scholarly journals Bacterial Swarms Recruit Cargo Bacteria To Pave the Way in Toxic Environments

mBio ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alin Finkelshtein ◽  
Dalit Roth ◽  
Eshel Ben Jacob ◽  
Colin J. Ingham
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Bet Hedging ◽  
Beta Lactam ◽  
Hedging Strategy ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Degrading Bacteria ◽  
Clinical Resistance ◽  
Evolutionary Context ◽  
Lactam Antibiotic

ABSTRACTSwarming bacteria are challenged by the need to invade hostile environments. Swarms of the flagellated bacteriumPaenibacillus vortexcan collectively transport other microorganisms. Here we show thatP. vortexcan invade toxic environments by carrying antibiotic-degrading bacteria; this transport is mediated by a specialized, phenotypic subpopulation utilizing a process not dependent on cargo motility. Swarms of beta-lactam antibiotic (BLA)-sensitiveP. vortexused beta-lactamase-producing, resistant, cargo bacteria to detoxify BLAs in their path. In the presence of BLAs, both transporter and cargo bacteria gained from this temporary cooperation; there was a positive correlation between BLA resistance and dispersal.P. vortextransported only the most beneficial antibiotic-resistant cargo (including environmental and clinical isolates) in a sustained way.P. vortexdisplayed a bet-hedging strategy that promoted the colonization of nontoxic niches byP. vortexalone; when detoxifying cargo bacteria were not needed, they were lost. This work has relevance for the dispersal of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and for strategies for asymmetric cooperation with agricultural and medical implications.IMPORTANCEAntibiotic resistance is a major health threat. We show a novel mechanism for the local spread of antibiotic resistance. This involves interactions between different bacteria: one species provides an enzyme that detoxifies the antibiotic (a sessile cargo bacterium carrying a resistance gene), while the other (Paenibacillus vortex) moves itself and transports the cargo.P. vortexused a bet-hedging strategy, colonizing new environments alone when the cargo added no benefit, but cooperating when the cargo was needed. This work is of interest in an evolutionary context and sheds light on fundamental questions, such as how environmental antibiotic resistance may lead to clinical resistance and also microbial social organization, as well as the costs, benefits, and risks of dispersal in the environment.

scholarly journals Testudines as Sentinels for Monitoring the Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance in Marine Environments: An Integrative Review

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 775
Author(s):  
Kezia Drane ◽  
Roger Huerlimann ◽  
Michelle Power ◽  
Anna Whelan ◽  
Ellen Ariel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Marine Environments ◽  
Beta Lactam ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Sensitivity Tests ◽  
Standard Culture

Dissemination of antibiotic resistance (AR) in marine environments is a global concern with a propensity to affect public health and many ecosystems worldwide. We evaluated the use of sea turtles as sentinel species for monitoring AR in marine environments. In this field, antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been commonly identified by using standard culture and sensitivity tests, leading to an overrepresentation of specific, culturable bacterial classes in the available literature. AR was detected against all major antibiotic classes, but the highest cumulative global frequency of resistance in all represented geographical sites was against the beta-lactam class by a two-fold difference compared to all other antibiotics. Wastewater facilities and turtle rehabilitation centres were associated with higher incidences of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) accounting for an average of 58% and 49% of resistant isolates, respectively. Furthermore, a relatively similar prevalence of MDRB was seen in all studied locations. These data suggest that anthropogenically driven selection pressures for the development of AR in sea turtles and marine environments are relatively similar worldwide. There is a need, however, to establish direct demonstrable associations between AR in sea turtles in their respective marine environments with wastewater facilities and other anthropogenic activities worldwide.

scholarly journals Draft Genome Sequence of Antibiotic-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis Strain UMB0843, Isolated from the Female Urinary Tract

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Purta ◽  
Taylor Miller-Ensminger ◽  
Adelina Voukadinova ◽  
Alan J. Wolfe ◽  
Catherine Putonti
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Genome Analysis ◽  
Nosocomial Infections ◽  
Draft Genome ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Female Urinary Tract ◽  
Multiple Antibiotics

