Background
Bacillary dysentery is a bacterial gastrointestinal disorder that damages the intestinal wall and excretion of blood and mucus in the feces. The disease is associated with Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) and Shigella flexneri. The virF gene is the major regulator of the virulence of these bacteria. Previous studies have shown that Sub-inhibitory concentration (Sub-MIC) of antibiotics have significant effects on bacterial virulence. Therefore, in this study, the effects of Sub-MIC of ciprofloxacin and azithromycin on Shigella flexneri and EIEC were evaluated.
Methods
Standard strains of both bacteria were treated with Sub-MIC concentrations of 1.2, 1.4, and 1.8 of ciprofloxacin and azithromycin antibiotics. Alternations in the expression of virF gene in antibiotic treated samples compared to control samples, were analysed using relative Real-time PCR.
Results
The mean expression of the virF gene in all Sub-MICs of ciprofloxacin were increased in both Shigella flexneri and EIEC, while Sub-MICs of azithromycin were reduced. The changes in gene expression were observed in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusions
The results showed virulence of Shigella flexneri and EIEC is affected by Sub-MICs of azithromycin and ciprofloxacin. This phenomenon should be considered in antibiotic therapy of infections with these bacteria. Moreover, it seems that azithromycin is more convenient antibiotic of choice with a lower risk for treatment of acute infections associated with these bacteria.
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