scholarly journals Amoxicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae can be resensitized by targeting the mevalonate pathway as identified by sCRilecs-seq

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liselot Dewachter ◽  
Xue Liu ◽  
Julien Dénéréaz ◽  
Vincent de Bakker ◽  
Charlotte Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Mevalonate Pathway ◽  
Pneumococcal Infections ◽  
Peptidoglycan Synthesis ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Lactam Antibiotic ◽  
Extensive Cell ◽  
Opportunistic Human Pathogen ◽  
Undecaprenyl Phosphate

AbstractAntibiotic resistance in the important opportunistic human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae is on the rise. This is particularly problematic in the case of the β-lactam antibiotic amoxicillin, which is the first intention therapy. It is therefore crucial to uncover targets that would kill or resensitize amoxicillin- resistant pneumococci. To do so, we developed a genome-wide, single-cell based, gene silencing screen using CRISPR interference called sCRilecs-seq (subsets of CRISPR interference libraries extracted by fluorescence activated cell sorting coupled to next generation sequencing). Since amoxicillin affects growth and division, sCRilecs-seq was used to identify targets that are responsible for maintaining proper cell size. Our screen revealed that downregulation of the mevalonate pathway leads to extensive cell elongation. We show that this phenotype is caused by insufficient transport of cell wall precursors across the cell membrane due to a limitation in the production of undecaprenyl phosphate (Und-P), the lipid carrier responsible for this process. The data suggest that septal peptidoglycan synthesis is more sensitive to reduced Und-P levels than peripheral peptidoglycan synthesis. We successfully exploited this knowledge to create a combination treatment strategy where the FDA-approved drug clomiphene, an inhibitor of Und-P synthesis, is paired up with amoxicillin. Our results show that clomiphene potentiates the antimicrobial activity of amoxicillin and that combination therapy resensitizes amoxicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae. These findings could provide a starting point to develop a solution for the increasing amount of hard-to-treat amoxicillin-resistant pneumococcal infections.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial resistance profile and multidrug resistance patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from patients suspected of pneumococcal infections in Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bekele Sharew ◽  
Feleke Moges ◽  
Gizachew Yismaw ◽  
Wondwossen Abebe ◽  
Surafal Fentaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Pneumococcal Infection ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Resistance Testing ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Pneumococcal Infections ◽  
Resistance Patterns

Abstract Background Antimicrobial-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae have become one of the greatest challenges to global public health today and inappropriate use of antibiotics and high level of antibiotic use is probably the main factor driving the emergence of resistance worldwide. The aim of this study is, therefore, to assess the antimicrobial resistance profiles and multidrug resistance patterns of S. pneumoniae isolates from patients suspected of pneumococcal infections in Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based prospective study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2019 at Addis Ababa city and Amhara National Region State Referral Hospitals. Antimicrobial resistance tests were performed from isolates of S. pneumoniae that were collected from pediatric and adult patients. Samples (cerebrospinal fluid, blood, sputum, eye discharge, ear discharge, and pleural and peritoneal fluids) from all collection sites were initially cultured on 5% sheep blood agar plates and incubated overnight at 37 °C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere. Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified and confirmed by typical colony morphology, alpha-hemolysis, Gram staining, optochin susceptibility, and bile solubility test. Drug resistance testing was performed using the E-test method according to recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Results Of the 57 isolates, 17.5% were fully resistant to penicillin. The corresponding value for both cefotaxime and ceftriaxone was 1.8%. Resistance rates to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were 59.6%, 17.5%, 38.6%, 17.5 and 24.6%, respectively. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was seen in 33.3% isolates. The most common pattern was co-resistance to penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and tetracycline. Conclusions Most S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime. Penicillin has been used as a drug of choice for treating S. pneumoniae infection. However, antimicrobial resistance including multidrug resistance was observed to several commonly used antibiotics including penicillin. Hence, it is important to periodically monitor the antimicrobial resistance patterns to select empirical treatments for better management of pneumococcal infection.

