Mapping of the plasmid (pLQ3) from Achromobacter and cloning of its cephalosporinase gene in Escherichia coli

Pathogenesis and Host Immune Response in Leprosy

Leprosy is an ancient insidious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, where the skin and peripheral nerves undergo chronic granulomatous infections, leading to sensory and motor impairment with characteristic deformities. Susceptibility to leprosy and its disease state are determined by the manifestation of innate immune resistance mediated by cells of monocyte lineage. Due to insufficient innate resistance, granulomatous infection is established, influencing the specific cellular immunity. The clinical presentation of leprosy ranges between two stable polar forms (tuberculoid to lepromatous) and three unstable borderline forms. The tuberculoid form involves Th1 response, characterized by a well demarcated granuloma, infiltrated by CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, containing epitheloid and multinucleated giant cells. In the lepromatous leprosy, there is no characteristic granuloma but only unstructured accumulation of ineffective macrophages containing engulfed pathogens. Th1 response, characterised by IFN-γ and IL-2 production, activates macrophages in order to kill intracellular pathogens. Conversely, a Th2 response, characterized by the production of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10, helps in antibody production and consequently downregulates the cell-mediated immunity induced by the Th1 response. M. lepare has a long generation time and its inability to grow in culture under laboratory conditions makes its study challenging. The nine-banded armadillo still remains the best clinical and immunological model to study host-pathogen interaction in leprosy. In this chapter, we present cellular morphology and the genomic uniqueness of M. leprae, and how the pathogen shows tropism for Schwann cells, macrophages and dendritic cells.

Role of AxyZ Transcriptional Regulator in Overproduction of AxyXY-OprZ Multidrug Efflux System in Achromobacter Species Mutants Selected by Tobramycin

AxyXY-OprZ is an RND-type efflux system that confers innate aminoglycoside resistance to Achromobacter spp. We investigated here a putative TetR family transcriptional regulator encoded by the axyZ gene located upstream of axyXY-oprZ An in-frame axyZ gene deletion assay led to increased MICs of antibiotic substrates of the efflux system, including aminoglycosides, cefepime, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, and erythromycin, indicating that the product of axyZ negatively regulates expression of axyXY-oprZ Moreover, we identified an amino acid substitution at position 29 of AxyZ (V29G) in a clinical Achromobacter strain that occurred during the course of chronic respiratory tract colonization in a cystic fibrosis (CF) patient. This substitution, also detected in three other strains exposed in vitro to tobramycin, led to an increase in the axyY transcription level (5- to 17-fold) together with an increase in antibiotic resistance level. This overproduction of AxyXY-OprZ is the first description of antibiotic resistance acquisition due to modification of a chromosomally encoded mechanism in Achromobacter and might have an impact on the management of infected CF patients. Indeed, tobramycin is widely used for aerosol therapy within this population, and we have demonstrated that it easily selects mutants with increased MICs of not only aminoglycosides but also fluoroquinolones, cefepime, and tetracyclines.

Primary structure of OXA-3 and phylogeny of oxacillin-hydrolyzing class D beta-lactamases

We determined the nucleotide sequence of the blaOXA-3(pMG25) gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The bla structural gene encoded a protein of 275 amino acids representing one monomer of 31,879 Da for the OXA-3 enzyme. Comparisons between the OXA-3 nucleotide and amino acid sequences and those of class A, B, C, and D beta-lactamases were performed. An alignment of the eight known class D beta-lactamases including OXA-3 demonstrated the presence of conserved amino acids. In addition, conserved motifs composed of identical amino acids typical of penicillin-recognizing proteins and specific class D motifs were identified. These conserved motifs were considered for possible roles in the structure and function of oxacillinases. On the basis of the alignment and identity scores, a dendrogram was constructed. The phylogenetic data obtained revealed five groups of class D beta-lactamases with large evolutionary distances between each group.

