Berberine inhibits the MexXY‑OprM efflux pump to reverse imipenem resistance in a clinical carbapenem‑resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate in a planktonic state

  • Authors:
    • Fen Su
    • Jiliang Wang
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  • Published online on: November 1, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5431
  • Pages: 467-472
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Abstract

Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa is an ubiquitous and metabolically versatile opportunistic pathogen and may cause various life‑threatening diseases. Due to increasing emergence of resistance to carbapenems, novel drugs with improved antibacterial activities compared with those of traditional antibiotics are required. In the present study, berberine (BEB), a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, was used in combination with imipenem (IMP), a commonly‑used carbapenem, to investigate their antibacterial activities against a clinical P. aeruginosa isolate PA012 and the potential mechanism. Screening revealed that the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of BEB and IMP were 512 and 256 µg/ml, respectively. The combination of BEB (1/4 MIC) and IMP (1/8 MIC) exhibited a synergistic effect with a fractional inhibitory concentration index of 0.375. The synergism of BEB and IMP was also demonstrated in a time‑kill test and by scanning electron microscopic observation. Treatment with BEB at ¼ MIC in combination with IMP at 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 and ½ MIC revealed a concentration‑dependent promoting effect of IMP on the intracellular accumulation of BEB and inhibition of bacterial adhesion. Further analysis of gene expression revealed that BEB (1/4 MIC) combined with IMP (1/8 MIC) decreased MexZ, MexX, MexY and outer membrane protein (Opr)M by 38, 35, 46 and 49% in PA012. In conclusion, these results suggested that IMP had synergistic effects with BEB against the clinical isolate PA012 via inhibition of the MexXY‑OprM efflux pump.
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January-2018
Volume 15 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Su F and Wang J: Berberine inhibits the MexXY‑OprM efflux pump to reverse imipenem resistance in a clinical carbapenem‑resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate in a planktonic state. Exp Ther Med 15: 467-472, 2018.
APA
Su, F., & Wang, J. (2018). Berberine inhibits the MexXY‑OprM efflux pump to reverse imipenem resistance in a clinical carbapenem‑resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate in a planktonic state. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 15, 467-472. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5431
MLA
Su, F., Wang, J."Berberine inhibits the MexXY‑OprM efflux pump to reverse imipenem resistance in a clinical carbapenem‑resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate in a planktonic state". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 15.1 (2018): 467-472.
Chicago
Su, F., Wang, J."Berberine inhibits the MexXY‑OprM efflux pump to reverse imipenem resistance in a clinical carbapenem‑resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate in a planktonic state". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 15, no. 1 (2018): 467-472. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5431