Farnesol, a Potential Efflux Pump Inhibitor in Mycobacterium smegmatis.docVIP

Molecules 2010, 15, 7750-7762; doi:10.3390/molecule OPEN ACCESS molecules ISSN 1420-3049 /journal/molecules Article Farnesol, a Potential Efflux Pump Inhibitor in Mycobacterium smegmatis Jing Jin 1,?, Ji-Yu Zhang 2,?, Na Guo 3,?, Hui Sheng 4, Lei Li 1, Jun-Chao Liang 1, Xue-Lin Wang 1, Yang Li 1, Ming-Yuan Liu 1, Xiu-Ping Wu 1,* and Lu Yu 1,* 1 Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China 2 Key and Open Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Pharmaceutics, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730050, China 3 Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China 4 The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China ? These authors contributed equally to this work. * Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: yulu225@ (L.Y.); wxp33@ (X.-P.W.); Tel.: +86-431L.Y.); +86-431(X.-P.W.); Fax: +86-431(L.Y.); +86-431(X.-P.W.). Received: 1 September 2010; in revised form: 2 October 2010 / Accepted: 25 October 2010 / Published: 29 October 2010 Abstract: The active multidrug efflux pump (EP) has been described as one of the mechanisms involved in the natural drug resistance of bacteria, such as mycobacteria. As a result, the development of efflux pumps inhibitors (EPIs) is an important topic. In this study, a checkerboard synergy assay indicated that farnesol both decreased the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ethidium bromide (EtBr) 8-fold against Mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis) mc2155 ATCC 700084 when incorporated at a concentration of 32 μg/mL (FICI = 0.625) and decreased MIC 4-fold at 16 μg/mL (FICI = 0.375). Farnesol also showed synergism when combined wit