How Schistosoma Helps Salmonella Resist Antibiotics
Author Information
Author(s): Barnhill Alison E, Novozhilova Ekaterina, Day Tim A, Carlson Steve A
Primary Institution: Iowa State University
Hypothesis
Can Schistosoma-associated Salmonella evade antibiotics through specific fimbrial attachments?
Conclusion
Salmonella can evade certain antibiotics by binding to Schistosoma, making traditional treatments ineffective in co-infected individuals.
Supporting Evidence
- Salmonella binding to schistosomes occurs via a specific fimbrial protein (FimH).
- Antibiotic efficacy was decreased by a factor of 4 to 16 due to the association with schistosomes.
- Schistosoma-mediated protection from antibiotics was not replicated by co-incubation with other cell types.
Takeaway
Salmonella can stick to a flatworm called Schistosoma, which helps it avoid being killed by antibiotics. This means that treating people with both infections is really hard.
Methodology
An antibiotic protection assay was developed to evaluate the efficacy of various antibiotics on Salmonella incubated with adult schistosomes.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on in vitro conditions, which may not fully replicate in vivo interactions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website