scholarly journals Structural and Functional Insights into Peptidoglycan Access for the Lytic Amidase LytA of Streptococcus pneumoniae

mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Mellroth ◽  
Tatyana Sandalova ◽  
Alexey Kikhney ◽  
Francisco Vilaplana ◽  
Dusan Hesek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Solution Structure ◽  
Substrate Binding ◽  
Substrate Recognition ◽  
Lytic Activity ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Peptidoglycan Synthesis

ABSTRACT The cytosolic N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase LytA protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is released by bacterial lysis, associates with the cell wall via its choline-binding motif. During exponential growth, LytA accesses its peptidoglycan substrate to cause lysis only when nascent peptidoglycan synthesis is stalled by nutrient starvation or β-lactam antibiotics. Here we present three-dimensional structures of LytA and establish the requirements for substrate binding and catalytic activity. The solution structure of the full-length LytA dimer reveals a peculiar fold, with the choline-binding domains forming a rigid V-shaped scaffold and the relatively more flexible amidase domains attached in a trans position. The 1.05-Å crystal structure of the amidase domain reveals a prominent Y-shaped binding crevice composed of three contiguous subregions, with a zinc-containing active site localized at the bottom of the branch point. Site-directed mutagenesis was employed to identify catalytic residues and to investigate the relative impact of potential substrate-interacting residues lining the binding crevice for the lytic activity of LytA. In vitro activity assays using defined muropeptide substrates reveal that LytA utilizes a large substrate recognition interface and requires large muropeptide substrates with several connected saccharides that interact with all subregions of the binding crevice for catalysis. We hypothesize that the substrate requirements restrict LytA to the sites on the cell wall where nascent peptidoglycan synthesis occurs. IMPORTANCE Streptococcus pneumoniae is a human respiratory tract pathogen responsible for millions of deaths annually. Its major pneumococcal autolysin, LytA, is required for autolysis and fratricidal lysis and functions as a virulence factor that facilitates the spread of toxins and factors involved in immune evasion. LytA is also activated by penicillin and vancomycin and is responsible for the lysis induced by these antibiotics. The factors that regulate the lytic activity of LytA are unclear, but it was recently demonstrated that control is at the level of substrate recognition and that LytA required access to the nascent peptidoglycan. The present study was undertaken to structurally and functionally investigate LytA and its substrate-interacting interface and to determine the requirements for substrate recognition and catalysis. Our results reveal that the amidase domain comprises a complex substrate-binding crevice and needs to interact with a large-motif epitope of peptidoglycan for catalysis.

scholarly journals Genome-wide association for heifer reproduction and calf performance traits in beef cattle

Genome ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 549-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Everestus C. Akanno ◽  
Graham Plastow ◽  
Carolyn Fitzsimmons ◽  
Stephen P. Miller ◽  
Vern Baron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Snp Markers ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
And Performance

The aim of this study was to identify SNP markers that associate with variation in beef heifer reproduction and performance of their calves. A genome-wide association study was performed by means of the generalized quasi-likelihood score (GQLS) method using heifer genotypes from the BovineSNP50 BeadChip and estimated breeding values for pre-breeding body weight (PBW), pregnancy rate (PR), calving difficulty (CD), age at first calving (AFC), calf birth weight (BWT), calf weaning weight (WWT), and calf pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG). Data consisted of 785 replacement heifers from three Canadian research herds, namely Brandon Research Centre, Brandon, Manitoba, University of Alberta Roy Berg Kinsella Ranch, Kinsella, Alberta, and Lacombe Research Centre, Lacombe, Alberta. After applying a false discovery rate correction at a 5% significance level, a total of 4, 3, 3, 9, 6, 2, and 1 SNPs were significantly associated with PBW, PR, CD, AFC, BWT, WWT, and ADG, respectively. These SNPs were located on chromosomes 1, 5–7, 9, 13–16, 19–21, 24, 25, and 27–29. Chromosomes 1, 5, and 24 had SNPs with pleiotropic effects. New significant SNPs that impact functional traits were detected, many of which have not been previously reported. The results of this study support quantitative genetic studies related to the inheritance of these traits, and provides new knowledge regarding beef cattle quantitative trait loci effects. The identification of these SNPs provides a starting point to identify genes affecting heifer reproduction traits and performance of their calves (BWT, WWT, and ADG). They also contribute to a better understanding of the biology underlying these traits and will be potentially useful in marker- and genome-assisted selection and management.

