scholarly journals Potential Risk of Spreading Resistance Genes within Extracellular-DNA-Dependent Biofilms of Streptococcus mutans in Response to Cell Envelope Stress Induced by Sub-MICs of Bacitracin

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Nagasawa ◽  
Tsutomu Sato ◽  
Nobuhiko Nomura ◽  
Tomoyo Nakamura ◽  
Hidenobu Senpuku
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Drug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Envelope Stress

ABSTRACT Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infection. The inappropriate use of antibiotics unnecessarily promotes antibiotic resistance and increases resistant bacteria, and controlling these bacteria is difficult. While the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria is a serious problem, the behavior of drug-resistant bacteria is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the behavior of Streptococcus mutans, a major etiological agent of dental caries that is resistant to bacitracin, which is a cell wall-targeting antibiotic, and focused on biofilm formation in the presence of bacitracin. S. mutans UA159 most strongly induced extracellular DNA (eDNA)-dependent biofilm formation in the presence of bacitracin at 1/8× MIC. The ΔmbrC and ΔmbrD mutant strains, which lack bacitracin resistance, also formed biofilms in the presence of bacitracin at 1/2× MIC. This difference between the wild type and the mutants was caused by the induction of atlA expression in the mid-log phase. We also revealed that certain rgp genes involved in the synthesis of rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide related to cell wall synthesis were downregulated by bacitracin. In addition, glucosyltransferase-I was also involved in eDNA-dependent biofilm formation. The biofilm led to increased transformation efficiencies and promoted horizontal gene transfer. Biofilms were also induced by ampicillin and vancomycin, antibiotics targeting cell wall synthesis, suggesting that cell envelope stress triggers biofilm formation. Therefore, the expression of the atlA and rgp genes is regulated by S. mutans, which forms eDNA-dependent biofilms, promoting horizontal gene transfer in response to cell envelope stress induced by sub-MICs of antibiotics. IMPORTANCE Antibiotics have been reported to induce biofilm formation in many bacteria at subinhibitory concentrations. Accordingly, it is conceivable that the MIC against drug-sensitive bacteria may promote biofilm formation of resistant bacteria. Since drug-resistant bacteria have spread, it is important to understand the behavior of resistant bacteria. Streptococcus mutans is bacitracin resistant, and the 1/8× MIC of bacitracin, which is a cell wall-targeted antibiotic, induced eDNA-dependent biofilm formation. The ΔmbrC and ΔmbrD strains, which are not resistant to bacitracin, also formed biofilms in the presence of bacitracin at 1/2× MIC, and biofilms of both the wild type and mutants promoted horizontal gene transfer. Another cell wall-targeted antibiotic, vancomycin, showed effects on biofilms and gene transfer similar to those of bacitracin. Thus, treatment with cell wall-targeted antibiotics may promote the spread of drug-resistant genes in biofilms. Therefore, the behavior of resistant bacteria in the presence of antibiotics at sub-MICs should be investigated when using antibiotics.

scholarly journals Agreement Assessment of Tigecycline Susceptibilities Determined by the Disk Diffusion and Broth Microdilution Methods among Commonly Encountered Resistant Bacterial Isolates: Results from the TigecyclineIn VitroSurveillance in Taiwan (TIST) Study, 2008 to 2010

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 1414-1417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jien-Wei Liu ◽  
Wen-Chien Ko ◽  
Cheng-Hua Huang ◽  
Chun-Hsing Liao ◽  
Chin-Te Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Total Error ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Broth Microdilution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Drug Resistant Bacteria

