Involvement of pmrAB and phoPQ in Polymyxin B Adaptation and Inducible Resistance in Non-Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT During investigation of susceptibility testing methods for polymyxins, 24 multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were observed to have a distinct, reproducible phenotype in which skipped wells were observed during broth microdilution testing for polymyxin B. Possible mechanisms underlying this phenotype were investigated. The effects of various concentrations of polymyxin B on growth, the expression of resistance genes, and outer-membrane permeability were observed. Real-time PCR was performed to compare the expression, in response to selected concentrations of polymyxin B, of genes related to the PhoP-PhoQ and PmrA-PmrB two-component regulatory systems in polymyxin B-susceptible isolate PAO1, polymyxin B-resistant isolate 9BR, and two isolates (19BR and 213BR) exhibiting the skipped-well phenotype. 19BR and 213BR appeared to have similar basal levels of expression compared to that of PAO1 for phoQ, arnB, and PA4773 (from the pmrAB operon), and in contrast, 9BR had 52- and 280-fold higher expression of arnB and PA4773, respectively. The expression of arnB and PA4773 increased in response to polymyxin B in a concentration-dependent manner for 9BR but not for 19BR and 213BR. For these isolates, expression was significantly increased for arnB and PA4773, as well as phoQ, only upon exposure to 2 μg/ml polymyxin B but not at a lower concentration of 0.125 μg/ml. The sequencing of the pmrAB and phoPQ operons for all three isolates revealed a number of unique mutations compared to that for PAO1. 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN) was used to study the effect of preincubation with polymyxin B on the self-promoted uptake of polymyxin B across the outer membrane. The preincubation of cells with 2 μg/ml polymyxin B affected baseline membrane permeability in 19BR and 213BR and also resulted in a reduced rate of NPN uptake in these isolates and in PAO1 but not in 9BR. The results presented here suggest that the skipped-well isolates have the ability to adapt to specific concentrations of polymyxin B, inducing known polymyxin B resistance genes involved in generating alterations in the outer membrane.

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Antimicrobial Activity of Cyclic-Monomeric and Dimeric Derivatives of the Snail-Derived Peptide Cm-p5 against Viral and Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Strains

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom11050745 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 745

Author(s):

Melaine González-García ◽

Fidel Morales-Vicente ◽

Erbio Díaz Pico ◽

Hilda Garay ◽

Daniel G. Rivera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Antifungal Activity ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Moderate Activity ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Acinetobacter Baumanii ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Conventional Antibiotics

Cm-p5 is a snail-derived antimicrobial peptide, which demonstrated antifungal activity against the pathogenic strains of Candida albicans. Previously we synthetized a cyclic monomer as well as a parallel and an antiparallel dimer of Cm-p5 with improved antifungal activity. Considering the alarming increase of microbial resistance to conventional antibiotics, here we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of these derivatives against multiresistant and problematic bacteria and against important viral agents. The three peptides showed a moderate activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL), and Streptococcus agalactiae, with MIC values > 100 µg/mL. They exerted a considerable activity with MIC values between 25–50 µg/mL against Acinetobacter baumanii and Enterococcus faecium. In addition, the two dimers showed a moderate activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14. The three Cm-p5 derivatives inhibited a virulent extracellular strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, they inhibited Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) infection in a concentration-dependent manner, but had no effect on infection by the Zika Virus (ZIKV) or pseudoparticles of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). At concentrations of >100 µg/mL, the three new Cm-p5 derivatives showed toxicity on different eukaryotic cells tested. Considering a certain cell toxicity but a potential interesting activity against the multiresistant strains of bacteria and HSV-2, our compounds require future structural optimization.