Prolonged Pneumococcal Meningitis Due to an Organism With Increased Resistance to Penicillin

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 378-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Paredes ◽  
Larry H. Taber ◽  
Martha D. Yow ◽  
Dorothy Clark ◽  
William Nathan
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Pneumococcal Meningitis ◽  
Pneumococcal Infections ◽  
In Vitro Susceptibility ◽  
Focus Of Infection ◽  
Resistance To Penicillin ◽  
Penicillin Treatment ◽  
Susceptibility Tests

For more than 30 years, penicillin has been the agent of choice for pneumococcal infections. During this time the majority of strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae have been highly susceptible to penicillin. However, during the last ten years there have been sporadic reports of pneumococci with increased resistance to penicillin. The case report of an 18-month-old white boy with meningitis due to a strain of S. pneumoniae with increased resistance to penicillin is presented. The MIC of the organism to penicillin was 0.2µg/ml and the MBC 0.39µg/ml. The patient had normal immunity and no demonstrable sequestered focus of infection but failed to respond to appropriate doses of intravenous penicillin. Treatment with chloramphenicol caused a dramatic bacteriologic and clinical response. This experience reemphasizes the existence of pneumococcal strains of intermediate penicillin sensitivity and the importance of in vitro susceptibility tests.

An International Campaign for Agricultural and Livestock Genomics (CALG)

2002 ◽  
Vol 06 (24) ◽  
pp. 958-965
Author(s):  
Jun Yu ◽  
Jian Wang ◽  
Huanming Yang
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Environmental Biology ◽  
Cdna Sequences ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
Technology Innovations ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Cost

A coordinated international effort to sequence agricultural and livestock genomes has come to its time. While human genome and genomes of many model organisms (related to human health and basic biological interests) have been sequenced or plugged in the sequencing pipelines, agronomically important crop and livestock genomes have not been given high enough priority. Although we are facing many challenges in policy-making, grant funding, regional task emphasis, research community consensus and technology innovations, many initiatives are being announced and formulated based on the cost-effective and large-scale sequencing procedure, known as whole genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing that produces draft sequences covering a genome from 95 percent to 99 percent. Identified genes from such draft sequences, coupled with other resources, such as molecular markers, large-insert clones and cDNA sequences, provide ample information and tools to further our knowledge in agricultural and environmental biology in the genome era that just comes to its accelerated period. If the campaign succeeds, molecular biologists, geneticists and field biologists from all countries, rich or poor, would be brought to the same starting point and expect another astronomical increase of basic genomic information, ready to convert effectively into knowledge that will ultimately change our lives and environment into a greater and better future. We call upon national and international governmental agencies and organizations as well as research foundations to support this unprecedented movement.

scholarly journals SEROTYPING OF STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE STRAINS, ISOLATED FROM CHILDREN IN URAL REGION WITH THE USE OF MULTIPLEX PCR

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 26-30
Author(s):  
E. V. Samatova ◽  
A. E. Druy ◽  
G. A. Tsaur ◽  
L. G. Boronina
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Multiplex Pcr ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Ural Region ◽  
Coincidence Rate ◽  
Pneumococcal Infections ◽  
Conjugate Vaccines

