Open AccessEffects of low concentrations of antibiotics on Escherichia coli adhesion
Author(s) -
K Vosbeck,
Helmut Mett,
Ursula Huber,
Joann Bohn,
M Petignat
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.21.6.864
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , escherichia coli , nalidixic acid , adhesion , tetracycline , streptomycin , chloramphenicol , antibiotics , biology , tissue culture , bacteria , chemistry , biochemistry , in vitro , genetics , organic chemistry , gene
We have previously shown that subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics may influence the adhesion of Escherichia coli SS142 to human epithelioid tissue culture cells. This report shows that these effects are not limited to E. coli SS142 or to our tissue culture system. Most of the 10 E. coli strains studied showed decreased adhesion to Intestine 407 tissue culture cells after growth in 25% of the minimum inhibitory concentration of streptomycin, tetracycline, trimethoprimsulfametrole, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin. Nalidixic acid at 25% of the minimum inhibitory concentration caused an increase of adhesion. The hemagglutinating activity of the five hemagglutinating strains and the adhesiveness of E. coli SS142 to human buccal cells were similarly affected by low concentrations of the above-mentioned antibiotics. We conclude that E. coli adhesion to human epithelioid tissue culture cells is a valid model of bacterial adhesion because of its high accuracy and reproducibility.