Here, we introduce the 2.8-Mbp draft genome of Enterococcus faecalis strain UMB0843, isolated from the female urinary tract. E. faecalis is a leading cause of nosocomial infections, and many strains are often resistant to multiple antibiotics. We focus our genome analysis on the multiple genes involved in antibiotic resistance in this strain.

scholarly journals Predicting Antibiotic Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacilli from Resistance Genes

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Terrance Walker ◽  
Julia Quan ◽  
Stephen G. Higgins ◽  
Nikhil Toraskar ◽  
Weizhong Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Unknown Origin ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Phenotypic Resistance ◽  
E Coli

ABSTRACT We developed a rapid high-throughput PCR test and evaluated highly antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates of Escherichia coli (n = 2,919), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 1,974), Proteus mirabilis (n = 1,150), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 1,484) for several antibiotic resistance genes for comparison with phenotypic resistance across penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, aminoglycosides, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, fluoroquinolones, and macrolides. The isolates originated from hospitals in North America (34%), Europe (23%), Asia (13%), South America (12%), Africa (7%), or Oceania (1%) or were of unknown origin (9%). We developed statistical methods to predict phenotypic resistance from resistance genes for 49 antibiotic-organism combinations, including gentamicin, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ertapenem, imipenem, cefazolin, cefepime, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, ampicillin, and aztreonam. Average positive predictive values for genotypic prediction of phenotypic resistance were 91% for E. coli, 93% for K. pneumoniae, 87% for P. mirabilis, and 92% for P. aeruginosa across the various antibiotics for this highly resistant cohort of bacterial isolates.

scholarly journals Alterations of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Antibiotic Resistance under Environmental Pressure

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengfei Peng ◽  
Serajus Salaheen ◽  
Robert L. Buchanan ◽  
Debabrata Biswas
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Tetracycline Resistance ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Farm Systems ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT Microbial horizontal gene transfer is a continuous process that shapes bacterial genomic adaptation to the environment and the composition of concurrent microbial ecology. This includes the potential impact of synthetic antibiotic utilization in farm animal production on overall antibiotic resistance issues; however, the mechanisms behind the evolution of microbial communities are not fully understood. We explored potential mechanisms by experimentally examining the relatedness of phylogenetic inference between multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates and pathogenic Salmonella Typhimurium strains based on genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) comparisons. Antibiotic-resistant S. Typhimurium isolates in a simulated farm environment barely lost their resistance, whereas sensitive S. Typhimurium isolates in soils gradually acquired higher tetracycline resistance under antibiotic pressure and manipulated differential expression of antibiotic-resistant genes. The expeditious development of antibiotic resistance and the ensuing genetic alterations in antimicrobial resistance genes in S. Typhimurium warrant effective actions to control the dissemination of Salmonella antibiotic resistance. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance is attributed to the misuse or overuse of antibiotics in agriculture, and antibiotic resistance genes can also be transferred to bacteria under environmental stress. In this study, we report a unidirectional alteration in antibiotic resistance from susceptibility to increased resistance. Highly sensitive Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates from organic farm systems quickly acquired tetracycline resistance under antibiotic pressure in simulated farm soil environments within 2 weeks, with expression of antibiotic resistance-related genes that was significantly upregulated. Conversely, originally resistant S. Typhimurium isolates from conventional farm systems lost little of their resistance when transferred to environments without antibiotic pressure. Additionally, multidrug-resistant S. Typhimurium isolates genetically shared relevancy with pathogenic S. Typhimurium isolates, whereas susceptible isolates clustered with nonpathogenic strains. These results provide detailed discussion and explanation about the genetic alterations and simultaneous acquisition of antibiotic resistance in S. Typhimurium in agricultural environments.

scholarly journals Effects of reducing beta-lactam antibiotic pressure on intestinal colonization of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 512-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saskia Nijssen ◽  
Ad Fluit ◽  
David van de Vijver ◽  
Janetta Top ◽  
Rob Willems ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Intestinal Colonization ◽  
Beta Lactam ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Beta Lactam Antibiotic ◽  
Lactam Antibiotic

scholarly journals Full-Genome Sequencing Identifies in the Genetic Background Several Determinants That Modulate the Resistance Phenotype in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Carrying the Novel mecC Gene

