The biofilm inhibitor Carolacton inhibits planktonic growth of virulent pneumococci via a conserved target

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Jannik Donner
  • Michael Reck
  • Simone Bergmann
  • Andreas Kirschning
  • Rolf Müller
  • Irene Wagner-Döbler

External Research Organisations

  • Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)
  • Technische Universität Braunschweig
  • Saarland University
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number29677
JournalScientific Reports
Volume6
Publication statusPublished - 11 Jul 2016

Abstract

New antibacterial compounds, preferentially exploiting novel cellular targets, are urgently needed to fight the increasing resistance of pathogens against conventional antibiotics. Here we demonstrate that Carolacton, a myxobacterial secondary metabolite previously shown to damage Streptococcus mutans biofilms, inhibits planktonic growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4 and multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of serotype 19A at nanomolar concentrations. A Carolacton diastereomer is inactive in both streptococci, indicating a highly specific interaction with a conserved cellular target. S. mutans requires the eukaryotic-like serine/threonine protein kinase PknB and the cysteine metabolism regulator CysR for susceptibility to Carolacton, whereas their homologues are not needed in S. pneumoniae, suggesting a specific function for S. mutans biofilms only. A bactericidal effect of Carolacton was observed for S. pneumoniae TIGR4, with a reduction of cell numbers by 3 log units. The clinical pneumonia isolate Sp49 showed immediate growth arrest and cell lysis, suggesting a bacteriolytic effect of Carolacton. Carolacton treatment caused a reduction in membrane potential, but not membrane integrity, and transcriptome analysis revealed compensatory reactions of the cell. Our data show that Carolacton might have potential for treating pneumococcal infections.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

The biofilm inhibitor Carolacton inhibits planktonic growth of virulent pneumococci via a conserved target. / Donner, Jannik; Reck, Michael; Bergmann, Simone et al.
In: Scientific Reports, Vol. 6, 29677, 11.07.2016.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Donner J, Reck M, Bergmann S, Kirschning A, Müller R, Wagner-Döbler I. The biofilm inhibitor Carolacton inhibits planktonic growth of virulent pneumococci via a conserved target. Scientific Reports. 2016 Jul 11;6:29677. doi: 10.1038/srep29677
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abstract = "New antibacterial compounds, preferentially exploiting novel cellular targets, are urgently needed to fight the increasing resistance of pathogens against conventional antibiotics. Here we demonstrate that Carolacton, a myxobacterial secondary metabolite previously shown to damage Streptococcus mutans biofilms, inhibits planktonic growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4 and multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of serotype 19A at nanomolar concentrations. A Carolacton diastereomer is inactive in both streptococci, indicating a highly specific interaction with a conserved cellular target. S. mutans requires the eukaryotic-like serine/threonine protein kinase PknB and the cysteine metabolism regulator CysR for susceptibility to Carolacton, whereas their homologues are not needed in S. pneumoniae, suggesting a specific function for S. mutans biofilms only. A bactericidal effect of Carolacton was observed for S. pneumoniae TIGR4, with a reduction of cell numbers by 3 log units. The clinical pneumonia isolate Sp49 showed immediate growth arrest and cell lysis, suggesting a bacteriolytic effect of Carolacton. Carolacton treatment caused a reduction in membrane potential, but not membrane integrity, and transcriptome analysis revealed compensatory reactions of the cell. Our data show that Carolacton might have potential for treating pneumococcal infections.",
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