EFFECTS OF PHENETHYL ALCOHOL ON BACILLUS AND STREPTOCOCCUS

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 1976

Autores

SILVA, MT (Autor) Outra; SOUSA, JCF (Autor) Outra; MACEDO, MAE (Autor) Outra; Polonia, J (Autor) FMUP; PARENTE, AM (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: Journal of Bacteriology

Vol. 127

Páginas: 1359-1369

ISSN: 0021-9193

Editora: American Society for Microbiology

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 31 Citações

Scopus - 18 Citações

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-001-Z65

Abstract (EN): The activity of phenethyl alcohol (PEA) on Bacillus cereus, B. megaterium, and Streptococcus faecalis was studied by electron microscopy of thin sections and by the assay of intracellular K+ leakage. S. faecalis was unaffected by PEA at concentrations up to 0.5%, B. cereus was severely damaged by 0.5% PEA, and B. megaterium behaved intermediately. Important membrane ultrastructural alterations were observed in B. cereus cells treated with 0.5% PEA, namely the change in the geometry of the membrane profile from asymmetric to symmetric, the occurrence of prominent, complex mesosome like structures, and membrane fracturing and solubilization. Protoplasts from B. megaterium were found to be quickly lysed by 0.5% PEA due to the disruption of the cytoplasmic membrane. The electron microscopic observations, together with the results of the study of the K+ efflux from B. cereus and B. megaterium, indicate that PEA primarily and directly damages the cytoplasmic membrane of sensitive bacteria. The breakdown of the permeability barrier probably is responsible for the observed bactericidal action of 0.5% PEA on B. cereus.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 11