Hypericin enhances β-lactam antibiotics activity by inhibiting sarA expression in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

ABSTRACT: Bacteremia is a life-threating syndrome often caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel approaches to successfully treat this infection. Staphylococcal accessory regulator A (SarA), a global virulence regulator, plays a critical role in pathogenesis and β-lactam antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. Hypericin is believed to act as an antibiotic, antidepressant, antiviral and non-specific kinase inhibitor. In the current study, we investigated the impact of hypericin on β-lactam antibiotics susceptibility and mechanism(s) of its activity. We demonstrated that hypericin significantly decreased the minimum inhibitory concentrations of β-lactam antibiotics (e.g., oxacil

SUBMITTER: Wang G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6900551 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature