Mechanism of Action of the Gonadal Steroids Producing Diminution of Growth of Staphylococcus Aureus

Abstract

Studies were undertaken to characterize the mechanism of action of the gonadal steroids responsible for decreasing growth of Stuphylococcw, uureu8 in witro.Progesterone or testosterone at 20 pg/ml significantly increased the leakage of '*C activity from staphylococci pre-loaded with 14C-glucose. This enhancement of leakage was not detected with Gram negative micro-organisms. Hormonal diminution of total uptake of alanine was relatively independent of temperature and of the phase of culture. Anaerobiosis increased the steroidal diminution of alanine uptake c. 2-fold. Fractionation of staphylococci following exposure to various 14C-substrates in the presence of progesterone at 40 pg/ml did not reveal any distinctive influences on macromolecular syntheses. Entry of the labels into cellular pools, however, wm altered for 8 of the 10 substrates tested. Exchange experiments detailed the effects of steroids on the efflux of internal alanine and lysine. With progesterone a t 40 pgfml, alanine effluxed from the internal pool 3 times as fast as from the corresponding controls. The opposite effect occurred with lysine and progesterone depressed its exit rate. The stepwise removal of cellular constituents indicated a preferential binding of hormones to cell wall components. Using 14C-progesterone or 1Gdiethylstilbestro1, 24% and 29%, respectively, of the added hormone was f h d y bound to mucopeptide preparations, compared to 1-5% bound t o whole cells or isolated cell walls. We suggest that the hormones interfere with the integrated functioning of membrane-associated processes.

Gene-Specific Sex Effects on Susceptibility to Infectious Diseases

“…Sex steroid hormones (estrogen, testosterone and progesterone) influence response to infections by 1) direct effect on pathogen metabolism, growth, and expression of virulence factors. It was shown that physiological concentration of progesterone inhibited replication of Coxiella burnetii in JEG-3 cells ( 86 ), both testosterone and progesterone inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus ( 87 ). 2) by modification of immune response and physiology of the host.…”

Antibacterial characteristics of fish protamines. VI Changes in the cell morphology and the release of soluble constituents from the washed cells of Bacillus subtilis by the action of protamine.

“…It is known that Gram positive bacteria are richer in more exposed polyanionic heteroglycoside macromolecules.17) The overall net charge on bacterial surface is proportional to hydrogen ion concentration. 19) As pH value decreases, the quantity and character of surface charges are altered, which may result in reduced binding. A parallel to this pH dependency was observed in the bactericidal action of protamine.…”