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Inhibition of motility ofPseudomonas aeruginosa andProteus mirabilis by subinhibitory concentrations of azithromycin

  • New Antimicrobial Agents
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Abstract

Exposure to subinhibitory concentrations (4–8 µg/ml) of azithromycin resulted in loss of motility inProteus mirabilis strains and a significant reduction of motility inPseudomonas aeruginosa strains. Examination revealed that the loss of motility was due to a total absence of flagella inProteus mirabilis while the poor motility observed inPseudomonas aeruginosa was due to absence of flagella in the majority of the population. Since motility may be considered a pathogenicity trait in the two species, these results confirm the unusual ability of azithromycin to reduce the expression of virulence factors in gram-negative pathogens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Microbiology, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    G. Molinari, P. Paglia & G. C. Schito

Authors
  1. G. Molinari
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  2. P. Paglia
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  3. G. C. Schito
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Molinari, G., Paglia, P. & Schito, G.C. Inhibition of motility ofPseudomonas aeruginosa andProteus mirabilis by subinhibitory concentrations of azithromycin. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 11, 469–471 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01961867

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01961867

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