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Analysis of Susceptibility Patterns of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Isolation, Characterization of Lytic Bacteriophages Targeting Multi Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal ◽

10.13005/bpj/1471 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 1105-1117 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shri Natrajan Arumugam ◽

Akarsh Chickamagalur Rudraradhya ◽

Sathish Sadagopan ◽

Sunilkumar Sukumaran ◽

Ganesh Sambasivam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽

Host Range ◽

Polymyxin B ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Clinical Isolates ◽

Dilution Method ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Susceptibility Pattern ◽

Infectivity Rate

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to be a major cause of Hospital Acquired Infections leading to high mortality in immune-compromised patients. Due to precipitous rise in antibiotic resistance, bacteriophages are significant alternative therapeutic approach for treatment and to combat resistance development. Objective of the current study was to identify MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa from clinical isolates and to isolate bacteriophages from sewage samples against these MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. One hundred and forty-four Pseudomonas isolates were tested for their susceptibility pattern with 13 different antibiotics by micro-broth dilution method. Frequency of multidrug resistant (MDR) and Extensive Drug resistant (XDR) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found to be 35.5% and 23.6%, respectively. 7.61% isolates were identified as Pan drug resistant (PDR). Rate of susceptibility pattern were Piperacillin/Tazobactam 75%, Polymyxin B 74.6%, Meropenem 73.6%, Colistin 69.2%, Cefepime 54.9%, Ciprofloxacin 54.2%, Gentamicin 54.2%, Aztreonam 53.5%, Tobramycin 47.9%, Ticarcillin/Clavulanic acid 46.9%, Ertapenem 45.8%, Ceftazidime 40.3% and Imipenem 39.2%. Ninety-four bacteriophages were isolated from sewage samples against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1/ATCC9027/clinical strains and host range testing study was carried out with all MDR clinical isolates. Among 51 MDR strains 34 strains were infected by phages. Phage infectivity rate were calculated for individual phages based on their host range infectivity results. AP025 and AP006 phages exhibited good infectivity rate of 39% and 30% respectively against MDR strains. Combination of 5 phages (AP002, AP006, AP011, AP025 and AP067) lysed 62.7% of the strains. Based on the obtained results, phages could be employed for treatment of infections caused by MDR strains with substantiated in-vivo experiments.

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The Two-Component System CprRS Senses Cationic Peptides and Triggers Adaptive Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Independently of ParRS

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.01530-12 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 56 (12) ◽

pp. 6212-6222 ◽

Cited By ~ 73

Author(s):

Lucía Fernández ◽

Håvard Jenssen ◽

Manjeet Bains ◽

Irith Wiegand ◽

W. James Gooderham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽

Antimicrobial Peptides ◽

Outer Membrane ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Two Component System ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Component System ◽

Content Type ◽

Wide Range ◽

Two Component

ABSTRACTCationic antimicrobial peptides pass across the outer membrane by interacting with negatively charged lipopolysaccharide (LPS), leading to outer membrane permeabilization in a process termed self-promoted uptake. Resistance can be mediated by the addition of positively charged arabinosamine through the action of thearnBCADTEFoperon. We recently described a series of two-component regulators that lead to the activation of thearnoperon after recognizing environmental signals, including low-Mg2+(PhoPQ, PmrAB) or cationic (ParRS) peptides. However, some peptides did not activate thearnoperon through ParRS. Here, we report the identification of a new two-component system, CprRS, which, upon exposure to a wide range of antimicrobial peptides, triggered the expression of the LPS modification operon. Thus, mutations in thecprRSoperon blocked the induction of thearnoperon in response to several antimicrobial peptides independently of ParRS but did not affect the response to low Mg2+. Distinct patterns ofarninduction were identified. Thus, the responses to polymyxins were abrogated by eitherparRorcprRmutations, while responses to other peptides, including indolicidin, showed differential dependency on the CprRS and ParRS systems in a concentration-dependent manner. It was further demonstrated that, following exposure to inducing antimicrobial peptides,cprRSmutants did not become adaptively resistant to polymyxins as was observed for wild-type cells. Our microarray studies demonstrated that the CprRS system controlled a quite modest regulon, indicating that it was quite specific to adaptive peptide resistance. These findings provide greater insight into the complex regulation of LPS modification inPseudomonas aeruginosa, which involves the participation of at least 4 two-component systems.