Structural and functional characterization of tnpI, a recombinase locus in Tn21 and related beta-lactamase transposons

A novel discrete mobile DNA element from Tn21 from the plasmid R100.1 is described, and its mobilization function was confirmed experimentally. In addition, the element behaves as a recombinase-active locus (tnpI) which facilitates insertions of antibiotic resistance genes as modules or cassettes at defined hot spots or integration sites. A similar tnpI sequence was detected by DNA hybridization in a series of beta-lactamase transposons and plasmids and localized on their physical maps. The genetic function of the locus cloned from Tn21 into pACYC184 was tested for conduction and integration into the plasmids R388 and pOX38Km, and the results suggested recombinase-integrase activity and recA independence. DNA sequence analysis of the tnpI locus revealed no inverted or direct terminal repeats or transposition features of class I and class II transposons. The coding capacity revealed three putative open reading frames encoding 131, 134, and 337 amino acids. Orf3 encoded a putative polypeptide product of 337 amino acids that shared highly significant identity with the carboxyl region of integrase proteins. A comparison and an alignment of the tnpI locus from Tn21 and its flanking sequences identified similar sequences in plasmids and in transposons. The alignment revealed discrete nucleotide changes in these tnpI-like loci and a conserved 3' and 5' GTTA/G hot spot as a duplicated target site. Our data confirm the remarkable ubiquity of tnpI associated with antibiotic resistance genes. We present a model of transposon modular evolution into more complex multiresistant units via tnpI and site-specific insertions, deletions, and DNA rearrangements at this locus.

Monoclonal antibodies to TEM-1 plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase

At least 28 plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases have been described in gram-negative bacteria. To assess the relationship among these enzymes, we produced and characterized 28 murine monoclonal antibodies to the TEM-1 plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase. Radial immunodiffusion identified 3 monoclonal antibodies as immunoglobulin M (IgM), 18 as subclass IgG1, 2 as IgG2a, and 5 as IgG2b. Using a newly described enzyme immunoassay, cross-reactivity of 16 of these monoclonal antibodies was tested against 24 plasmid-determined beta-lactamases. The 16 monoclonal antibodies cross-reacted with TEM-2 and TLE-1 and, to a certain extent, SHV-1. Different levels of cross-reactivity were also observed with OXA-3 (11 of 16), OXA-7 (8 of 16), OXA-1 (2 of 16), OXA-6 (2 of 16), and AER-1 (2 of 16). Six monoclonal antibodies demonstrated partial neutralization of beta-lactamase activity. This study suggests that common epitopes are shared by nine biochemically distinct plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases. On the basis of cross-reactivities with these monoclonal antibodies, we identified four epitopes on TEM-1, TEM-2, TLE-1, and SHV-1 beta-lactamases.

Development of natural and synthetic DNA probes for OXA-2 and TEM-1 beta-lactamases

Cloning of a 6.3-kilobase BglII DNA fragment from plasmid R46 permitted the isolation of the OXA-2 beta-lactamase gene. Selected DNA fragments internal and adjacent to the OXA-2 beta-lactamase structural gene were used as probes in homology studies with other plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases. Under conditions of high stringency, no cross hybridization could be detected with DNA probes from within the open reading frame of the OXA-2 structural gene. At a lower stringency, one of two DNA fragments used as probes cross hybridized weakly with the OXA-3 bla gene. Other DNA fragments tested and known to contain sequences flanking the OXA-2 determinant cross hybridized with OXA-3 and PSE-4 plasmid DNA. From the known nucleotide sequence of OXA-2 and TEM-1, we synthesized a series of oligonucleotides corresponding to sequences internal to their respective structural genes. A 12-mer oligonucleotide containing the OXA-2-active-site nucleotide sequences cross hybridized only with OXA-3. All other oligonucleotides tested were found to be specific for their respective OXA-2 or TEM-1 gene. Such beta-lactamase gene probes should facilitate studies of beta-lactamase molecular epidemiology and beta-lactamase gene polymorphism.

