Association between phage DNA injection and generation of the protonmotive force in Staphylococcus aureus.

Suppression of protonmotive force generators in staphylococci lead to a loss of phage infection efficiency. KCN inhibited phage infection by 49.5-53.5%; DCCD by 51.0-61.4%; CCCP by 59.2-68.8%. Suppression tock place at the stage of phage DNA transport. Valinomycin in concentration of 0.5 microM evoked dissipation of the membrane potential, nigericin caused a reduction of the gradient pH in the staphylococci membrane at a concentration of 12.0 microM. Individually, these antibiotics did not have an essential influence on the efficiency of phage infection but when combined, a maximum inhibition of phage infection (64.5%) occurred at the stage of introducing phage DNA into the bacterial cell implicating the participation of the membrane potential and pH gradient in the transportation of phage nucleic acid to the staphylococcal cell.