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Bactericidal Activity of the Human Skin Fatty Acid cis-6-Hexadecanoic Acid on Staphylococcus aureus.
Cartron, Michaël L England, Simon R Chiriac, Alina Iulia Josten, Michaele Turner, Robert Rauter, Yvonne Hurd, Alexander Sahl, Hans-Georg Jones, Simon Foster, Simon J
Cartron, Michaël L
England, Simon R
Chiriac, Alina Iulia
Josten, Michaele
Turner, Robert
Rauter, Yvonne
Hurd, Alexander
Sahl, Hans-Georg
Jones, Simon
Foster, Simon J
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2014-07
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Abstract
Human skin fatty acids are a potent aspect of our innate defenses, giving surface protection against potentially invasive organisms. They provide an important parameter in determining the ecology of the skin microflora, and alterations can lead to increased colonization by pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. Harnessing skin fatty acids may also give a new avenue of exploration in the generation of control measures against drug-resistant organisms. Despite their importance, the mechanism(s) whereby skin fatty acids kill bacteria has remained largely elusive. Here, we describe an analysis of the bactericidal effects of the major human skin fatty acid cis-6-hexadecenoic acid (C6H) on the human commensal and pathogen S. aureus. Several C6H concentration-dependent mechanisms were found. At high concentrations, C6H swiftly kills cells associated with a general loss of membrane integrity. However, C6H still kills at lower concentrations, acting through disruption of the proton motive force, an increase in membrane fluidity, and its effects on electron transfer. The design of analogues with altered bactericidal effects has begun to determine the structural constraints on activity and paves the way for the rational design of new antistaphylococcal agents.
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Bactericidal Activity of the Human Skin Fatty Acid cis-6-Hexadecanoic Acid on Staphylococcus aureus. 2014, 58 (7):3599-609 Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.
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Article
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en
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1098-6596
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