TY - JOUR

T1 - Punica granatum sarcotesta lectin (PgTeL) has antibacterial activity and synergistic effects with antibiotics against β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli

AU - da Silva, Pollyanna Michelle

AU - da Silva, Beatriz Rodrigues

AU - de Oliveira Silva, Juliane Nancy

AU - de Moura, Maiara Celine

AU - Soares, Tatiana

AU - Feitosa, Ana Paula Sampaio

AU - Brayner, Fábio André

AU - Alves, Luiz Carlos

AU - Paiva, Patrícia Maria Guedes

AU - Damborg, Peter

AU - Ingmer, Hanne

AU - Napoleão, Thiago Henrique

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - The sarcotesta of Punica granatum fruit contains an antimicrobial lectin called PgTeL. In this work, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of PgTeL against five drug-resistant Escherichia coli isolates able to produce β-lactamases. Minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations were determined by broth dilution. Morphometric and viability analyses were performed by flow cytometry, and ultrastructural changes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Potential synergistic effects of PgTeL with antibiotics and anti-biofilm effect were also evaluated. PgTeL showed antibacterial activity against all isolates with MIC and MBC values ranging from 12.5 to 50.0 μg/mL and from 25.0 to 100.0 μg/mL, respectively. For most isolates, PgTeL postponed the growth start by at least ten hours. At the MIC, the lectin caused alterations in size, shape and structure of bacterial cells. The combination PgTeL-ceftazidime showed a synergistic effect for all isolates. Synergy was also detected with ampicillin (one isolate), carbenicillin (one isolate), cefotaxime (one isolate), cephalexin (four isolates) and cefuroxime (three isolates). PgTeL exhibited anti-biofilm activity against all isolates, causing ≥50% inhibition of biofilms at or above 6.25 μg/mL. The antibacterial effect of PgTeL and its synergy with antibiotics indicate that this fruit-derived molecule may have potential for future treatment of multidrug-resistant infections.

AB - The sarcotesta of Punica granatum fruit contains an antimicrobial lectin called PgTeL. In this work, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of PgTeL against five drug-resistant Escherichia coli isolates able to produce β-lactamases. Minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations were determined by broth dilution. Morphometric and viability analyses were performed by flow cytometry, and ultrastructural changes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Potential synergistic effects of PgTeL with antibiotics and anti-biofilm effect were also evaluated. PgTeL showed antibacterial activity against all isolates with MIC and MBC values ranging from 12.5 to 50.0 μg/mL and from 25.0 to 100.0 μg/mL, respectively. For most isolates, PgTeL postponed the growth start by at least ten hours. At the MIC, the lectin caused alterations in size, shape and structure of bacterial cells. The combination PgTeL-ceftazidime showed a synergistic effect for all isolates. Synergy was also detected with ampicillin (one isolate), carbenicillin (one isolate), cefotaxime (one isolate), cephalexin (four isolates) and cefuroxime (three isolates). PgTeL exhibited anti-biofilm activity against all isolates, causing ≥50% inhibition of biofilms at or above 6.25 μg/mL. The antibacterial effect of PgTeL and its synergy with antibiotics indicate that this fruit-derived molecule may have potential for future treatment of multidrug-resistant infections.

KW - Antibacterial activity

KW - Fruit lectin

KW - Microbial resistance

KW - Pomegranate

KW - Synergy

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.06.011

DO - 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.06.011

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31170488

AN - SCOPUS:85066961247

VL - 135

SP - 931

EP - 939

JO - International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

JF - International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

SN - 0141-8130

ER -