Morphological, biochemical, physiological and molecular aspects of the response of Fusobacterium nucleatum exposed to subinhibitory concentrations of antimicrobials

Subinhibitory concentrations (SICs) of antimicrobials may result in alterations in bacterial biology with implications for its potential aggression. This has considerable importance for the resident microbiota. Our aim was to analyze the effects of SICs of antimicrobials on the morphological, bioche...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anaerobe 2012-12, Vol.18 (6), p.566-575
Main Authors: de Souza Filho, Job Alves, Diniz, Cláudio Galuppo, Barbosa, Natália Bento, de Freitas, Michele Cristine Ribeiro, Lopes Neves, Mariana Silva, da Gama Mazzei, Rafaella Nogueira, Gameiro, Jacy, Coelho, Cíntia Marques, da Silva, Vânia Lúcia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggression
Ampicillin
Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology
Antimicrobial agents
Antimicrobial susceptibility
Bacterial Proteins - analysis
Bacterial Typing Techniques
biofilm
Biofilms
Biofilms - drug effects
Biofilms - growth & development
Carbohydrate metabolism
Carbohydrate Metabolism - drug effects
Chloramphenicol
Clindamycin
DNA
Drugs
Enzymes
Enzymes - metabolism
Fusobacterium nucleatum
Fusobacterium nucleatum - cytology
Fusobacterium nucleatum - drug effects
Fusobacterium nucleatum - genetics
Fusobacterium nucleatum - physiology
Gene polymorphism
Genotype
Genotyping
Host–bacteria relationship
Infectious diseases
Levofloxacin
Metronidazole
microbial activity
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
microorganisms
Piperacillin
Polymorphism, Genetic
proteins
Proteome - analysis
risk
Stress response
Subinhibitory concentration
Sulbactam
Tazobactam
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Summary:Subinhibitory concentrations (SICs) of antimicrobials may result in alterations in bacterial biology with implications for its potential aggression. This has considerable importance for the resident microbiota. Our aim was to analyze the effects of SICs of antimicrobials on the morphological, biochemical, physiological and molecular characteristics of the resident anaerobic Fusobacterium nucleatum. Fourteen strains were obtained from F. nucleatum ATCC 25586, selected by culturing on SICs of ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, levofloxacin, metronidazole and piperacillin/tazobactam and subsequent culturing in the absence of drugs. Antimicrobial susceptibility, bacterial morphology, biochemical profiles and biofilm formation were evaluated. Genotyping and analysis of protein profiles were also performed. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns showed that most of the derived strains were less sensitive to the antimicrobials, even after culturing them without drugs. Morphological and cell complexity alterations were observed, mainly in strains grown in SICs of β-lactam; these strains also expressed a reduced ability for biofilm formation. The other strains showed an increase in biofilm formation but no apparent morphological changes. Alterations were observed in the carbohydrate metabolism patterns and in the activity of microbial enzymes. Several proteins were positively or negatively regulated and there was polymorphism in the DNA from all derived strains. Therefore, SICs of antimicrobials induce alterations in F. nucleatum, which directly impact its biology. These results emphasize the risk of inadequate antibioticotherapy, which may have serious implications for clinical microbiology and infectious diseases and also may interfere with the host–bacteria relationship. ► Our results emphasize the risk of antibioticotherapy in subinhibitory concentrations (SIC). ► The SIC of antimicrobials induce alterations in Fusobacterium nucleatum, which impact on its biology. ► Our results have implications for clinical microbiology and host–bacteria studies.
ISSN:1075-9964
1095-8274
DOI:10.1016/j.anaerobe.2012.09.007