Detection of molecular changes induced by antibiotics in Escherichia coli using vibrational spectroscopy

Abstract : This study aimed to test Raman (400–1800 cm− 1) and Infra-red (1900–500 cm− 1) spectroscopies followed by statistical analysis (principal component analysis) to detect molecular changes induced by antibiotics (ampicillin, cefotaxime – cell wall synthesis inhibitors, tetracycline – protein synthesis inhibitor, ciprofloxacin – DNA synthesis inhibitor) against Escherichia coli TOP10. In case of ampicillin and cefotaxime, a decrease in protein bands in both Raman (1240, 1660 cm− 1), and IR spectra (1230, 1530, 1630 cm− 1), and an increase in carbohydrate bands (1150, 1020 cm− 1) in IR spectra were observed. Tetracycline addition caused an increase in nucleic acid bands (775, 1478, 1578 cm− 1), a sharp decrease in phenylalanine (995 cm− 1) in Raman spectra and the amide I and amide II bands (1630, 1530 cm− 1) in IR spectra, an increase in DNA in both Raman (1083 cm− 1) and IR spectra (1080 cm− 1). Regarding ciprofloxacin, an increase in nucleic acids (775, 1478, 1578 cm− 1) in Raman spectra and in protein bands (1230, 1520, 1630 cm− 1), in DNA (1080 cm− 1) in IR spectra were detected. Clear discrimination of antibiotic-treated samples compared to the control was recorded, showing that Raman and IR spectroscopies, coupled to principal component analysis for data, could be used to detect molecular modifications in bacteria exposed to different classes of antibiotics. These findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of action of antibiotics in bacteria.