Mechanism of Sulfonamide Action. II. Inhibition of Bacterial Respiration by Sulfanilamide and by Its Inactive Isomers

Abstract

Demonstration of an effectiveness of metanilamide and orthanilamide (substances devoid of chemotherapeutic activity) greater than that of sulfanilamide in inhibiting respiration of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes when they were prepd. after the manner of Sevag suggests that inhibition of respiration of bacterial cells is not a reliable index of the presence or absence of true sulfonamide activity. This was further demonstrated by the fact that treatment with various substances related to sulfanilamide produced similar results in control of respiration of resistant and non-resistant forms, but did not equally inhibit the growth of resistant and non-resistant forms.