Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Sep 2019)

Cannabidiol Is a Novel Modulator of Bacterial Membrane Vesicles

  • Uchini S. Kosgodage,
  • Paul Matewele,
  • Brigitte Awamaria,
  • Igor Kraev,
  • Purva Warde,
  • Giulia Mastroianni,
  • Alistair V. Nunn,
  • Geoffrey W. Guy,
  • Jimmy D. Bell,
  • Jameel M. Inal,
  • Sigrun Lange

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00324
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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Membrane vesicles (MVs) released from bacteria participate in cell communication and host-pathogen interactions. Roles for MVs in antibiotic resistance are gaining increased attention and in this study we investigated if known anti-bacterial effects of cannabidiol (CBD), a phytocannabinoid from Cannabis sativa, could be in part attributed to effects on bacterial MV profile and MV release. We found that CBD is a strong inhibitor of MV release from Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli VCS257), while inhibitory effect on MV release from Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus subsp. aureus Rosenbach) was negligible. When used in combination with selected antibiotics, CBD significantly increased the bactericidal action of several antibiotics in the Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, CBD increased antibiotic effects of kanamycin in the Gram-positive bacteria, without affecting MV release. CBD furthermore changed protein profiles of MVs released from E. coli after 1 h CBD treatment. Our findings indicate that CBD may pose as a putative adjuvant agent for tailored co-application with selected antibiotics, depending on bacterial species, to increase antibiotic activity, including via MV inhibition, and help reduce antibiotic resistance.

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