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J Bacteriol, June 1998, p. 2987-2991, Vol. 180, No. 11
0021-9193/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Role of the Multidrug Efflux Systems of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Organic Solvent Tolerance

Xian-Zhi Li, Li Zhang, and Keith Poole*

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada

Received 19 November 1997/Accepted 19 March 1998

Multidrug efflux pumps with a broad substrate specificity make a major contribution to intrinsic and acquired multiple antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using genetically defined efflux pump mutants, we investigated the involvement of the three known efflux systems, MexA-MexB-OprM, MexC-MexD-OprJ, and MexE-MexF-OprN, in organic solvent tolerance in this organism. Our results showed that all three systems are capable of providing some level of tolerance to organic solvents such as n-hexane and p-xylene. Expression of MexAB-OprM was correlated with the highest levels of tolerance, and indeed, this efflux system was a major contributor to the intrinsic solvent tolerance of P. aeruginosa. Intrinsic organic solvent tolerance was compromised by a protonophore, indicating that it is substantially energy dependent. These data suggest that the efflux of organic solvents is a factor in the tolerance of P. aeruginosa to these compounds and that the multidrug efflux systems of this organism can accommodate organic solvents, as well as antibiotics.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada. Phone: (613) 545-6677. Fax: (613) 545-6796. E-mail: poolek{at}post.queensu.ca.

J Bacteriol, June 1998, p. 2987-2991, Vol. 180, No. 11
0021-9193/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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Copyright © 1998 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.