OBJECTIVE: We have sought ways to circumvent resistance, by combining nisin with other antibiotics known to target bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. METHODS: Twenty strains each of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were tested in vitro by standardized methods against nisin alone and combined with bacitracin, ramoplanin and chloramphenicol. RESULTS: Ramoplanin was the most potent compound, and bacitracin had the least activity. Two-way synergy was observed with nisin and ramoplanin. However, chloramphenicol was clearly antagonistic to the activity of nisin. CONCLUSIONS: Observations of synergy between nisin and ramoplanin against MRSA and VRE offer a promising approach to the concept of combining nisin with inhibitors of cell wall peptidoglycan. Further investigations are needed in order to develop this approach as a clinical possibility.
OBJECTIVE: We have sought ways to circumvent resistance, by combining nisin with other antibiotics known to target bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. METHODS: Twenty strains each of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were tested in vitro by standardized methods against nisin alone and combined with bacitracin, ramoplanin and chloramphenicol. RESULTS:Ramoplanin was the most potent compound, and bacitracin had the least activity. Two-way synergy was observed with nisin and ramoplanin. However, chloramphenicol was clearly antagonistic to the activity of nisin. CONCLUSIONS: Observations of synergy between nisin and ramoplanin against MRSA and VRE offer a promising approach to the concept of combining nisin with inhibitors of cell wall peptidoglycan. Further investigations are needed in order to develop this approach as a clinical possibility.
Authors: Deborah L Higgins; Ray Chang; Dmitri V Debabov; Joey Leung; Terry Wu; Kevin M Krause; Erik Sandvik; Jeffrey M Hubbard; Koné Kaniga; Donald E Schmidt; Qiufeng Gao; Robert T Cass; Dane E Karr; Bret M Benton; Patrick P Humphrey Journal: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 5.191
Authors: Paul D Cotter; Lorraine A Draper; Elaine M Lawton; Olivia McAuliffe; Colin Hill; R Paul Ross Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2006-06 Impact factor: 4.792
Authors: Lorraine A Draper; Lucy H Deegan; Colin Hill; Paul D Cotter; R Paul Ross Journal: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Date: 2012-07-16 Impact factor: 5.191
Authors: Sebastian W Fuchs; Thorsten W Jaskolla; Sophie Bochmann; Peter Kötter; Thomas Wichelhaus; Michael Karas; Torsten Stein; Karl-Dieter Entian Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2011-01-14 Impact factor: 4.792