Biogenic Polyamines Influence the Antibiotic Susceptibility and Cell-Surface Properties of Mycobacterium smegmatis

Abstract

Biogenic polyamines affect the properties of surface of Mycobacterium smegmatis cells. The presence of spermidine and spermine in the culture medium had a significant effect on the cell-surface charge and sliding motility of mycobacteria but did not affect the cell-surface hydrophobicity. Cell aggregation in M. smegmatis and the capacity for biofilm formation increased under polyamine treatment. Polyamines also decreased the antibiotic susceptibility of both planktonic forms and biofilms. For the first time, spermine has been shown to enhance the antimycobacterial activity of rifampicin, which is of interest for the treatment of mycobacterial infections.