ABSTRACTThe TigecyclineIn VitroSurveillance in Taiwan (TIST) study, initiated in 2006, is a nationwide surveillance program designed to longitudinally monitor thein vitroactivity of tigecycline against commonly encountered drug-resistant bacteria. This study compared thein vitroactivity of tigecycline against 3,014 isolates of clinically important drug-resistant bacteria using the standard broth microdilution and disk diffusion methods. Species studied included methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA;n= 759), vancomycin-resistantEnterococcus faecium(VRE;n= 191), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producingEscherichia coli(n= 602), ESBL-producingKlebsiella pneumoniae(n= 736), andAcinetobacter baumannii(n= 726) that had been collected from patients treated between 2008 and 2010 at 20 hospitals in Taiwan. MICs and inhibition zone diameters were interpreted according to the currently recommended U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria and the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) criteria. The MIC90values of tigecycline against MRSA, VRE, ESBL-producingE. coli, ESBL-producingK. pneumoniae, andA. baumanniiwere 0.5, 0.125, 0.5, 2, and 8 μg/ml, respectively. The total error rates between the two methods using the FDA criteria were high: 38.4% for ESBL-producingK. pneumoniaeand 33.8% forA. baumannii. Using the EUCAST criteria, the total error rate was also high (54.6%) forA. baumanniiisolates. The total error rates between these two methods were <5% for MRSA, VRE, and ESBL-producingE. coli. For routine susceptibility testing of ESBL-producingK. pneumoniaeandA. baumanniiagainst tigecycline, the broth microdilution method should be used because of the poor correlation of results between these two methods.

scholarly journals Biosynthesis of the Unique Wall Teichoic Acid of Staphylococcus aureus Lineage ST395

mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Winstel ◽  
Patricia Sanchez-Carballo ◽  
Otto Holst ◽  
Guoqing Xia ◽  
Andreas Peschel
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Biosynthesis Pathway ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acids

ABSTRACT The major clonal lineages of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus produce cell wall-anchored anionic poly-ribitol-phosphate (RboP) wall teichoic acids (WTA) substituted with d-Alanine and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine. The phylogenetically isolated S. aureus ST395 lineage has recently been found to produce a unique poly-glycerol-phosphate (GroP) WTA glycosylated with N-acetyl-d-galactosamine (GalNAc). ST395 clones bear putative WTA biosynthesis genes on a novel genetic element probably acquired from coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). We elucidated the ST395 WTA biosynthesis pathway and identified three novel WTA biosynthetic genes, including those encoding an α-O-GalNAc transferase TagN, a nucleotide sugar epimerase TagV probably required for generation of the activated sugar donor substrate for TagN, and an unusually short GroP WTA polymerase TagF. By using a panel of mutants derived from ST395, the GalNAc residues carried by GroP WTA were found to be required for infection by the ST395-specific bacteriophage Φ187 and to play a crucial role in horizontal gene transfer of S. aureus pathogenicity islands (SaPIs). Notably, ectopic expression of ST395 WTA biosynthesis genes rendered normal S. aureus susceptible to Φ187 and enabled Φ187-mediated SaPI transfer from ST395 to regular S. aureus. We provide evidence that exchange of WTA genes and their combination in variable, mosaic-like gene clusters have shaped the evolution of staphylococci and their capacities to undergo horizontal gene transfer events. IMPORTANCE The structural highly diverse wall teichoic acids (WTA) are cell wall-anchored glycopolymers produced by most Gram-positive bacteria. While most of the dominant Staphylococcus aureus lineages produce poly-ribitol-phosphate WTA, the recently described ST395 lineage produces a distinct poly-glycerol-phosphate WTA type resembling the WTA backbone of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). Here, we analyzed the ST395 WTA biosynthesis pathway and found new types of WTA biosynthesis genes along with an evolutionary link between ST395 and CoNS, from which the ST395 WTA genes probably originate. The elucidation of ST395 WTA biosynthesis will help to understand how Gram-positive bacteria produce highly variable WTA types and elucidate functional consequences of WTA variation.

Antimicrobial peptide HPA3NT3-A2 effectively inhibits biofilm formation in mice infected with drug-resistant bacteria

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 5068-5083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Kook Lee ◽  
Loredana Mereuta ◽  
Tudor Luchian ◽  
Yoonkyung Park
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Biofilms ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Drug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Serious Infections

Bacterial biofilms formed through secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) have been implicated in many serious infections and can increase antibiotic resistance by a factor of more than 1000.

scholarly journals Trends in the Susceptibility of Clinically Important Resistant Bacteria to Tigecycline: Results from the TigecyclineIn VitroSurveillance in Taiwan Study, 2006 to 2010

