Document Detail


Survey of extreme solvent tolerance in gram-positive cocci: membrane fatty acid changes in Staphylococcus haemolyticus grown in toluene.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16151101     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
We exploited the unique ecological niche of oil fly larval guts to isolate a strain of Staphylococcus haemolyticus which may be the most solvent-tolerant gram-positive bacterium yet described. This organism is able to tolerate 100% toluene, benzene, and p-xylene on plate overlays and saturating levels of these solvents in monophasic liquid cultures. A comparison of membrane fatty acids by gas chromatography after growth in liquid media with and without toluene showed that in cells continuously exposed to solvent the proportion of anteiso fatty acids increased from 25.8 to 33.7% while the proportion of 20:0 straight-chain fatty acids decreased from 19.3 to 10.1%. No changes in the membrane phospholipid composition were noted. Thus, S. haemolyticus alters its membrane fluidity via fatty acid composition to become more fluid when it is exposed to solvent. This response is opposite that commonly found in gram-negative bacteria, which change their fatty acids so that the cytoplasmic membrane is less fluid. Extreme solvent tolerance in S. haemolyticus is not accompanied by abnormal resistance to anionic or cationic detergents. Finally, six strains of Staphylococcus aureus and five strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, which were not obtained by solvent selection, also exhibited exceptional solvent tolerance.
Authors:
Lindsey E Nielsen; Dana R Kadavy; Soumitra Rajagopal; Rhae Drijber; Kenneth W Nickerson
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Applied and environmental microbiology     Volume:  71     ISSN:  0099-2240     ISO Abbreviation:  Appl. Environ. Microbiol.     Publication Date:  2005 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-09-09     Completed Date:  2005-11-01     Revised Date:  2009-11-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7605801     Medline TA:  Appl Environ Microbiol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  5171-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0666, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Cell Membrane / chemistry*
Culture Media
Drug Resistance, Bacterial
Fatty Acids / analysis*
Gram-Positive Cocci / chemistry,  drug effects*,  growth & development
Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
Phospholipids / analysis
Solvents / pharmacology*
Staphylococcus haemolyticus / chemistry,  drug effects*,  growth & development
Toluene / pharmacology*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Culture Media; 0/Fatty Acids; 0/Phospholipids; 0/Solvents; 108-88-3/Toluene
Comments/Corrections

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