Mechanism of action of pefloxacin on surface morphology, DNA gyrase activity and dehydrogenase enzymes of <i>Klebsiella aerogenes</i>

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate susceptibility of Klebsiella aerogenes towards pefloxacin. The MIC determined by broth dilution method and Hi-Comb method was 0.1 μg/ml. Morphological alterations on the cell surface of the K. aerogenes was shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after the treatment with pefloxacin. It was observed that the site of pefloxacin action was intracellular and it caused surface alterations. The present investigation also showed the effect of Quinolone pefloxacin on DNA gyrase activity of K. aerogenes. DNA gyrase was purified by affinity chromatography and inhibition of pefloxacin on supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase was studied. Emphasis was also given on the inhibition effect of pefloxacin on dehydrogenase activity of K. aerogenes.

Key words: Pefloxacin, Klebsiella aerogenes, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) gyrase, dehydrogenases, Hi-Comb method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).