Insights into the Antibacterial Mechanism of Action of Chelating Agents by Selective Deprivation of Iron, Manganese, and Zinc
Joy R. Paterson, Marikka S. Beecroft, Raminder S. Mulla, Deenah Osman, Nancy L. Reeder, Justin Caserta, Tessa R. Young, Charles A. Pettigrew, Gareth E. Davies, J. A. Gareth Williams, Gary J. Sharples
Abstract
Chelating agents are widely used in industry and consumer goods to control metal availability, with bacterial growth restriction as a secondary benefit for preservation. However, the antibacterial mechanism of action of chelants is largely unknown, particularly with respect to the impact on cellular metal concentrations. The work presented here uncovers distinct metal starvation effects imposed by different chelants on the model Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. The chelators were studied both individually and in pairs, with the majority producing synergistic effects in combinations that maximize antibacterial hostility. The judicious selection of chelants based on contrasting cellular effects should enable reductions in the quantities of chelant required in numerous commercial products and presents opportunities to replace problematic chemistries with biodegradable alternatives.