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 1452-1457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Hsu Chen ◽  
Po-Liang Lu ◽  
Cheng-Hua Huang ◽  
Chun-Hsing Liao ◽  
Chin-Te Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Drug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant ◽  
Susceptibility Rate ◽  
Important Drug

ABSTRACTThe TigecyclineIn VitroSurveillance in Taiwan (TIST) study, a nationwide, prospective surveillance during 2006 to 2010, collected a total of 7,793 clinical isolates, including methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) (n= 1,834), penicillin-resistantStreptococcus pneumoniae(PRSP) (n= 423), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) (n= 219), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producingEscherichia coli(n= 1,141), ESBL-producingKlebsiella pneumoniae(n= 1,330),Acinetobacter baumannii(n= 1,645), andStenotrophomonas maltophilia(n= 903), from different specimens from 20 different hospitals in Taiwan. MICs of tigecycline were determined following the criteria of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST-2011). Among drug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens, all of the PRSP isolates were susceptible to tigecycline (MIC90, 0.03 μg/ml), and only one MRSA isolate (MIC90, 0.5 μg/ml) and three VRE isolates (MIC90, 0.125 μg/ml) were nonsusceptible to tigecycline. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, the tigecycline susceptibility rates were 99.65% for ESBL-producingE. coli(MIC90, 0.5 μg/ml) and 96.32% for ESBL-producingK. pneumoniae(MIC90, 2 μg/ml) when interpreted by FDA criteria but were 98.7% and 85.8%, respectively, when interpreted by EUCAST-2011 criteria. The susceptibility rate forA. baumannii(MIC90, 4 μg/ml) decreased from 80.9% in 2006 to 55.3% in 2009 but increased to 73.4% in 2010. A bimodal MIC distribution was found among carbapenem-susceptibleA. baumanniiisolates, and a unimodal MIC distribution was found among carbapenem-nonsusceptibleA. baumanniiisolates. In Taiwan, tigecycline continues to have excellentin vitroactivity against several major clinically important drug-resistant bacteria, with the exception ofA. baumannii.

scholarly journals Roles for phthiocerol dimycocerosate lipids in Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis

Microbiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Céline Rens ◽  
Joseph D. Chao ◽  
Danielle L. Sexton ◽  
Elitza I. Tocheva ◽  
Yossef Av-Gay
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Drug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Macrophage Phagocytosis ◽  
Key Steps

The success of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a pathogen is well established: tuberculosis is the leading cause of death by a single infectious agent worldwide. The threat of multi- and extensively drug-resistant bacteria has renewed global concerns about this pathogen and understanding its virulence strategies will be essential in the fight against tuberculosis. The current review will focus on phthiocerol dimycocerosates (PDIMs), a long-known and well-studied group of complex lipids found in the M. tuberculosis cell envelope. Numerous studies show a role for PDIMs in several key steps of M. tuberculosis pathogenesis, with recent studies highlighting its involvement in bacterial virulence, in association with the ESX-1 secretion system. Yet, the mechanisms by which PDIMs help M. tuberculosis to control macrophage phagocytosis, inhibit phagosome acidification and modulate host innate immunity, remain to be fully elucidated.

scholarly journals Novel Antibiotics Targeting Respiratory ATP Synthesis in Gram-Positive Pathogenic Bacteria

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 4131-4139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Balemans ◽  
Luc Vranckx ◽  
Nacer Lounis ◽  
Ovidiu Pop ◽  
Jérôme Guillemont ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atp Synthase ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Atp Synthesis ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Drug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Time Kill ◽  
Antibacterial Spectrum

