The Effect of Antibiotics on Outer Membrane Vesicle Production

Sepsis is a condition in which the body's inflammatory response to an infection is overwhelming and unregulated. Sepsis-related inflammation can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and even death. Once diagnosed, most sepsis patients are put on a regimen of antibiotics, especially if a bacterial infection is the suspected cause of sepsis. We proposed that at least some antibiotics may enhance the release of potentially toxic and inflammatory molecules from bacteria. Specifically, we considered several clinically relevant antibiotics and their effect on the release of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from Gram-negative Escherichia coli. We employed ultracentrifugation to purify the OMVs and Western blotting to quantify the OMVs released from E. coli. Preliminary results suggest that, using our methods, some antibiotics enhance the production of OMVs from E. coli.