Characterization of a MexAB-OprM efflux system necessary for productive metabolism of Pseudomonas azelaica HBP1 on 2-hydroxybiphenyl

Pseudomonas azelaica HBP1 is one of the few bacteria known to completely mineralize the biocide and toxic compound 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP), but the mechanisms of its tolerance to the toxicity are unknown. By transposon mutant analysis and screening for absence of growth on water saturating concentrations of 2-HBP (2.7 mM) we preferentially found insertions in three genes with high homology to the mexA, mexB, and oprM efflux system. Mutants could grow at 2-HBP concentrations below 100 μM but at lower growth rates than the wild-type. Exposure of the wild-type to increasing 2-HBP concentrations resulted in acute cell growth arrest and loss of membrane potential, to which the cells adapt after a few hours. By using ethidium bromide (EB) as proxy we could show that the mutants are unable to expel EB effectively. Inclusion of a 2-HBP reporter plasmid revealed that the wild-type combines efflux with metabolism at all 2-HBP concentrations, whereas the mutants cannot remove the compound and arrest metabolism at concentrations above 24 μM. The analysis thus showed the importance of the MexAB-OprM system for productive metabolism of 2-HBP.

Intravenous isosorbide dinitrate inhibits neutrophil aggregation and plasma-mediated stimulation of superoxide anion production

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils are known to be activated during myocardial ischaemia causing release of free oxygen radicals and capillary plugging by cell aggregates and therefore to exacerbate ischaemic myocardial injury. Nitric oxide has been shown to modulate neutrophil activation within the ischaemic myocardium and therefore reduce myocardial injury during ischaemia. Drugs that act as nitric oxide donors may therefore modify neutrophil activation. We evaluated the effect of intravenous treatment with isosorbide dinitrate on neutrophil aggregation and plasma-mediated stimulation of neutrophil superoxide anion production in patients with ischaemic heart disease. Samples were obtained from patients before treatment and 15 and 30 min after receiving intravenous isosorbide dinitrate. Isosorbide dinitrate decreased neutrophil aggregation visualized in whole blood (25.3 +/- 3.6, 19.0 +/- 2.6 and 18.5 +/- 2.6 per 300 cells, respectively, P < 0.01). When patient's plasma was incubated with neutrophils obtained from healthy donors, superoxide anion release was 18.99 +/- 6.23, 11.38 +/- 2.79 and 11.49 +/- 3.15 nmol O2-/10(6) cells, respectively (P < 0.01). Therefore, intravenous isosorbide dinitrate inhibited both plasma-mediated stimulation of neutrophil superoxide anion production and neutrophil aggregation.