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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, March 2004, p. 890-896, Vol. 48, No. 3
0066-4804/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AAC.48.3.890-896.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Killing by Ampicillin and Ofloxacin Induces Overlapping Changes in Escherichia coli Transcription Profile

Niilo Kaldalu,1 Rui Mei,2 and Kim Lewis1*

Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115,1 Affymetrix Inc., Santa Clara, California 950512

Received 15 April 2003/ Returned for modification 9 August 2003/ Accepted 16 November 2003

The basis of bactericidal versus bacteriostatic action of antibiotics and the mechanism of bacterial cell death are largely unknown. Related to this important issue is the essential invulnerability to killing of persisters: cells forming a small subpopulation largely responsible for the recalcitrance of biofilms to chemotherapy. To learn whether death is accompanied by changes in expression of particular genes, we compared transcription profiles of log-phase Escherichia coli treated with bactericidal concentrations of two unrelated antibiotics: ampicillin and ofloxacin. Massive changes in transcription profile were observed in response to either agent, and there was a significant overlap in genes whose transcription was affected. A small group of mostly uncharacterized genes was induced and a much larger set was transcriptionally repressed by both antibiotics. Among the repressed genes were those required for flagellar synthesis, energy metabolism, transport of small molecules, and protein synthesis.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Mugar 405, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115. Phone: (617) 373-8238. Fax: (617) 373-3724. E-mail: k.lewis{at}neu.edu.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, March 2004, p. 890-896, Vol. 48, No. 3
0066-4804/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AAC.48.3.890-896.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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