This article presents results of the multiplex PCR investigation of the serotypes distribution of S. pneumoniae strains circulating in Ekaterinburg and the Sverdlovsk region. This study was performed in children with invasive, noninvasive pneumococcal infections and carriers. 118 strains of pneumococci typed out of 129 ones (91.5%) referred to the 15 serotypes: 6A, 6B (20,8%); 23F (13,9%); 19F (11,5%); 8, 9V, 9A, 11F, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 12F, 15A, 33F (11,5%); 3 (10%) 2, 15F, 17F, 22F, 23B (3,9%); 18B, 18C (3.9%), 19A (3,2%); 7F, 19B, 19C, 23A (3,2%); 5,10A (1.6%), 20 (1.6%), 14 (1, 6%); 9L, 9N, 15B, 15C (1,6%); 18F (1,6%); 18A (1.6%). Coincidence rate of serotypes S. pneumoniae, isolated from children with chronic infectious and inflammatory diseases of the lung with serotypes included into the content of the conjugate vaccines is: 7-valent - 69.3%, 10-valent - 98.2%, 11 - and 13-valent - 100%.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial resistance profile and multidrug resistance patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from patients suspected for pneumococcal infections in Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
BEKELE SHAREW ◽  
Feleke Moges ◽  
Gizachew Yismaw ◽  
Wondiwossen Abebe ◽  
Surafal Fentaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Pneumococcal Infection ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Resistance Testing ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Pneumococcal Infections ◽  
Resistance Patterns

Abstract Backgrounds: Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis and pneumoniae in elderly people and children. Antimicrobial resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae has been detected in all parts of the world and become one of the greatest challenges to global public health today. The aim of this study is therefore, to assess the antimicrobial resistance profiles and multidrug resistance patterns of S. pneumoniae isolates from patients suspected for pneumococcal infections in Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based prospective study was conducted from 2018 to 2019 at Addis Ababa and Amhara region referral hospitals. Antimicrobial resistance tests were performed on 57 isolates of S. pneumoniae that were collected from pediatric and adult patients. Samples (cerebrospinal fluid, blood, sputum, eye discharge, ear discharge, pleural and peritoneal fluids) from all collection sites were initially cultured onto 5 % sheep blood agar plates and incubated overnight at 370C in 5% CO2 atmosphere. S. pneumoniae was identified and confirmed by typical colony morphology, alpha-hemolysis, Gram staining, optochin susceptibility and bile solubility test. Drug resistance testing was performed using E-test method according to recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.Results: Of the 57 isolates, 17.5% were fully resistant to penicillin. Corresponding value for both cefotaxime and ceftriaxone was 1.8%. Resistance rates to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were 59.6%, 17.5%, 38.6%, 17.5% and 24.6%, respectively. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was seen in 33.3% isolates. The most common pattern was co-resistance to penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin and tetracycline.Conclusions: Most bacterial isolates were susceptible to Ceftriaxone and Cefotaxime. Penicillin has been used as a drug of choice for treating S. pneumoniae infection. However, antimicrobial resistance including multidrug resistance was observed to a number of commonly used antibiotics including penicillin. Hence, it is important to periodically monitor the antibiotic resistance patterns to choose empirical treatments for better management of pneumococcal infection.

scholarly journals Toxin-Antitoxin Genes of the Gram-Positive Pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae: So Few and Yet So Many

2012 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 773-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wai Ting Chan ◽  
Inma Moreno-Córdoba ◽  
Chew Chieng Yeo ◽  
Manuel Espinosa
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Pneumococcal Infections ◽  
Interesting Phenomenon ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Toxin Protein

SUMMARYPneumococcal infections cause up to 2 million deaths annually and raise a large economic burden and thus constitute an important threat to mankind. Because of the increase in the antibiotic resistance ofStreptococcus pneumoniaeclinical isolates, there is an urgent need to find new antimicrobial approaches to triumph over pneumococcal infections. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems (TAS), which are present in most living bacteria but not in eukaryotes, have been proposed as an effective strategy to combat bacterial infections. Type II TAS comprise a stable toxin and a labile antitoxin that form an innocuous TA complex under normal conditions. Under stress conditions, TA synthesis will be triggered, resulting in the degradation of the labile antitoxin and the release of the toxin protein, which would poison the host cells. The three functional chromosomal TAS fromS. pneumoniaethat have been studied as well as their molecular characteristics are discussed in detail in this review. Furthermore, a meticulous bioinformatics search has been performed for 48 pneumococcal genomes that are found in public databases, and more putative TAS, homologous to well-characterized ones, have been revealed. Strikingly, several unusual putative TAS, in terms of components and genetic organizations previously not envisaged, have been discovered and are further discussed. Previously, we reported a novel finding in which a unique pneumococcal DNA signature, the BOX element, affected the regulation of the pneumococcalyefM-yoeBTAS. This BOX element has also been found in some of the other pneumococcal TAS. In this review, we also discuss possible relationships between some of the pneumococcal TAS with pathogenicity, competence, biofilm formation, persistence, and an interesting phenomenon called bistability.

