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Cited by 237Bacterial Genetics and BiotechnologyAntimicrobial agents and applicationsRNA Interference and Gene Delivery

Polyethyleneimine is an effective permeabilizer of Gram negative bacteria

Helander, Ilkka M., Alakomi, Hanna-Leena, Latva-Kala, KyÖsti, Koski, Pertti·1997·Microbiology
DOI 10.1099/00221287-143-10-3193
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Abstract

The effect of the polycation polyethyleneimine (PEI) on the permeability properties of the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane was investigated using Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium as target organisms. At concentrations of less than 20 micrograms ml-1, PEI increased the bacterial uptake of 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine, which is a hydrophobic probe whose quantum yield is greatly increased in a lipid environment, indicating increased hydrophobic permeation of the outer membrane by PEI. The effect of PEI was comparable to that brought about by the well-known permeabilizer EDTA. Permeabilization by PEI was retarded but not completely inhibited by millimolar concentrations of MgCl2. PEI also increased the susceptibility of the test species to the hydrophobic antibiotics clindamycin, erythromycin, fucidin, novobiocin and rifampicin, without being directly bactericidal. PEI sensitized the bacteria to the lytic action of the detergent SDS in assays where the bacteria were pretreated with PEI. In assays where PEI and SDS were simultaneously present, no sensitization was observed, indicating that PEI and SDS were inactivating each other. In addition, a sensitizing effect to the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 was observed for P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, PEI was shown to be a potent permeabilizer of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.

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Crossref · 10.1099/00221287-143-10-3193

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  • Thymol and carvacrol do not directly act as outer membrane permeabilising agents.

    “However, thymol and carvacrol do not directly act as OM permeabilising agents (unlike EDTA or polyethylenimine, which disintegrate the OM at sub-lethal concentrations) [9,14].”

    From Effect of essential oils on pathogenic bacteria (2013) · cites this paper as [14]

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Authors
Helander, I. M., Alakomi, H.-L., Latva-Kala, K., & Koski, P.
Affiliations
  • VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (FI)
  • VTT Biotechnology and Food Research, PO Box 1501, FIN-02044 VTT, Espoo, Finland
  • Department of Vaccine Development, KTL, Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300, Helsinki, Finland
ORCID
Alakomi, Hanna-Leena
Venue
Microbiology
Publisher
Microbiology Society
Published
1997-10-01
Volume
143
Issue
10
Pages
3193-3199
ISSN
  • 1350-0872 (ISSN-L)
  • 1465-2080
DOI
10.1099/00221287-143-10-3193
OpenAlex
W2120738727
Cited by
237
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 10
FWCI
2.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Antimicrobial agents and applications
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
Keywords
polyethyleneimine, Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, EDTA, hydrophobic antibiotics, antibiotic susceptibility, Triton X-100, magnesium chloride
MeSH terms
Cell Membrane Permeability, Detergents, Drug Resistance, Microbial, Edetic Acid, Escherichia coli, Fluorescent Dyes, Gram-Negative Bacteria, Lipopolysaccharides, Muramidase, Polyethyleneimine, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, 1-Naphthylamine, Octoxynol

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