Inhibitory effect of creosote and its main components on production of verotoxin of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7

Abstract

The inhibitory effects of creosote and its main components, α-methoxyphenol and o-ethylphenol, on production of verotoxin by enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC E. coli) were investigated. The production of verotoxin by VTEC E. coli was inhibited by the administration of 0.001 ≃ 0.1% of creosote or o-ethylphenol (final concentration). On the other hand, weak inhibition of production of verotoxin was observed with 0.1% α-methoxyphenol administration. As the inhibitory effects were obtained below Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values, these test compounds exerted their effects at the active site of VTEC E. coli cells prior to their production of verotoxin. These findings suggest that pre-administration of creosote and its main components might prevent human intestinal food poisoning by VTEC E. coli and contribute to maintenance of public health.