Inhibiting plasmid mobility: The effect of isothiocyanates on bacterial conjugation

Abstract

Bacterial conjugation is the main mechanism for the transfer of multiple antibiotic resistance genes among pathogenic microorganisms. This process could be controlled by compounds that inhibit bacterial conjugation. In this study, the effect of allyl isothiocyanate, Lsulforaphane, benzyl isothiocyanate, phenylethyl isothiocyanate and 4-methoxyphenyl isothiocyanate on the conjugation of broad host range plasmids, which harbor various resistance genes in Escherichia coli were investigated; pKM101 (IncN), TP114 (IncI 2) , pUB307 (IncP) and the low copy number IncW plasmid R7K. Benzyl isothiocyanate (32 mg/L) significantly reduced the conjugal transfer of pKM101, TP114 and pUB307 to 0.3±0.6%, 10.7±3.3% and 6.5±1.0%, respectively. L-sulforaphane (16 mg/L, transfer frequency 21.5±5.1%) and 4-methoxyphenyl isothiocyanate (100 mg/L, transfer frequency 5.2±2.8%) were the only compounds that showed anti-conjugal specificity by actively reducing the transfer of R7K and pUB307, respectively.

Type IV Coupling Proteins as Potential Targets to Control the Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance

“…Therefore, a possible strategy to control the spread of antibiotic resistance is to inhibit the activity of conjugative proteins. However, inhibition of bacterial conjugation has received little attention as the search for new antibiotics has captured most of the scientific interest (Kwapong et al, 2019).…”

Multitarget Approaches against Multiresistant Superbugs

“…There have also been approaches to develop inhibitors of horizontal gene transfer to prevent the spread of resistance genes. 148 In the following, we will discuss these different approaches to antibiotic combination therapy. Antibiotic Synergy.…”

Comparative Studies on Essential Oil and Phenolic Content with In Vitro Antioxidant, Anticholinesterase, Antimicrobial Activities of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. and A. millefolium subsp. millefolium Afan. L. Growing in Eastern Turkey

“…Many different antibiotics are used in treatments today. Their widespread usage and popularity have led to a rise in the number of resistant bacterial strains, and antimicrobials have become increasingly ineffective over the past decade as a result [ 68 , 69 ].…”