivo , antibiotics , bacteria , genetics , operations research , engineering
We developed new sandwich cup method to assay the penetration of various antimicrobial agents through Pseudomonas exopolysaccharides. Using alginate extracted from mucoid‐type Pseudomonas aeruginosa and gellan gum from Pseudomonas elodea , the role of exopolysaccharides as a barrier against drug penetration was examined. The penetration of positively charged hydrophilic drugs such as aminoglycosides and polypeptides was markedly inhibited by the gels tested, but that of β‐lactams, quinolones, and macrolides was not inhibited. The penetration of gentamicin was strongly influenced by the gel concentration, the solution to be used, and the presence of Ca 2+ . These results suggest that the microenvironment at the infection site could greatly influence drug penetration through biofilms in vivo.