Evaluation of physiological effects induced by manuka honey upon staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli

Several studies have explored the antimicrobial properties of manuka honey (MkH). However, the data available regarding antibacterial action mechanisms are scarcer. The aim of this study was to scrutinize and characterize primary e ects of manuka honey (MkH) upon the physiological status of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (as Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria models, respectively), using flow cytometry (FC) to reveal its antibacterial action mechanisms. E ects of MkH on membrane potential, membrane integrity and metabolic activity were assessed using di erent fluorochromes in a 180 min time course assay. Time-kill experiments were carried out under the same conditions. Additionally, MkH e ect on e ux pumps was also studied in an E. coli strain with an over-expression of several e ux pumps. Exposure of bacteria to MkH resulted in physiological changes related to membrane potential and membrane integrity; these e ects displayed slight di erences among bacteria. MkH induced a remarkable metabolic disruption as primary physiological effect upon S. aureus and was able to block effux pump activity in a dose-dependent fashion in the E. coli strain.This work was supported by the Consejería de Sanidad of Junta de Castilla y León; under grant GRS 551/A/10. Patricia Combarros-Fuertes was funded by Consejería de Educación of Junta de Castilla y León and European Social Fund.