ABSTRACTEmergence of drug-resistant bacteria represents a high, unmet medical need, and discovery of new antibacterials acting on new bacterial targets is strongly needed. ATP synthase has been validated as an antibacterial target inMycobacterium tuberculosis, where its activity can be specifically blocked by the diarylquinoline TMC207. However, potency of TMC207 is restricted to mycobacteria with little or no effect on the growth of other Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we identify diarylquinolines with activity against key Gram-positive pathogens, significantly extending the antibacterial spectrum of the diarylquinoline class of drugs. These compounds inhibited growth ofStaphylococcus aureusin planktonic state as well as in metabolically resting bacteria grown in a biofilm culture. Furthermore, time-kill experiments showed that the selected hits are rapidly bactericidal. Drug-resistant mutations were mapped to the ATP synthase enzyme, and biochemical analysis as well as drug-target interaction studies reveal ATP synthase as a target for these compounds. Moreover, knockdown of the ATP synthase expression strongly suppressed growth ofS. aureus, revealing a crucial role of this target in bacterial growth and metabolism. Our data represent a proof of principle for using the diarylquinoline class of antibacterials in key Gram-positive pathogens. Our results suggest that broadening the antibacterial spectrum for this chemical class is possible without drifting off from the target. Development of the diarylquinolines class may represent a promising strategy for combating Gram-positive pathogens.

scholarly journals The Composition of the Cell Envelope Affects Conjugation in Bacillus subtilis

2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (8) ◽  
pp. 1241-1249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Johnson ◽  
Alan D. Grossman
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Microbial Evolution ◽  
Major Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Genes ◽  
Mutant Cells ◽  
Integrative And Conjugative Element

ABSTRACTConjugation in bacteria is the contact-dependent transfer of DNA from one cell to another via donor-encoded conjugation machinery. It is a major type of horizontal gene transfer between bacteria. Conjugation of the integrative and conjugative element ICEBs1intoBacillus subtilisis affected by the composition of phospholipids in the cell membranes of the donor and recipient. We found that reduction (or elimination) of lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol caused by loss ofmprFcaused a decrease in conjugation efficiency. Conversely, alterations that caused an increase in lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol, including loss ofugtPor overproduction ofmprF, caused an increase in conjugation efficiency. In addition, we found that mutations that alter production of other phospholipids, e.g., loss ofclsAandyfnI, also affected conjugation, apparently without substantively altering levels of lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol, indicating that there are multiple pathways by which changes to the cell envelope affect conjugation. We found that the contribution ofmprFto conjugation was affected by the chemical environment. Wild-type cells were generally more responsive to addition of anions that enhanced conjugation, whereasmprFmutant cells were more sensitive to combinations of anions that inhibited conjugation at pH 7. Our results indicate thatmprFand lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol allow cells to maintain relatively consistent conjugation efficiencies under a variety of ionic conditions.IMPORTANCEHorizontal gene transfer is a driving force in microbial evolution, enabling cells that receive DNA to acquire new genes and phenotypes. Conjugation, the contact-dependent transfer of DNA from a donor to a recipient by a donor-encoded secretion machine, is a prevalent type of horizontal gene transfer. Although critically important, it is not well understood how the recipient influences the success of conjugation. We found that the composition of phospholipids in the membranes of donors and recipients influences the success of transfer of the integrative and conjugative element ICEBs1inBacillus subtilis. Specifically, the presence of lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol enables relatively constant conjugation efficiencies in a range of diverse chemical environments.

Biotechnological War against Biofilms. Could Phages Mean the End of Device-Related Infections?

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 805-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.L. Del Pozo ◽  
M. Alonso ◽  
C.R. Arciola ◽  
R. Gonzalez ◽  
J. Leiva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Antibiotic Activity ◽  
Therapeutic Use ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Drug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Great Prevalence

Microorganisms universally attach to surfaces, resulting in biofilm formation. These biofilms entail a serious problem in daily clinical practice because of the great prevalence of implantable device-related infections. Differences in antibiotic activity against planktonic and sessile bacteria may relate to clinical failures in the treatment of biofilm-related infections (BRI). Bacteriophages have several characteristics that make them potentially attractive therapeutic agents in some selected clinical settings, like for example BRI. They are highly specific and very effective in lysing targeted bacteria, moreover, they appear to be safe for humans. Many studies have shown the potential of phages for the treatment of infectious diseases in plants and animals, including infections with highly drug-resistant bacteria. The therapeutic use of bacteriophages, possibly in combination with antibiotics, may be a valuable approach in BRI. However, many important questions still remain that must be addressed before phages can be endorsed for therapeutic use in humans.

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