Skip to main content
PMC home page
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy logoLink to Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
. 1981 May;19(5):911–916. doi: 10.1128/aac.19.5.911

Anomalous cellular morphology and growth characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis in subminimal inhibitory concentrations of penicillin G.

L G Neirinck, I W DeVoe
PMCID: PMC181541  PMID: 6794447

Abstract

The effects of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of penicillin G on Neisseria meningitidis in the presence and absence of selected stabilizers were examined. Subminimal inhibitory concentrations of penicillin G decreased cell numbers and altered both colonial and ultrastructural morphologies of this meningococcus. Although these levels of penicillin did not have immediate adverse effects on cell mass increase, deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, or the incorporation of [3H]leucine into protein, they did significantly alter the division rate and the integrity of the cell envelope. The inability of many of the abnormal membranous cell types produced in subminimal inhibitory concentrations of penicillin to form either complete or properly oriented division septa and the overproduction of cell wall material at such sites was indicative of the disruptive effects of this antibiotic on functions necessary for maintaining the normal division process. The addition of the stabilizers polyvinylpyrrolidone-40 and horse serum to the test medium diminished the effects of penicillin G as evidenced by a fourfold increase in the minimal inhibitory concentration. Moreover, such stabilizers maintained the association of the outer membrane with the peptidoglycan and inner membrane.

Full text

PDF
911

Images in this article

913Image
on p.913
915Image
on p.915

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bayston R. Use of polyvinylpyrrolidone in the testing of staphylococci for sensitivity to methicillin and cephradine. J Clin Pathol. 1978 May;31(5):434–436. doi: 10.1136/jcp.31.5.434. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Chin W. L., Lawson J. W. Effect of antibiotics on L-form induction of Neisseria meningitidis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1976 Jun;9(6):1056–1065. doi: 10.1128/aac.9.6.1056. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. DeVoe I. W. Egestion of degraded meningococci by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. J Bacteriol. 1976 Jan;125(1):258–266. doi: 10.1128/jb.125.1.258-266.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DeVoe I. W., Gilchrist J. E. Piliation and colonial morphology among laboratory strains of meningococci. J Clin Microbiol. 1978 Apr;7(4):379–384. doi: 10.1128/jcm.7.4.379-384.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Devoe I. W., Gilchrist J. E. Release of endotoxin in the form of cell wall blebs during in vitro growth of Neisseria meningitidis. J Exp Med. 1973 Nov 1;138(5):1156–1167. doi: 10.1084/jem.138.5.1156. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FLEMING A., VOUREKA A., KRAMER I. R. H., HUGHES W. H. The morphology and motility of Proteus vulgaris and other organisms cultured in the presence of penicillin. J Gen Microbiol. 1950 May;4(2):257–269. doi: 10.1099/00221287-4-2-257. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Grassi G. G., Ferrara A., Navone A., Sala P. Effect of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on the emergence of drug resistant bacteria in vitro. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1980 Mar;6(2):217–223. doi: 10.1093/jac/6.2.217. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Greenwood D. Differentiation of mechanisms responsible for inoculum effects in the response of Escherichia coli to a variety of antibiotics. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1976 Mar;2(1):87–95. doi: 10.1093/jac/2.1.87. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Greenwood D., O'Grady F. Comparison of the responses of Escherichia coli and proteus mirabilis to seven beta-lactam antibodies. J Infect Dis. 1973 Aug;128(2):211–222. doi: 10.1093/infdis/128.2.211. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hebeler B. H., Young F. E. Chemical composition and turnover of peptidoglycan in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Bacteriol. 1976 Jun;126(3):1180–1185. doi: 10.1128/jb.126.3.1180-1185.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. LEDERBERG J. Mechanism of action of penicillin. J Bacteriol. 1957 Jan;73(1):144–144. doi: 10.1128/jb.73.1.144-144.1957. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Lorain V., Sabath L. D. Penicillins and cephalosporins: differences in morphologic effects on Proteus mirabilis. J Infect Dis. 1972 May;125(5):560–564. doi: 10.1093/infdis/125.5.560. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Lorian V., Atkinson B. Abnormal forms of bacteria produced by antibiotics. Am J Clin Pathol. 1975 Nov;64(5):678–688. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/64.5.678. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lorian V., Atkinson B. Effects of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on cross walls of cocci. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1976 Jun;9(6):1043–1055. doi: 10.1128/aac.9.6.1043. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Lorian V., Sabath L. D., Simionescu M., Watson D. W. Decrease in ribosomal density of Proteus mirabilis exposed to subinhibitory concentrations of ampicillin or cephalothin. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1975 Jul;149(3):731–735. doi: 10.3181/00379727-149-38888. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Lorian V. Some effect of subinbilitory concentrations of penicillin on the structure and division of staphylococci. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1975 Jun;7(6):864–867. doi: 10.1128/aac.7.6.864. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Lorian V. Some effects of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on bacteria. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1975 Oct;51(9):1046–1055. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Neirinck L. G., DeVoe I. W., Ingram J. M. Events leading to cell death and lysis of Neisseria meningitidis in low concentrations of penicillin G. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1980 Apr;17(4):715–724. doi: 10.1128/aac.17.4.715. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. O'Beirne A., Robinson J. A. Sensitivity of Neisseria meningitidis to rifampin, penicillin, and sulfadiazine. Am J Med Sci. 1971 Jul;262(1):33–37. doi: 10.1097/00000441-197107000-00005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Shah P. M., Heetderks G., Stille W. Activity of amikacin at sub-inhibitory levels. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1976 Mar;2(1):97–100. doi: 10.1093/jac/2.1.97. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES