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Mol Microbiol

Title:		Biogenic ammonia modifies antibiotic resistance at a distance in physically separated bacteria
Author(s):		Bernier SP; Letoffe S; Delepierre M; Ghigo JM;
Address:		"Institut Pasteur, Unite de Genetique des Biofilms, CNRS URA 2172, 25 rue du Dr. Roux, 75724 Paris CEDEX 15, France"
Journal Title:		Mol Microbiol
Year:		2011
Volume:		20110623
Issue:		3
Page Number:		705 - 716
DOI:		10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07724.x
ISSN/ISBN:		1365-2958 (Electronic) 0950-382X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Bacteria release low-molecular-weight by-products called secondary metabolites, which contribute to bacterial ecology and biology. Whereas volatile compounds constitute a large class of potential infochemicals, their role in bacteria-bacteria interactions remains vastly unexplored. Here we report that exposure to gaseous ammonia released from stationary-phase bacterial cultures modifies the antibiotic resistance spectrum of all tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Using Escherichia coli K12 as a model organism, and increased resistance to tetracycline as the phenotypic read-out, we demonstrate that exposure to ammonia generated by the catabolism of l-aspartate increases the level of intracellular polyamines, in turn leading to modifications in membrane permeability to different antibiotics as well as increased resistance to oxidative stress. We show that the inability to import ammonia via the Amt gas channel or to synthesize polyamines prevent modification in the resistance profile of aerially exposed bacteria. We therefore provide here the first detailed molecular characterization of widespread, long-range chemical interference between physically separated bacteria"
Keywords:		"Ammonia/*metabolism Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology Aspartic Acid/metabolism Cell Membrane Permeability/drug effects Drug Resistance, Bacterial/*drug effects Escherichia coli K12/drug effects/metabolism/*physiology *Microbial Interactions Oxidants/tox;"
Notes:		"MedlineBernier, Steve P Letoffe, Sylvie Delepierre, Muriel Ghigo, Jean-Marc eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2011/06/10 Mol Microbiol. 2011 Aug; 81(3):705-16. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07724.x. Epub 2011 Jun 23"