Abstract
Toxins and venoms produced by living organisms have exhibited a variety of biological activities against microorganisms. In this study, we tested seven snake venoms from the family Viperidae for antibacterial activity and the activities of reversal of antibiotic resistance and inhibition of biofilm formation against 22 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. Bothrops moojeni venom exhibited anti staphylococcal activity with the lowest mean value of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Moreover, reversal of antibiotic resistance was observed for combinations of B. moojeni venom (½ x MIC) and norfloxacin or ampicillin (both ½ x MIC) for 86.4% and 50% of the isolates, respectively. B. moojeni venom alone at ½ MIC inhibited 90% of biofilm formation, whereas in combination with ciprofloxacin, both at ½ MIC, a reduction on the NorA efflux pump activity was observed. The detection of in vitro mutants colonies of S. aureus resistant to B. moojeni venom was low and they did not survive. A phospholipase A2 was purified from the venom of B. moojeni and displayed anti-staphylococcal activity when tested alone or in combination with ciprofloxacin. The results presented here will contribute to the search for new antimicrobial agents against resistant S. aureus.
Highlights
Since the late 1940s, bacterial resistance to antibiotics has drastically increased worldwide
We investigated the antibacterial activity of Bothrops moojeni venom, its interaction with antibiotics, as well as its inhibitory effect on biofilm formation and the NorA efflux pump
Antibacterial activity and synergistic effects were evaluated against 22 clinical isolates of methicillinresistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) (Braga et al, 2005), and S. aureus strain RN 7044 carrying the plasmid pWBG32 which encodes the NorA efflux pump (Pillai, Pillai, Shankel, & Mitscher, 2001)
Summary
Since the late 1940s, bacterial resistance to antibiotics has drastically increased worldwide. It negatively affects the treatment of all infectious diseases, and is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, significantly increasing the cost of health care (Martinez et al, 2009). S. aureus can be responsible for both local and generalized infections, Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences and is naturally susceptible to most antibiotics that have been developed (Chambers & DeLeo, 2009). The emergence of strains of S. aureus resistant to penicillin, methicillin, vancomycin and linezolid was reported soon after their clinical use (North & Christie, 1946; Labischinski, Ehlert, & Berger-Bächi, 1998; Tsiodras, et al, 2001). Multiple drug resistant S. aureus is one the most common nosocomial
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