Quinolone resistance is transferred horizontally via uptake signal sequence recognition in Haemophilus influenzae

Author(s):  
Emi Tanaka ◽  
Takeaki Wajima ◽  
Kei-ichi Uchiya ◽  
Hidemasa Nakaminami

The presence of Haemophilus influenzae strains with low susceptibility to quinolones has been reported worldwide. However, the emergence and dissemination mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, a total of 14 quinolone-low-susceptible H. influenzae isolates were investigated phylogenetically and in vitro resistance transfer assay in order to elucidate the emergence and dissemination mechanisms. The phylogenetic analysis based on gyrA sequences showed that strains with the same sequence type determined by multilocus sequence typing were classified into different clusters, suggesting that H. influenzae quinolone resistance emerges not only by point mutation, but also by the horizontal transfer of mutated gyrA . Moreover, the in vitro resistance transfer assay confirmed the horizontal transfer of quinolone resistance and indicated an active role of extracellular DNA in the resistance transfer. Interestingly, the horizontal transfer of parC only occurred in those cells that harbored a GyrA with amino acid substitutions, suggesting a possible mechanism of quinolone resistance in clinical settings. Moreover, the uptake signal and uptake-signal-like sequences located downstream of the quinolone resistant-determining regions of gyrA and parC , respectively, contributed to the horizontal transfer of resistance in H. influenzae . Our study demonstrates that the quinolone resistance of H. influenzae could emerge due to the horizontal transfer of gyrA and parC via recognition of an uptake signal sequence or uptake-signal-like sequence. Since the presence of quinolone-low-susceptible H. influenzae with amino acid substitutions in GyrA have been increasing in recent years, it is necessary to focus our attention to the acquisition of further drug resistance in these isolates.

2001 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 1553-1557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Jörg Linde ◽  
Mario Schmidt ◽  
Emmi Fuchs ◽  
Udo Reischl ◽  
Hans-Helmut Niller ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Of 94 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus(n = 51) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (n = 43), mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region of topoisomerases GrlA, GrlB, GyrA, and GyrB together with MICs of six quinolones were analyzed. Amino acid substitutions at identical residues (GrlA residues 80 and 84; GyrA residues 84 and 88) were found in S. aureus and CNS. Active efflux, as suggested by blocking by reserpine, contributed substantially to the resistance phenotype in some strains. Among ciprofloxacin, clinafloxacin, levofloxacin, nalidixic acid, trovafloxacin, and sparfloxacin, a 0.5-μg/ml concentration of sparfloxacin discriminated best between strains with two or three mutations and those with no mutations.


2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Lee ◽  
Christine E. Stocks ◽  
Sean M. Amberg ◽  
Charles M. Rice ◽  
Mario Lobigs

ABSTRACT Proteolytic processing at the C-prM junction in the flavivirus polyprotein involves coordinated cleavages at the cytoplasmic and luminal sides of an internal signal sequence. We have introduced at the COOH terminus of the yellow fever virus (YFV) prM signal sequence amino acid substitutions (VPQAQA mutation) which uncoupled efficient signal peptidase cleavage of the prM protein from its dependence on prior cleavage in the cytoplasm of the C protein mediated by the viral NS2B-3 protease. Infectivity assays with full-length YFV RNA transcripts showed that the VPQAQA mutation, which enhanced signal peptidase cleavage in vitro, was lethal for infectious virus production. Revertants or second-site mutants were recovered from cells transfected with VPQAQA RNA. Analysis of these viruses revealed that single amino acid substitutions in different domains of the prM signal sequence could restore viability. These variants had growth properties in vertebrate cells which differed only slightly from those of the parent virus, despite efficient signal peptidase cleavage of prM in cell-free expression assays. However, the neurovirulence in mice of the VPQAQA variants was significantly attenuated. This study demonstrates that substitutions in the prM signal sequence which disrupt coordinated cleavages at the C-prM junction can impinge on the biological properties of the mutant viruses. Factors other than the rate of production of prM are vitally controlled by regulated cleavages at this site.


2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 436-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoki Ogura ◽  
Yukiyo Toyonaga ◽  
Izuru Ando ◽  
Kunihiro Hirahara ◽  
Tsutomu Shibata ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTJTK-853, a palm site-binding NS5B nonnucleoside polymerase inhibitor, shows antiviral activityin vitroand in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. Here, we report the results of genotypic and phenotypic analyses of resistant variants in 24 HCV genotype 1-infected patients who received JTK-853 (800, 1,200, or 1,600 mg twice daily or 1,200 mg three times daily) in a 3-day monotherapy. Viral resistance in NS5B was investigated using HCV RNA isolated from serum specimens from the patients. At the end of treatment (EOT) with JTK-853, the amino acid substitutions M414T (methionine [M] in position 414 at baseline was replaced with threonine [T] at EOT), C445R (cysteine [C] in position 445 at baseline was replaced with arginine [R] at EOT), Y448C/H (tyrosine [Y] in position 448 at baseline was replaced with cysteine [C] or histidine [H] at EOT), and L466F (leucine [L] in position 466 at baseline was replaced with phenylalanine [F] at EOT), which are known to be typical resistant variants of nonnucleoside polymerase inhibitors, were observed in a clonal sequencing analysis. These substitutions were also selected by a treatment with JTK-853in vitro, and the 50% effective concentration of JTK-853 in the M414T-, C445F-, Y448H-, and L466V-harboring replicons attenuated the susceptibility by 44-, 5-, 6-, and 21-fold, respectively, compared with that in the wild-type replicon (Con1). These findings suggest that amino acid substitutions of M414T, C445R, Y448C/H, and L466F are thought to be viral resistance mutations in HCV-infected patients receiving JTK-853 in a 3-day monotherapy.


