The Role of Spermine in the Inhibition ofStaphylococcus aureusby Human Semen

Abstract

The inhibitory activity of human semen on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus has been reported previously (Rozansky, Gurevitch, Brzezinsky, and Eckerling, 1949).The Function of Human Semen The investigation has now been extended using 12 addi.ional freshly isolated strains of Staph. aureus.Materials and Methods.-Seventy-five specimens of semen from 53 patients (of the male sterility clinic) between the ages of 23 and 51 years were examined. Six of these were azoospermic, 25 oligospermic (less than 60 million spermatozoa per ml.), and 22 were normospermic. Ten specimens of human blood serum, 10 of cerebrospinal fluids, 10 of fluids from ovarian cysts, eight of amniotic fluids, four of pleural exudate, three of tears, and three of ox semen* were also tested in a similar manner. Materials were only taken from patients who had not received antibiotic treatment. The specimens of human semen were kept at room temperature for four hours before examination, then tested immediately, or after 72 hours at 80 C. or 14 days' refrigeration at 80 C. Twelve specimens were also examined after heating at 900 C. for 30 minutes. In addition to the three strains of Staph. aureus used in the previous study, 12 freshly isolated strains from surgical cases or pyogenic skin infections were tested. All strains were actively haemolytic, coagulase-positive, and mannitol-positive. The method described in the previous study (Rozansky et al., 1949)

Spermidine in the Bacterial Cell

“…Spermine and spermidine are known to inhibit the growth of various bacteria (Gurevitch, Rozansky, Weber, Brzezinsky & Eckerling, 1951 ;Rozansky, Bachrach & Grossowicz, 1954) and fungi (Razin, Cohen, Rozansky, 1958). As both sensitive and resistant bacteria absorb these polyamines (Razin & Rozansky, 1959), the selective toxicity is not explained by absorption alone.…”

A PBP 2 Mutant Devoid of the Transpeptidase Domain Abolishes Spermine–β-Lactam Synergy in Staphylococcus aureus Mu50

“…Here we are interested in the potential application of biogenic polyamines, a group of small polycationic compounds widely distributed in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (8), to enhancing the bacterial susceptibility to ␤-lactam antibiotics. While spermine (a tetraamine) at high concentrations was reported to exert an intrinsic antibacterial activity in S. aureus (12), our previous studies have demonstrated the capability of exogenous spermine at low concentrations to reverse MRSA susceptibility to ␤-lactams (20). However, the molecular mechanism of this strong synergistic effect by spermine and ␤-lactams in S. aureus was still unclear.…”

Secretory Function of the Prostate, Seminal Vesicle and Other Male Accessory Organs of Reproduction

“…It has also been suggested that, as spermine is endowed with bacteriostatic properties against certain micro-organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, it may be responsible for the inhibitory effect which human seminal plasma is known to exert on microbial growth (Gurevitch, Rozansky, Weber, Brzezinsky & Eckerling, 1951;Grossowicz, Razin & Rozansky, 1955). But one must bear in mind that human seminal plasma abounds in a variety of proteolytic, nucleolytic and other hydrolytic enzymes some of which may also be capable of interfering with bacterial growth.…”