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Vancomycin resistance reversal in enterococci by flavonoids.
L X Liu1, D G Durham, R M Richards
1School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Social Care, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK.
The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Flavonoids like galangin can resensitize vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) to vancomycin. This combination therapy shows promise for treating VRE infections, offering new therapeutic strategies against resistant pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) pose a significant threat in clinical settings.
- Emerging resistance necessitates novel therapeutic approaches to combat VRE infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of flavonoids, specifically galangin and 3,7-dihydroxyflavone, in combination with vancomycin to overcome vancomycin resistance in enterococci.
- To evaluate the efficacy of these combinations in reducing the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and viable bacterial counts.
Main Methods:
- Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and viable counts were determined using a microtitre broth method.
- Resistant clinical isolates and a type strain of Enterococcus faecalis were tested with vancomycin alone and in combination with galangin or 3,7-dihydroxyflavone.
Main Results:
- Vancomycin/flavonoid combinations significantly lowered vancomycin MICs against 67% of resistant clinical isolates and a type strain from >250 µg/mL to <4 µg/mL.
- Flavonoids alone reduced colony-forming units (CFUs), and vancomycin/flavonoid combinations maintained low CFUs (<10^3 CFU/mL) for 24 hours.
Conclusions:
- Galangin and 3,7-dihydroxyflavone can resensitize vancomycin-resistant enterococci to vancomycin.
- These findings highlight potential novel drug targets and inform the development of new therapeutic strategies against resistant bacterial pathogens.