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[Structural and ultrastructural changes in Mycobacterium rubrum cells exposed to penicillin]

M N Poglazova, V I Biriuzova, N A Kostrikina

    Mikrobiologiia
    |September 1, 1987
    PubMed

    Insights

    Penicillin at low doses alters Mycobacterium rubrum cell structure and DNA. Higher doses inhibit cell wall synthesis, suggesting DNA

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Molecular Biology

    Context:

    • Investigating the effects of penicillin on Mycobacterium rubrum.
    • Examining cellular and molecular responses to varying antibiotic concentrations.

    Purpose:

    • To elucidate the impact of subbacterioscopic and bacteriostatic doses of penicillin on Mycobacterium rubrum.
    • To understand the role of DNA structure and function in penicillin resistance.

    Summary:

    • Subbacterioscopic penicillin doses induce morphological changes in Mycobacterium rubrum, affecting cell wall, intracellular membranes, and nucleoid DNA packing.
    • Bacteriostatic penicillin doses prevent peptidoglycan precursor incorporation, leading to periplasmic accumulation.
    • Penicillin-induced DNA overspiralization suggests physiological passivity, potentially linked to cellular resistance mechanisms.

    Impact:

    • Reveals penicillin's diverse effects on bacterial cell structure and DNA.
    • Provides insights into mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in mycobacteria.
    • Highlights the importance of DNA conformation in bacterial response to antimicrobial stress.

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