Adaptive Mechanisms Underlying Microbial Resistance to Disinfectants
Abstract
This project was performed to determine if clinical pathogens evolve and acquire resistance to Lysol, an all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulation no. 777-89 [ready-to-use (RTU) 1:16 dilution]). A clinical surrogate, Escherichia coli, was used in these studies. E. coli cells were grown in the absence or presence of Lysol. The parent strain (PS) was sensitive to the presence of 1.6% RTU strength Lysol. LR50, a resistant strain that showed resistance to 50% ofthe RTU strength Lysol, was derived through progressive subculturing. (A 30-fold increase in resistance to Lysol illustrates genome plasticity and adaptation of bacterial cells.) LR50 was subcultured in Tryptic soy broth five times, and then its resistance phenotype was confirmed in the presence of 50% Lysol. Biochemical characterization revealed the presence or absence of specific polypeptides unique to LR50. Genomic sequencing was done, and some single nucleotide polymorphisms were observed to be unique to LR50. Finally, altered antibiotic resistance was determined for LR50. In a separate set of experiments, the adaptive resistance of E.coli cells to 17% Germ-X (GR17), a hand sanitizer, was also observed. GR17 PS, a resistant strain, which was capable of growing in the presence of GR17, was derived during this study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1002922
Entities
People
- Lalena Wallace
- Lisa S. Smith
- Vipin K. Rastogi