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Azithromycin Reduces the Production of α-hemolysin and Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus aureus

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Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus causes a broad range of life-threatening diseases in humans. This bacterium produces a large number of extracellular virulence factors that are closely associated with specific diseases which are controlled by quorum sensing. In this study, we show that azithromycin was active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains with MICs ranged from 32 to 64 μg/mL. Azithromycin at subinhibitory concentration, markedly reduced the production of α-hemolysin at (1/16MIC, 1/8MIC) and biofilm formation at (1/16MIC, 1/8MIC), respectively. The results indicated that sub-inhibitory concentrations of azithromycin decreased the production of α-hemolysin and biofilm formation in MRSA in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, azithromycin may be useful in the treatment of α-hemolysin producing and biofilm formation MRSA infections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lishui People’s Hospital, Lishui, 323000, China

    Zhihong Gui, Huafu Wang & Ting Ding

  2. Department of Microbiology, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China

    Wei Zhu, Xiyi Zhuang & Weihua Chu

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  1. Zhihong Gui
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  2. Huafu Wang
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  3. Ting Ding
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  4. Wei Zhu
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  5. Xiyi Zhuang
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  6. Weihua Chu
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Correspondence to Weihua Chu.

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Gui, Z., Wang, H., Ding, T. et al. Azithromycin Reduces the Production of α-hemolysin and Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus aureus . Indian J Microbiol 54, 114–117 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12088-013-0438-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12088-013-0438-4

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