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A Tandem Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-based Approach for Metabolite Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: March 28, 2017
PARA-AMINOBENZOIC ACID PRODUCTION BY STAPHYLOCOCCI
W W Spink1, L D Wright, J J Vivino
1Division of Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota Hospitals and Medical School, Minneapolis, and the Medical-Research Division, Sharp and Dohme, Inc., Glenolden, Pennsylvania.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Sulfonamide-resistant staphylococci produce more diazotizable substances, similar to p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), which inhibit sulfonamide effectiveness. These substances can be quantified using microbiological assays.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Staphylococci strains produce diazotizable substances.
- Sulfonamide resistance in bacteria is a growing concern.
- PABA is known to interfere with sulfonamide activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the production of diazotizable substances by staphylococci.
- To compare the production of these substances in sulfonamide-resistant versus non-resistant strains.
- To quantify the amount of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) produced by staphylococci.
Main Methods:
- Colorimetric quantification of diazotizable substances.
- Inhibition assays using a soil bacillus adapted to oxidize PABA.
- Microbiological assays for p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) quantification.
Main Results:
- Sulfonamide-resistant staphylococci strains produced higher levels of diazotizable substances compared to non-resistant strains.
- The diazotizable substance from staphylococci inhibited the antibacterial action of sodium sulfathiazole, similar to PABA.
- Microbiological assays indicated increased PABA production in sulfonamide-resistant staphylococci.
Conclusions:
- Staphylococci, particularly sulfonamide-resistant strains, produce substances that interfere with sulfonamide efficacy.
- The diazotizable substance produced by staphylococci is functionally similar to PABA.
- Further investigation is needed to address the variability in biological assay results.
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