Allicin reduces the production of α-toxin by Staphylococcus aureus

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 16; no. 9; pp. 7958 - 7968
• Main Authors: Leng, Bing-Feng, Qiu, Jia-Zhang, Dai, Xiao-Han, Dong, Jing, Wang, Jian-Feng, Luo, Ming-Jing, Li, Hong-En, Niu, Xiao-Di, Zhang, Yu, Ai, Yong-Xing, Deng, Xu-Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 15.09.2011; MDPI AG
• Subjects: allicin; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacterial Toxins - genetics; Bacterial Toxins - metabolism; Culture Media, Conditioned; Disulfides; Hemolysin Proteins - genetics; Hemolysin Proteins - metabolism; Hemolysis; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - growth & development; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - metabolism; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Rabbits; Staphylococcus aureus; sub-inhibitory concentrations; Sulfinic Acids - pharmacology; Trans-Activators - genetics; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic; α-toxin
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules16097958

Staphylococcus aureus causes a broad range of life-threatening diseases in humans. The pathogenicity of this micro-organism is largely dependent upon its virulence factors. One of the most extensively studied virulence factors is the extracellular protein α-toxin. In this study, we show that allicin, an organosulfur compound, was active against S. aureus with MICs ranged from 32 to 64 μg/mL. Haemolysis, Western blot and real-time RT-PCR assays were used to evaluate the effects of allicin on S. aureus α-toxin production and on the levels of gene expression, respectively. The results of our study indicated that sub-inhibitory concentrations of allicin decreased the production of α-toxin in both methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the transcriptional levels of agr (accessory gene regulator) in S. aureus were inhibited by allicin. Therefore, allicin may be useful in the treatment of α-toxin-producing S. aureus infections.