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Milheiriço ◽  
Hermínia de Lencastre ◽  
Alexander Tomasz
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Genetic Background ◽  
Beta Lactam ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Resistance Phenotype ◽  
Beta Lactam Antibiotics ◽  
Oxacillin Resistance ◽  
Mrsa Strains

ABSTRACT Most methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics due to the presence of the mecA gene, encoding an extra penicillin-binding protein (PBP2A) that has low affinity for virtually all beta-lactam antibiotics. Recently, a new resistance determinant—the mecC gene—was identified in S. aureus isolates recovered from humans and dairy cattle. Although having typically low MICs to beta-lactam antibiotics, MRSA strains with the mecC determinant are also capable of expressing high levels of oxacillin resistance when in an optimal genetic background. In order to test the impact of extensive beta-lactam selection on the emergence of mecC-carrying strains with high levels of antibiotic resistance, we exposed the prototype mecC-carrying MRSA strain, LGA251, to increasing concentrations of oxacillin. LGA251 was able to rapidly adapt to high concentrations of oxacillin in growth medium. In such laboratory mutants with increased levels of oxacillin resistance, we identified mutations in genes with no relationship to the mecC regulatory system, indicating that the genetic background plays an important role in the establishment of the levels of oxacillin resistance. Our data also indicate that the stringent stress response plays a critical role in the beta-lactam antibiotic resistance phenotype of MRSA strains carrying the mecC determinant.

scholarly journals Horizontal Gene Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance from Acinetobacter baylyi to Escherichia coli on Lettuce and Subsequent Antibiotic Resistance Transmission to the Gut Microbiome

mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlène Maeusli ◽  
Bosul Lee ◽  
Sarah Miller ◽  
Zeferino Reyna ◽  
Peggy Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Acinetobacter Baylyi ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Plant Foods ◽  
Link Type

ABSTRACT Agricultural use of antibiotics is recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a major contributor to antibiotic-resistant infections. While most One Health attention has been on the potential for antibiotic resistance transmission from livestock and contaminated meat products to people, plant foods are fundamental to the food chain for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. We hypothesized that environmental bacteria that colonize plant foods may serve as platforms for the persistence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and for horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic-resistant genes. Donor Acinetobacter baylyi and recipient Escherichia coli were cocultured in vitro, in planta on lettuce, and in vivo in BALB/c mice. We showed that nonpathogenic, environmental A. baylyi is capable of transferring plasmids conferring antibiotic resistance to E. coli clinical isolates on lettuce leaf discs. Furthermore, transformant E. coli from the in planta assay could then colonize the mouse gut microbiome. The target antibiotic resistance plasmid was identified in mouse feces up to 5 days postinfection. We specifically identified in vivo transfer of the plasmid to resident Klebsiella pneumoniae in the mouse gut. Our findings highlight the potential for environmental bacteria exposed to antibiotics to transmit resistance genes to mammalian pathogens during ingestion of leafy greens. IMPORTANCE Previous efforts have correlated antibiotic-fed livestock and meat products with respective antibiotic resistance genes, but virtually no research has been conducted on the transmission of antibiotic resistance from plant foods to the mammalian gut (C. S. Hölzel, J. L. Tetens, and K. Schwaiger, Pathog Dis 15:671–688, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2018.2501; C. M. Liu et al., mBio 9:e00470-19, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00470-18; B. Spellberg et al., NAM Perspectives, 2016, https://doi.org/10.31478/201606d; J. O’Neill, Antimicrobials in agriculture and the environment, 2015; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Antibiotic resistance threats in the United States, 2019). Here, we sought to determine if horizontal transmission of antibiotic resistance genes can occur between lettuce and the mammalian gut microbiome, using a mouse model. Furthermore, we have created a new model to study horizontal gene transfer on lettuce leaves using an antibiotic-resistant transformant of A. baylyi (AbzeoR).

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