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Polyamines Increase Antibiotic Susceptibility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.50.5.1623-1627.2006 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 50 (5) ◽

pp. 1623-1627 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Dong H. Kwon ◽

Chung-Dar Lu

Keyword(s):

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽

Outer Membrane ◽

Antibiotic Susceptibility ◽

Acquired Resistance ◽

Polymyxin B ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Activity Measurements ◽

Living Organisms ◽

Opportunistic Human Pathogen ◽

Outer Membrane Permeability

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen. Treatment is complicated by frequent acquired resistance to antipseudomonal therapies. Polyamines (cadaverine, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are ubiquitous polycationic compounds essential for all living organisms. In a dose-dependent manner, polyamines increased the susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to 14 β-lactam antibiotics, chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid, and trimethoprim as demonstrated by a reduction in MIC of up to 64-fold. This effect was partially antagonized (25 to 50%) by the presence of 10 mM of Mg2+ or Ca2+. In contrast, the effects of the outer membrane permeabilizers, polymyxin B nonapeptide and EDTA, were completely abolished by 3 mM Mg2+ or Ca2+. Changes on the outer membrane barrier by these compounds were assessed by activity measurements of periplasmic β-lactamase. The results showed that while EDTA and polymyxin B serve as outer membrane disorganizing agents as expected, exogenous spermidine and spermine did not exhibit any apparent effect on outer membrane permeability or rupture. In summary, these results strongly suggest that the increased antibiotic susceptibility by polyamines is exerted by a mechanism that differs from that of EDTA and polymyxin B. Polyamines might be potentially useful in antipseudomonal therapies by increasing the effectiveness of certain β-lactam antibiotics.

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Relevance of resistance levels to carbapenems and integron-borne bla IMP-1, bla IMP-7, bla IMP-10 and bla VIM-2 in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Journal of Medical Microbiology ◽

10.1099/jmm.0.010017-0 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 58 (8) ◽

pp. 1080-1085 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Wei-Hua Zhao ◽

Gelin Chen ◽

Ribu Ito ◽

Zhi-Qing Hu

Keyword(s):

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽

Resistance Genes ◽

Gene Cassette ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Resistance Mechanisms ◽

Clinical Isolates ◽

Gene Cassettes ◽

Class 1 ◽

High Level ◽

Encoding Genes

Molecular detection and surveillance of the resistance genes harboured by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are becoming increasingly important in assessing and controlling spread and colonization in hospitals, and in guiding the treatment of infections. This study analysed the resistance mechanisms of carbapenem-resistant clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and identified the associated integron-borne metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-encoding genes. Twenty-seven imipenem (IPM)-resistant clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa were divided into three groups according to their resistance levels to carbapenems. Strains bearing bla IMP-10 showed extremely high-level resistance to IPM, with MICs of 512–2048 μg ml−1. By comparison, strains bearing bla IMP-1, bla IMP-7 and bla VIM-2 showed an intermediate level of resistance, with MICs of 32–256 μg ml−1. The non-MBL-producing strains showed a low level of resistance, with MICs of 8–32 μg ml−1. The same trend in resistance levels was also observed when resistance to other carbapenems, such as meropenem and panipenem, was determined. DNA sequencing showed that the MBL-encoding gene cassettes were carried by class 1 integrons. The bla IMP-1, bla IMP-7 and bla IMP-10 gene cassettes were preceded by a hybrid P ant promoter, TGGACA-N17-TAAACT, and the bla VIM-2 gene cassette was preceded by a weak promoter, TGGACA-N17-TAAGCT. Most of the MBL-encoding genes were linked to one or two resistance genes encoding aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes, such as aac(6′)Iae, aac(6′)II, aacA7, aacC4, aadA1, aadA2 and aadA6, highlighting the multidrug-resistant properties of these clinical isolates.

