POLYAMINES AND THEIR USE AS ANTIBACTERIAL AND SENSITIZING AGENTS

摘要

Polyamines with varying chain-lengths were evaluated for antimicrobial activity in order to test the hypothesis that these bis-cationic amphipathic compounds may also bind to and permeabilize intact Gram negative bacterial membranes. The compounds were found to possess significant antimicrobial activity and mediated via permeabilization of bacterial membranes. Homologated spermine, bis-acylated with C<SUB>8</SUB> or C<SUB>9</SUB> chains was found to profoundly sensitize E. coli to hydrophobic antibiotics such as rifampicin.