Palmitoleic acid sensitizes vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to vancomycin by outpacing the expression of resistance genes

Abstract

The development of antibiotics has transformed medicine, reducing the incidence and severity of bacterial infections and allowing for advancements in healthcare, including invasive surgeries and organ transplants. However, the rise of antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to these medical advancements, leading to treatment failures that result in increased patient morbidity and mortality, as well as substantial healthcare costs. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) species are prevalent in hospital settings and chronic infections. Although high-level vancomycin resistance in S. aureus is rare, S. aureus can acquire plasmids expressing vancomycin resistance genes from resistant Enterococcal species during infection, further complicating treatment. In this study, we find that palmitoleic acid increases the rate of vancomycin killing and restores sensitivity to vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) and VRE isolates.