Molecular cloning and DNA homology of plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase genes

Molecular cloning of DNA fragments between 1.5 and 8 kb from BamHI, EcoRI, HindIII, SalI, or Sau3A digests permitted the isolation of structural genes coding for TEM-1, ROB-1, OXA-1, OXA-3, OXA-4, OXA-5, PSE-1, PSE-2, PSE-3, PSE-4, CARB-3, CARB-4, AER-1, and LCR-1 beta-lactamases. Ampicillin-resistant clones were selected and it was confirmed that they contained the respective beta-lactamase genes by isoelectric focusing. Detailed physical maps of 14 different recombinant plasmids were constructed using 8 restriction endonucleases. Plasmid deletions and lacZ fusions were used to localize the beta-lactamase structural genes. DNA probes were constructed for the TEM-1, ROB-1, OXA-1, and PSE-1 genes. Under conditions of high stringency, hybridization was observed between the genes for TEM-1 and TEM-2 or TLE-1, OXA-1 and OXA-4, and PSE-1 and PSE-4 or CARB-3, while the ROB-1 gene probe showed no cross-hybridization. Such bla gene probes should facilitate studies of beta-lactamase molecular epidemiology.

Peritonitis caused by Alcaligenes denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans: case report and review of the literature

We report the third human case of peritonitis caused by Alcaligenes denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans and review the English literature regarding community-acquired and nonsocomial infection and colonization that results from this bacterium. The biochemical and genetic characteristics supporting the pathogenic potential of A. denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans are reviewed, and the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the organism is summarized.

beta-Lactamases and beta-lactam resistance in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli strains determining 17 different plasmid-determined beta-lactamases were tested for resistance to new broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics. Several beta-lactamases demonstrated enhanced resistance to cefamandole but only low-level resistance to other agents. High production of cloned E. coli chromosomal beta-lactamase, however, provided resistance to cefamandole, cefoxitin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and aztreonam but not to BMY-28142 or imipenem.

Five novel plasmid-determined beta-lactamases

Five novel plasmid-determined beta-lactamases named TLE-1, OXA-4, OXA-5, OXA-6, and OXA-7 were detected in ampicillin-resistant isolates of Escherichia coli and carbenicillin-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. TLE-1 resembled TEM-1 in substrate profile and reactions with inhibitors but differed in isoelectric point (5.55) and enzyme banding pattern on flat-bed electrofocusing.OXA-4, OXA-5, OXA-6, and OXA-7 hydrolyzed oxacillin, methicillin, and cloxacillin readily but differed from OXA-1, OXA-2, and OXA-3 in substrate profiles, inhibitor reactions, and isoelectric points (7.5 to 7.8).OXA-4 and OXA-6 were unusual for members of the OXA group in their sensitivity to inhibition by cloxacillin. OXA-5 and OXA-7 had isoelectric points close to that of SHV-1, emphasizing the need in beta-lactamase classification for studies in addition to isoelectric focusing. These five new enzymes bring the number of plasmid-determined beta-lactamases known in gram-negative organisms to more than 20. The evolution of such enzymatic diversity remains to be explored.

Cloning of Pseudomonas plasmid pMG7 and its restriction-modification system in Escherichia coli

Plasmid pMG7 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa codes for a type II DNA restriction-modification (r-m) system, PaeR7. This plasmid has not been observed to transfer to Escherichia coli either by conjugation or by transformation. We have cloned BglII linears (42 kb) and the BamHI large fragment (37 kb) of pMG7 into cosmid pHC79 (6.4 kb) and introduced the recombinant molecules into E. coli by in vitro packaging. Several clones were obtained which demonstrated in vivo restriction of phage phi 80. One of these clones, GT138, was further tested and showed in vivo modification of phi 80. Extracts from two clones, GT138 and GT125, yielded a restriction endonuclease activity which produced fragments of phi 80 DNA identical to those produced by PaeR7. Cosmid cloning should be useful for obtaining substantial yields of large fragments of plasmids that are difficult to purify in their native strains.