The outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 6749 contributes to its tolerance to the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil)

C M Mann; S D Cox; J L Markham

doi:10.1046/j.1472-765x.2000.00712.x

The outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 6749 contributes to its tolerance to the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil)

Lett Appl Microbiol. 2000 Apr;30(4):294-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2000.00712.x.

Authors

C M Mann¹, S D Cox, J L Markham

Affiliation

¹ Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. c.mann@uws.edu.au

PMID: 10792649
DOI: 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2000.00712.x

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is less susceptible to the antimicrobial properties of tea tree oil than many bacteria and its tolerance is considered to be due to its outer membrane. Polymyxin B nonapeptide (PMBN), which has no antibacterial action, was used to permeabilize the outer membrane. The addition of PMBN to Ps. aeruginosa NCTC 6749 markedly increased this organism's susceptibility to tea tree oil and to its normally inert hydrocarbons, p-cymene and gamma-terpinene.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anti-Infective Agents, Local / chemistry
Anti-Infective Agents, Local / pharmacology*
Cell Membrane / drug effects*
Cell Membrane Permeability
Colony Count, Microbial
Drug Resistance, Microbial
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
Pseudomonas aeruginosa / growth & development
Tea Tree Oil / chemistry
Tea Tree Oil / pharmacology*
Terpenes / pharmacology

Substances

Anti-Infective Agents, Local
Terpenes
Tea Tree Oil