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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, October 2003, p. 3357-3360, Vol. 47, No. 10
0066-4804/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AAC.47.10.3357-3360.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Sensitization of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli to Antibiotics by the Sesquiterpenoids Nerolidol, Farnesol, Bisabolol, and Apritone

Byron F. Brehm-Stecher1 and Eric A. Johnson1,2*

Departments of Food Microbiology and Toxicology,1 Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 537062

Received 27 September 2002/ Returned for modification 9 June 2003/ Accepted 16 July 2003

The sesquiterpenoids nerolidol, farnesol, bisabolol, and apritone were investigated for their abilities to enhance bacterial permeability and susceptibility to exogenous antimicrobial compounds. Initially, it was observed by flow cytometry that these sesquiterpenoids promoted the intracellular accumulation of the membrane-impermeant nucleic acid stain ethidium bromide by live cells of Lactobacillus fermentum, suggesting that enhanced permeability resulted from disruption of the cytoplasmic membrane. The ability of these sesquiterpenoids to increase bacterial susceptibility to a number of clinically important antibiotics was then investigated. In disk diffusion assays, treatment with low concentrations (0.5 to 2 mM) of nerolidol, bisabolol, or apritone enhanced the susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, tetracycline, and vancomycin. Nerolidol and farnesol also sensitized Escherichia coli to polymyxin B. Our results indicate the practical utility of sensitizing bacteria to antimicrobials with sesquiterpenoids that have traditionally been used as flavorants and aroma compounds in the food and perfume industries.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Food Microbiology and Toxicology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53706. Phone: (608) 263-7944. Fax: (608) 263-1114. E-mail: eajohnso{at}facstaff.wisc.edu.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, October 2003, p. 3357-3360, Vol. 47, No. 10
0066-4804/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AAC.47.10.3357-3360.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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