2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (6) ◽  
pp. 1954-1960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grit Zarnt ◽  
Thomas Schräder ◽  
Jan R. Andreesen

ABSTRACT The quinohemoprotein tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol dehydrogenase (THFA-DH) from Ralstonia eutropha strain Bo was investigated for its catalytic properties. The apparentk cat/Km andK i values for several substrates were determined using ferricyanide as an artificial electron acceptor. The highest catalytic efficiency was obtained with n-pentanol exhibiting a k cat/Km value of 788 × 104 M−1 s−1. The enzyme showed substrate inhibition kinetics for most of the alcohols and aldehydes investigated. A stereoselective oxidation of chiral alcohols with a varying enantiomeric preference was observed. Initial rate studies using ethanol and acetaldehyde as substrates revealed that a ping-pong mechanism can be assumed for in vitro catalysis of THFA-DH. The gene encoding THFA-DH from R. eutropha strain Bo (tfaA) has been cloned and sequenced. The derived amino acid sequence showed an identity of up to 67% to the sequence of various quinoprotein and quinohemoprotein dehydrogenases. A comparison of the deduced sequence with the N-terminal amino acid sequence previously determined by Edman degradation analysis suggested the presence of a signal sequence of 27 residues. The primary structure of TfaA indicated that the protein has a tertiary structure quite similar to those of other quinoprotein dehydrogenases.


2018 ◽  
Vol 201 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly M. Storek ◽  
Rajesh Vij ◽  
Dawei Sun ◽  
Peter A. Smith ◽  
James T. Koerber ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIntegral β-barrel membrane proteins are folded and inserted into the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane by the β-barrel assembly machine (BAM). This essential complex, composed of a β-barrel protein, BamA, and four lipoproteins, BamB, BamC, BamD, and BamE, resides in the outer membrane, a unique asymmetrical lipid bilayer that is difficult to recapitulatein vitro. Thus, the probing of BAM function in living cells is critical to fully understand the mechanism of β-barrel folding. We recently identified an anti-BamA monoclonal antibody, MAB1, that is a specific and potent inhibitor of BamA function. Here, we show that the inhibitory effect of MAB1 is enhanced when BAM function is perturbed by either lowering the level of BamA or removing the nonessential BAM lipoproteins, BamB, BamC, or BamE. The disruption of BAM reduces BamA activity, increases outer membrane (OM) fluidity, and activates the σEstress response, suggesting the OM environment and BAM function are interconnected. Consistent with this idea, an increase in the membrane fluidity through changes in the growth environment or alterations to the lipopolysaccharide in the outer membrane is sufficient to provide resistance to MAB1 and enable the BAM to tolerate these perturbations. Amino acid substitutions in BamA at positions in the outer membrane spanning region or the periplasmic space remote from the extracellular MAB1 binding site also provide resistance to the inhibitory antibody. Our data highlight that the outer membrane environment is a critical determinant in the efficient and productive folding of β-barrel membrane proteins by BamA.IMPORTANCEBamA is an essential component of the β-barrel assembly machine (BAM) in the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. We have used a recently described inhibitory anti-BamA antibody, MAB1, to identify the molecular requirements for BAM function. Resistance to this antibody can be achieved through changes to the outer membrane or by amino acid substitutions in BamA that allosterically affect the response to MAB1. Sensitivity to MAB1 is achieved by perturbing BAM function. By using MAB1 activity and functional assays as proxies for BAM function, we link outer membrane fluidity to BamA activity, demonstrating that an increase in membrane fluidity sensitizes the cells to BAM perturbations. Thus, the search for potential inhibitors of BamA function must consider the membrane environment in which β-barrel folding occurs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 679-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-ling Liao ◽  
George N. Somero ◽  
Yun-wei Dong

Comparative studies of orthologous proteins of species evolved at different temperatures have revealed consistent patterns of temperature-related variation in thermal stabilities of structure and function. However, the precise mechanisms by which interspecific variations in sequence foster these adaptive changes remain largely unknown. Here, we compare orthologs of cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH) from marine molluscs adapted to temperatures ranging from −1.9 °C (Antarctica) to ∼55 °C (South China coast) and show how amino acid usage in different regions of the enzyme (surface, intermediate depth, and protein core) varies with adaptation temperature. This eukaryotic enzyme follows some but not all of the rules established in comparisons of archaeal and bacterial proteins. To link the effects of specific amino acid substitutions with adaptive variations in enzyme thermal stability, we combined site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) and in vitro protein experimentation with in silico mutagenesis using molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) techniques. SDM and MDS methods generally but not invariably yielded common effects on protein stability. MDS analysis is shown to provide insights into how specific amino acid substitutions affect the conformational flexibilities of mobile regions (MRs) of the enzyme that are essential for binding and catalysis. Whereas these substitutions invariably lie outside of the MRs, they effectively transmit their flexibility-modulating effects to the MRs through linked interactions among surface residues. This discovery illustrates that regions of the protein surface lying outside of the site of catalysis can help establish an enzyme’s thermal responses and foster evolutionary adaptation of function.


