Global transcriptional profiles ofStaphylococcus aureustreated with berberine chloride

Abstract

In this study, we show that berberine chloride (BBR) has antimicrobial activities against all 43 tested strains of Staphylococcus aureus, an important human and animal pathogen. However, the response mechanisms of S. aureus to BBR are still poorly understood. Affymetrix GeneChips were used to determine the global transcription of S. aureus triggered by treatment with subinhibitory concentrations of BBR. 468 genes were up-regulated and 262 genes were down-regulated upon exposure to BBR. There was elevated transcription of various transporter genes, including genes involved in multidrug resistance, members of the multidrug and toxin extrusion family, the ferrous iron transporter, the amino acid transporter, the Na(+)/H(+) antiporter, and the potassium cation transporter. Measurements of active transport were used to demonstrate a phenotypic correlation between efflux transporter overexpression and inhibition of BBR uptake. Furthermore, BBR induced the expression of urease genes, sortase enzyme, and iron-regulated surface determinant genes, but repressed transcription of a gene encoding arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity (N315-SA2490). To our knowledge, this is the first analysis of a genome-wide transcription profile of S. aureus cells in response to BBR treatment. These results will pave the way to exploring the mechanisms of BBR against S. aureus.

Analysis of the gene expression profile of Staphylococcus aureus treated with nisin

“…All samples were analyzed in triplicate and normalized against 16S rRNA gene expression. RT-PCR was performed in triplicate using the 7000 Sequence Detection System (Applied Biosystems, USA) according to a previously described procedure (Wang et al, 2008).…”

Berberine augments ATP-induced inflammasome activation in macrophages by enhancing AMPK signaling

“…Although possessing a variety of pharmacological effects including antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, berberine has long been used mainly as an agent against gastroenteritis, dysentery, and abdominal pain [2]. Several reports have showed that its anti-gastroenteritic and anti-dysenteric effects are largely attributed to its direct antimicrobial effect on bacterial pathogens [3–7]. However, it is unknown whether berberine has potentiated the bacterial killing ability of the host's phagocytes including macrophages.…”

Proteomic response of Escherichia coli to the alkaloid extract of Papaver polychaetum

“…This could be associated with the antimicrobial property of berberine since adhesion to the tissue surface is the first step for bacteria to establish infection. Unfortunately, they observed that E. coli growth was reduced by only 10% in the presence of 300 μg/mL berberine chloride, although 90% of its ability to adhere was lost (Wang et al 2008). Stermitz et al (2000) reported that berberine is pumped out by bacterial multi-drug resistance (MDR) pumps.…”