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An isolate of Haemophilus haemolyticus produces a bacteriocin-like substance that inhibits the growth of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 02:49 authored by Roger Latham, David GellDavid Gell, Fairbairn, RL, Alan Lyons, Shukla, SD, Cho, KY, Jones, DA, Harkness, NM, Stephen TristramStephen Tristram
Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) frequently colonises the upper respiratory tract and is an important cause of respiratory infections. Resistance to antibiotics is an emerging trend in NTHi and alternative prevention or treatment strategies are required. Haemophilus haemolyticus is a common commensal occupying the same niche as NTHi and, if able to produce substances that inhibit NTHi growth, may have a role as a probiotic. In this study, ammonium sulphate extracts from broth culture of 100 H. haemolyticus isolates were tested for the presence of substances inhibitory to NTHi using a well diffusion assay. One isolate produced a substance that consistently inhibited the growth of NTHi. The substance was inactivated by protease enzymes and had a molecular size of ca. 30 kDa as determined by size exclusion chromatography. When the substance was tested against bacteria from eight Gram-negative and three Gram-positive genera, only Haemophilus spp. were inhibited. Quantitative PCR testing showed the substance to be different to 'haemocin', the previously described bacteriocin of H. influenzae type b. These molecular characteristics, together with narrow-spectrum activity, suggest the substance may be a novel bacteriocin, and there is potential for this H. haemolyticus isolate to function as a probiotic for reduction of colonisation and subsequent infection with NTHi.

Funding

Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation

History

Publication title

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents

Volume

49

Issue

4

Pagination

503-506

ISSN

0924-8579

Department/School

Tasmanian School of Medicine

Publisher

Elsevier Science Bv

Place of publication

Netherlands

Rights statement

Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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