2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken-Ichiro Ishizu ◽  
Hajime Watanabe ◽  
Song-Iee Han ◽  
Shin-Nosuke Kanesashi ◽  
Mainul Hoque ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The simian virus 40 capsid is composed of 72 pentamers of VP1 protein. Although the capsid is known to dissociate to pentamers in vitro following simultaneous treatment with reducing and chelating agents, the functional roles of disulfide linkage and calcium ion-mediated interactions are not clear. To elucidate the roles of these interactions, we introduced amino acid substitutions in VP1 at cysteine residues and at residues involved in calcium binding. We expressed the mutant proteins in a baculovirus system and analyzed both their assembly into virus-like particles (VLPs) in insect cells and the disassembly of those VLPs in vitro. We found that disulfide linkages at both Cys-9 and Cys-104 conferred resistance to proteinase K digestion on VLPs, although neither linkage was essential for the formation of VLPs in insect cells. In particular, reduction of the disulfide linkage at Cys-9 was found to be critical for VLP dissociation to VP1 pentamers in the absence of calcium ions, indicating that disulfide linkage at Cys-9 prevents VLP dissociation, probably by increasing the stability of calcium ion binding. We found that amino acid substitutions at carboxy-terminal calcium ion binding sites (Glu-329, Glu-330, and Asp-345) resulted in the frequent formation of unusual tubular particles as well as VLPs in insect cells, indicating that these residues affect the accuracy of capsid assembly. In addition, unexpectedly, amino acid substitutions at any of the calcium ion binding sites tested, especially at Glu-157, resulted in increased stability of VLPs in the absence of calcium ions in vitro. These results suggest that appropriate affinities of calcium ion binding are responsible for both assembly and disassembly of the capsid.


2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (16) ◽  
pp. 8168-8177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy W. Yeh ◽  
Evan M. Cale ◽  
Pimkwan Jaru-Ampornpan ◽  
Carol I. Lord ◽  
Fred W. Peyerl ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The evolution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) as they replicate in infected individuals reflects a balance between the pressure on the virus to mutate away from recognition by dominant epitope-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and the structural constraints on the virus' ability to mutate. To gain a further understanding of the strategies employed by these viruses to maintain replication competency in the face of the intense selection pressure exerted by CTL, we have examined the replication fitness and morphological ramifications of a dominant epitope mutation and associated flanking amino acid substitutions on the capsid protein (CA) of SIV/simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV). We show that a residue 2 mutation in the immunodominant p11C, C-M epitope (T47I) of SIV/SHIV not only decreased CA protein expression and viral replication, but it also blocked CA assembly in vitro and virion core condensation in vivo. However, these defects were restored by the introduction of upstream I26V and/or downstream I71V substitutions in CA. These findings demonstrate how flanking compensatory amino acid substitutions can facilitate viral escape from a dominant epitope-specific CTL response through the effects of these associated mutations on the structural integrity of SIV/SHIV.


2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 3035-3038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry G. Hall

ABSTRACT In an early example of DNA shuffling, Stemmer (W. P. C. Stemmer, Nature 370:389-390, 1994) demonstrated a dramatic improvement in the activity of the TEM-1 β-lactamase toward cefotaxime as the consequence of six amino acid substitutions. It has been pointed out (B. G. Hall, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 178:1-6, 1999; M. C. Orencia, J. S. Yoon, J. E. Ness, W. P. Stemmer, and R. C. Stevens, Nat. Struct. Biol. 8:238-242, 2001) that the power of DNA shuffling might be applied to the problem of predicting evolution in nature from in vitro evolution in the laboratory. As a predictor of natural evolutionary processes, that power may be misleading because in nature mutations almost always arise one at a time, and each advantageous mutation must be fixed into the population by an evolutionary pathway that leads from the wild type to the fully evolved sequence. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce each of Stemmer's six substitutions into TEM-1, the best single mutant was chosen, and each of the remaining five substitutions was introduced. Repeated rounds of site-directed mutagenesis and selection of the best mutant were used in an attempt to construct a pathway between the wild-type TEM-1 and Stemmer's mutant with six mutations. In the present study it is shown (i) that no such pathway exists between the wild-type TEM-1 and the supereffective cefotaxime-hydrolyzing mutant that was generated by six amino acid substitutions via DNA shuffling (Stemmer, Nature 370:389-390, 1994) but that a pathway to a fourfold more efficient enzyme resulting from four of the same substitutions does exist, and (ii) that the more efficient enzyme is likely to arise in nature as the result of a single mutation in the naturally occurring TEM-52 allele.


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