• BMB Reports
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• 제43권7호
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• pp.468-473
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• 2010

Previously, various inhibitors of cell wall synthesis induced the drp35 gene of Staphylococcus aureus efficiently. To determine whether drp35 could be exploited in antistaphylococcal drug discovery, we cloned the promoter of drp35 ($P_d$) and developed different biological assay systems using an engineered S. aureus strain that harbors a chromosomally-integrated $P_d$ - lacZ transcriptional fusion. An agarose-based assay showed that $P_d$ is induced not only by the cell wall-affecting antibiotics but also by rifampicin and ciprofloxacin. In contrast, a liquid medium-based assay revealed the induction of $P_d$ specifically by the cell wall-affecting antibiotics. Induction of $P_d$ by sublethal concentrations of cell wall-affecting antibiotics was even assessable in a microtiter plate assay format, indicating that this assay system could be potentially used for high-throughput screening of new cell wall-inhibiting compounds.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.226-236
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• 2020

Antibiotic resistance by pathogenic bacteria and fungi is one of the most serious global public health problems in the 21^st century, directly affecting human health and lifestyle. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus with strong resistance to the common antibiotics have been isolated from Intensive Care Unit patients at Zagazig Hospital. Thus, in this study we assessed the biocidal activity of nanoparticles of silver, copper and zinc synthesized by Fusarium solani KJ 623702 against these multidrug resistant-bacteria. The synthesized Metal Nano-particles (MNPs) were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Zeta potential. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) result showed the presence of different functional groups such as carboxyl, amino and thiol, ester and peptide bonds in addition to glycosidic bonds that might stabilize the dispersity of MNPs from aggregation. The antimicrobial potential of MNPs by F. solani against the multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in addition to the mycotoxigenic Aspergillus awamori, A. fumigatus and F. oxysporum was investigated, based on the visual growth by diameter of inhibition zone. Among the synthesized MNPs, the spherical AgNPs (13.70 nm) displayed significant effect against P. aeruginosa (Zone of Inhibition 22.4 mm and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration 21.33 ㎍/ml), while ZINC oxide Nano-Particles were the most effective against F. oxysporum (ZOI, 18.5 mm and MIC 24.7 ㎍/ml). Transmission Electron Microscope micrographs of AgNP-treated P. aeruginosa showed cracks and pits in the cell wall, with internalization of NPs. Production of pyocyanin pigment was significantly inhibited by AgNPs in a concentration-dependent manner, and at 5-20 ㎍ of AgNPs/ml, the pigment production was reduced by about 15-100%, respectively.