Work

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of the antibacterial mechanism of sanguinarine against Enterobacter cloacae in vitro

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Enterobacter cloacae (E. cloacae) is a notorious pathogen that poses serious threat to both human and animal health, causing severe gut infections and contributing to food spoilage. Traditional chemical treatment have led to increased drug resistance and environmental pollution. This study investigates the potential of Sanguinarine (SAN), a natural plant extract, as an alternative to chemical antibiotics. RESULTS: In light of the escalating issue of antibiotic resistance, we examined the antibacterial efficacy and mechanisms of SAN against E. cloacae in vitro. Our findings revealed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 100 µg/mL for SAN. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated substantial morphological disruptions in E. cloacae cells treated with SAN. Concurrently, a significant increase in absorbance at 260 nm suggested nucleic acid leakage, indicative of compromised cell membrane integrity. Comprehensive transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that SAN primarily disrupts amino acid synthesis and energy metabolism pathway in E. cloacae. CONCLUSIONS: SAN exhibited potential antibacterial activity against E. cloacae, which can effectively inhibit its growth and disrupt its bacterial morphology and exert antibacterial effect through multiple pathways, and can be used as a potential substitute for antibiotics.

Source: BMC Microbiology

DOI: 10.1186/s12866-025-03992-8

Authors: Ting Yang, Haojie Sha, Wenlu Bi, Jianguo Zeng, Dingding Su

Institutions: Peking University, Hunan Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity

Subfield: Food Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,990