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Vibrio cholerae OmpU and OmpT Porins Are Differentially Affected by Bile

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.70.1.121-126.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 121-126 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Jamie A. Wibbenmeyer ◽

Daniele Provenzano ◽

Candice F. Landry ◽

Karl E. Klose ◽

Anne H. Delcour

Keyword(s):

Membrane Permeability ◽

Outer Membrane ◽

Vibrio Cholerae ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Small Pore ◽

Lactam Antibiotic ◽

Pore Forming Proteins ◽

Outer Membrane Permeability

ABSTRACT OmpT and OmpU are pore-forming proteins of the outer membrane of Vibrio cholerae, a pathogen that colonizes the intestine and produces cholera. Expression of the ompU and ompT genes is under the regulation of ToxR, a transmembrane transcriptional activator that also controls expression of virulence factors. It was recently shown that bile stimulates the ToxR-mediated transcription of ompU and that ompU-expressing strains are more resistant to bile and anionic detergents than ompT-expressing cells. In order to further understand the role of the OmpT and OmpU porins in the ability of V. cholerae to survive and colonize the host intestine, we examined the outer membrane permeability of cells expressing only ompU or only ompT or both genes in the absence and in the presence of bile. By comparing various strains in terms of the rate of degradation of the β-lactam antibiotic cephaloridine by the periplasmic β-lactamase, we found that the permeation of the antibiotic through the outer membrane of OmpU-containing cells was slower than the permeation in OmpT-containing cells. In addition, the OmpU-mediated outer membrane permeability was not affected by external bile, while the OmpT-mediated antibiotic flux was reduced by bile in a concentration-dependent manner. Our results confirm that OmpT and OmpU provide a passageway for hydrophilic solutes through the outer membrane and demonstrate that bile might interfere with this traffic in OmpT-producing cells by functionally inhibiting the OmpT pore. The insensitivity of OmpU to bile may be due to its small pore size and may provide an explanation for the resistance of OmpU-producing cells to bile in vivo.

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Detection of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases in Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.01511-05 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 50 (9) ◽

pp. 2990-2995 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Xiaofei Jiang ◽

Zhe Zhang ◽

Min Li ◽

Danqiu Zhou ◽

Feiyi Ruan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Clinical Isolates ◽

Screening Methods ◽

Extended Spectrum ◽

Pcr Product ◽

Amoxicillin Clavulanate ◽

Synergy Test ◽

Esbl Producers ◽

Disk Test

ABSTRACT With the occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa being increasingly reported worldwide, there is a need for a reliable test to detect ESBLs in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. In our study, a total of 75 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa were studied. Nitrocefin tests were performed to detect the β-lactamase enzyme; isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, PCR, and PCR product sequencing were designed to further characterize the contained ESBLs. Various ESBL-screening methods were designed to compare the reliabilities of detecting ESBLs in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa whose β-lactamases were well characterized. Thirty-four of 36 multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa clinical isolates were positive for ESBLs. bla VEB-3 was the most prevalent ESBL gene in P. aeruginosa in our study. Among the total of 34 isolates that were considered ESBL producers, 20 strains were positive using conventional combined disk tests and 10 strains were positive using a conventional double-disk synergy test (DDST) with amoxicillin-clavulanate, expanded-spectrum cephalosporins, aztreonam, and cefepime. Modifications of the combined disk test and DDST, which consisted of shorter distances between disks (20 mm instead of 30 mm) and the use of three different plates that contained cloxacillin (200 μg/ml) alone, Phe-Arg β-naphthylamide dihydrochloride (MC-207,110; 20 μg/ml) alone, and both cloxacillin (200 μg/ml) and MC-207,110 (20 μg/ml) increased the sensitivity of the tests to 78.8%, 91.18%, 85.29%, and 97.06%.

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