scholarly journals Refining the Pneumococcal Competence Regulon by RNA Sequencing

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelle Slager ◽  
Rieza Aprianto ◽  
Jan-Willem Veening
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Rna Sequencing ◽  
Genome Annotation ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Microarray Technology ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Exogenous Dna ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Opportunistic Human Pathogen

ABSTRACTCompetence for genetic transformation allows the opportunistic human pathogenStreptococcus pneumoniaeto take up exogenous DNA for incorporation into its own genome. This ability may account for the extraordinary genomic plasticity of this bacterium, leading to antigenic variation, vaccine escape, and the spread of antibiotic resistance. The competence system has been thoroughly studied, and its regulation is well understood. Additionally, over the last decade, several stress factors have been shown to trigger the competent state, leading to the activation of several stress response regulons. The arrival of next-generation sequencing techniques allowed us to update the competence regulon, the latest report on which still depended on DNA microarray technology. Enabled by the availability of an up-to-date genome annotation, including transcript boundaries, we assayed time-dependent expression of all annotated features in response to competence induction, were able to identify the affected promoters, and produced a more complete overview of the various regulons activated during the competence state. We show that 4% of all annotated genes are under direct control of competence regulators ComE and ComX, while the expression of a total of up to 17% of all genes is affected, either directly or indirectly. Among the affected genes are various small RNAs with an as-yet-unknown function. Besides the ComE and ComX regulons, we were also able to refine the CiaR, VraR (LiaR), and BlpR regulons, underlining the strength of combining transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) with a well-annotated genome.IMPORTANCEStreptococcus pneumoniaeis an opportunistic human pathogen responsible for over a million deaths every year. Although both vaccination programs and antibiotic therapies have been effective in prevention and treatment of pneumococcal infections, respectively, the sustainability of these solutions is uncertain. The pneumococcal genome is highly flexible, leading to vaccine escape and antibiotic resistance. This flexibility is predominantly facilitated by competence, a state allowing the cell to take up and integrate exogenous DNA. Thus, it is essential to obtain a detailed overview of gene expression during competence. This is stressed by the fact that administration of several classes of antibiotics can lead to competence. Previous studies on the competence regulon were performed with microarray technology and were limited to an incomplete set of known genes. Using RNA sequencing combined with an up-to-date genome annotation, we provide an updated overview of competence-regulated genes.

scholarly journals A New Phage Lysin Isolated from the Oral Microbiome Targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 478
Author(s):  
Imme van der Kamp ◽  
Lorraine A. Draper ◽  
Muireann K. Smith ◽  
Colin Buttimer ◽  
R. Paul Ross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Oral Microbiome ◽  
Lytic Activity ◽  
Host Strain ◽  
Pneumococcal Infections ◽  
Highly Pathogenic ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Colony Forming Units ◽  
Invasive Infections

Streptococcus pneumoniae is highly pathogenic and causes several mucosal and invasive infections. Due to the rising number of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of S. pneumoniae, new antimicrobials with alternative mechanisms of action are urgently needed. In this study, we identified two new Streptococcal phages from the oral microbiome, 23TH and SA01. Their lysins, 23TH_48 and SA01_53, were recombinantly expressed, characterized and tested for their lethality. SA01_53 was found to only lyse its host strain of S. anginosus, while 23TH_48 was found to possess a broader lytic activity beyond its host strain of S. infantis, with several S. pneumoniae isolates sensitive to its lytic activity. 23TH_48 at a concentration of five activity units per mL (U/mL) was found to reduce cell counts of S. pneumoniae DSM 24048 by 4 log10 colony forming units per mL (CFU/mL) within 1 h and effectively prevented and destroyed biofilms of S. pneumoniae R6 at concentrations of 228.8 ng/µL and 14.3 ng/µL, respectively. Given its high lytic activity, 23TH_48 could prove to be a promising candidate to help combat pneumococcal infections.

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