1887

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Volume 66, Issue 8

Carvacrol reduces sporulation and spore outgrowth Free

Abstract

is an anaerobic spore-forming pathogen that causes a serious toxin-mediated enteric disease in humans. Therapeutic agents that are capable of reducing spore production could significantly minimize the transmission and relapse of infections. This study investigated the efficacy of a food-grade, plant-derived compound, carvacrol (CR), in reducing spore production, germination and spore outgrowth.

Two hyper-virulent isolates (ATCC BAA 1870 and 1805) were grown with or without a sub-inhibitory concentration (SIC) of CR. Total viable counts and heat-resistant spore counts were determined at different time intervals. Moreover, spores and vegetative cells were visualized using phase-contrast microscopy. To determine the effect of CR on germination and spore outgrowth, spores were seeded in germination medium with or without the SIC and MIC of CR, and spore germination and spore outgrowth were measured by recording optical density at 600 nm. The effect of CR on sporulation genes was also investigated using real-time qPCR.

Carvacrol significantly reduced sporulation in and down-regulated critical genes involved in spore production (<0.05). The SIC or MIC of CR did not inhibit spore germination; however, the MIC of CR completely inhibited spore outgrowth.

The results suggest that CR could potentially be used to control by reducing spore production and outgrowth.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
  • Published Online:
Keyword(s): carvacrol , Clostridium difficile , spore-outgrowth and sporulation
© 2017 The Authors
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2017-08-01
2024-04-19
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Carvacrol reduces Clostridium difficile sporulation and spore outgrowth in vitro
J. Med. Microbiol. 66, 1229 (2017); https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.000515
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.000515
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.000515
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