The Effect of Mafenide on Dihydropteroate Synthase

Abstract

Using intact bacterial cells, it was found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more susceptible to mafenide than Escherichia coli, that p- aminobenzoic acid (pABA) did not reverse or prevent inhibition by mafenide and that pABA itself was inhibitory. Under the experimental conditions used in these studies, pABA was more inhibitory to E. coli than to P. aeruginosa. It is proposed that pABA could be of use in the topical treatment of burn wounds. At the enzyme level, it was shown that mafenide did not inhibit dihydropteroate synthase. Thus, mafenide appeared not to exert its inhibitory effects in the same manner as the structurally related suphonamides. Mafenide is a synthetic antimicrobial agent structurally related to the sulphonamides as well as to p- aminobenzoic acid (pABA). It has low bacteriostatic activity against a wide spectrum of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a troublesome organism in burn wound tissues. (Js)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA228497

Entities

People

  • Albert T. Mcmanus
  • Robert G. Eagon

Organizations

  • University of Georgia

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Bacteria
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological Pigments
  • Chemistry
  • Chemotherapy
  • Dermatologic Agents
  • Escherichia Coli
  • Experimental Data
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria
  • Infection
  • Inhibition
  • Inhibitors
  • Microbiology
  • Wound Infections
  • Wounds And Injuries

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Microbial Pathology
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
  • Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.