Biophysical Imaging

Azalomycin F (AzaF) is a macrolactone produced by Streptococcus spp. While its antimicrobial properties against gram-positive bacteria are known, its exact mode of action is not clear yet. This would be important to understand the extent to which macrolactones can be used in clinical applications. One hypothesis is that it might cause damage to the cell membrane. We therefore investigated the interaction of AzaF and other macrolactones with model membranes and bacterial cultures. We found that the growth of several bacteria is significantly negatively affected by different concentrations of AzaF. Furthermore, we assessed the interaction of different amounts of AzaF and other macrolactones on lipid vesicles via time course fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy. The results demonstrate the influence on lipid membranes at different concentrations of macrolactones, contributing to understanding the mode of action of newly discovered natural products on their antimicrobial mode of action.