Biomaterial Database

Loss of penicillinase plasmids of Staphylococcus aureus after treatment with L-ascorbic acid. 1988

C F Amábile Cuevas

Departamento de Microbiología, Lusara AE, Mexico D.F.

When 2 clinical strains of plasmid-mediated penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were treated with 1 mM sodium ascorbate for 6 h, 12-35% colony-forming units (CFU) irreversibly lost their ability to produce beta-lactamase. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed the disappearance of the plasmid bands from the lysates of colonies in which susceptibility to penicillin was induced by ascorbate treatment. Since ascorbic acid is a compound that is completely non-toxic, the possibility of its therapeutic use in the treatment of multiresistant bacterial diseases is proposed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008628	Mercury	A silver metallic element that exists as a liquid at room temperature. It has the atomic symbol Hg (from hydrargyrum, liquid silver), atomic number 80, and atomic weight 200.59. Mercury is used in many industrial applications and its salts have been employed therapeutically as purgatives, antisyphilitics, disinfectants, and astringents. It can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes which leads to MERCURY POISONING. Because of its toxicity, the clinical use of mercury and mercurials is diminishing.
D010405	Penicillinase	A beta-lactamase preferentially cleaving penicillins. (Dorland, 28th ed) EC 3.5.2.-.	beta-Lactamase I,AER-I beta-Lactamase,Benzylpenicillinase,Carbenicillinase,Exopenicillinase,beta Lactamase III,beta Lactamase RP4,gamma-Penicillinase,AER I beta Lactamase,Lactamase RP4, beta,beta Lactamase I,beta-Lactamase, AER-I,gamma Penicillinase
D011815	R Factors	A class of plasmids that transfer antibiotic resistance from one bacterium to another by conjugation.	R Factor,R Plasmid,R Plasmids,Resistance Factor,Resistance Factors,Factor, R,Factor, Resistance,Factors, R,Factors, Resistance,Plasmid, R,Plasmids, R
D002104	Cadmium	An element with atomic symbol Cd, atomic number 48, and atomic weight 112.41. It is a metal and ingestion will lead to CADMIUM POISONING.
D004352	Drug Resistance, Microbial	The ability of microorganisms, especially bacteria, to resist or to become tolerant to chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobial agents, or antibiotics. This resistance may be acquired through gene mutation or foreign DNA in transmissible plasmids (R FACTORS).	Antibiotic Resistance,Antibiotic Resistance, Microbial,Antimicrobial Resistance, Drug,Antimicrobial Drug Resistance,Antimicrobial Drug Resistances,Antimicrobial Resistances, Drug,Drug Antimicrobial Resistance,Drug Antimicrobial Resistances,Drug Resistances, Microbial,Resistance, Antibiotic,Resistance, Drug Antimicrobial,Resistances, Drug Antimicrobial
D001205	Ascorbic Acid	A six carbon compound related to glucose. It is found naturally in citrus fruits and many vegetables. Ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient in human diets, and necessary to maintain connective tissue and bone. Its biologically active form, vitamin C, functions as a reducing agent and coenzyme in several metabolic pathways. Vitamin C is considered an antioxidant.	Vitamin C,Ascorbic Acid, Monosodium Salt,Ferrous Ascorbate,Hybrin,L-Ascorbic Acid,Magnesium Ascorbate,Magnesium Ascorbicum,Magnesium di-L-Ascorbate,Magnorbin,Sodium Ascorbate,Acid, Ascorbic,Acid, L-Ascorbic,Ascorbate, Ferrous,Ascorbate, Magnesium,Ascorbate, Sodium,L Ascorbic Acid,Magnesium di L Ascorbate,di-L-Ascorbate, Magnesium
D001426	Bacterial Proteins	Proteins found in any species of bacterium.	Bacterial Gene Products,Bacterial Gene Proteins,Gene Products, Bacterial,Bacterial Gene Product,Bacterial Gene Protein,Bacterial Protein,Gene Product, Bacterial,Gene Protein, Bacterial,Gene Proteins, Bacterial,Protein, Bacterial,Proteins, Bacterial
D013211	Staphylococcus aureus	Potentially pathogenic bacteria found in nasal membranes, skin, hair follicles, and perineum of warm-blooded animals. They may cause a wide range of infections and intoxications.