Synthetic Fatty Acids Prevent Plasmid-Mediated Horizontal Gene Transfer.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

Bacterial conjugation constitutes a major horizontal gene transfer mechanism for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes among human pathogens. Antibiotic resistance spread could be halted or diminished by molecules that interfere with the conjugation process. In this work, synthetic 2-alkynoic fatty acids were identified as a novel class of conjugation inhibitors. Their chemical properties were investigated by using the prototype 2-hexadecynoic acid and its derivatives. Essential features of effective inhibitors were the carboxylic group, an optimal long aliphatic chain of 16 carbon atoms, and one unsaturation. Chemical modification of these groups led to inactive or less-active derivatives. Conjugation inhibitors were found to act on the donor cell, affecting

SUBMITTER: Getino M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4556808 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature