1
|
Miura M, Shigemura K, Osawa K, Nakanishi N, Nomoto R, Onishi R, Yoshida H, Sawamura T, Fang SB, Chiang YT, Sung SY, Chen KC, Miyara T, Fujisawa M. Genetic characteristics of azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae collected in Hyogo, Japan during 2015-2019. J Med Microbiol 2022; 71. [PMID: 35700110 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Azithromycin (AZM) is a therapeutic drug for sexually transmitted infections and is used for Neisseria gonorrhoeae when first- and second-line drugs are not available. Recently, the susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae against AZM has been decreasing worldwide.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Azithromycin-resistance (AZM-R) rates among N. gonorrhoeae in Japan are increasing, and the gene mutations and epidemiological characteristics of AZM-R in N. gonorrhoeae have not been fully investigated.Aim. We determined the susceptibility to AZM and its correlation with genetic characteristics of N. gonorrhoeae.Methodology. We investigated the susceptibility to AZM and genetic characteristics of N. gonorrhoeae. Mutations in domain V of the 23S rRNA gene and mtrR were examined in 93 isolates, including 13 AZM-R isolates. Spread and clonality were examined using sequence types (STs) of multi-antigen sequence typing for N. gonorrhoeae (NG-MAST), and whole genome analysis (WGA) to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms.Results. The number of AZM-R isolates increased gradually from 2015 to 2019 in Hyogo (P=0.008). C2599T mutations in 23S rRNA significantly increased in AZM-R isolates (P<0.001). NG-MAST ST4207 and ST6762 were frequently detected in AZM-R isolates, and they had higher MICs to AZM from 6 to 24 µg/ml. The phylogenic tree-based WGA showed that all isolates with ST4207 were contained in the same clade, and isolates with ST6762 were divided into two clades, AZM-S isolates and AZM-R isolates, which were different from the cluster containing ST1407.Conclusion. Our study showed yearly increases in AZM-R rates in N. gonorrhoeae. NG-MAST ST4207 and ST6762 were not detected in our previous study in 2015 and were frequently identified in isolates with higher MICs to AZM. WGA confirmed that isolates with these STs are closely related to each other. Continued surveillance is needed to detect the emergence and confirm the spread of NG-MAST ST4207 and ST6762.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Miura
- Department of Public Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 7-10-2 Tomogaoka Suma-ku, Kobe, 654-0142, Japan.,Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kobe Tokiwa University, 2-6-2 Otani-cho, Nagata-ku, Kobe, 653-0838, Japan
| | - Katsumi Shigemura
- Department of Public Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 7-10-2 Tomogaoka Suma-ku, Kobe, 654-0142, Japan.,Department of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Kayo Osawa
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kobe Tokiwa University, 2-6-2 Otani-cho, Nagata-ku, Kobe, 653-0838, Japan
| | - Noriko Nakanishi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kobe Institute of Health, 4-6-5 Minatojima-nakamichi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0046, Japan
| | - Ryohei Nomoto
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kobe Institute of Health, 4-6-5 Minatojima-nakamichi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0046, Japan
| | - Reo Onishi
- Department of Public Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 7-10-2 Tomogaoka Suma-ku, Kobe, 654-0142, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Yoshida
- Hyogo Clinical Laboratory Corporation, 5-6-2, Aoyamanishi, Himeji, 671-2224 Japan
| | - Toru Sawamura
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kobe Tokiwa University, 2-6-2 Otani-cho, Nagata-ku, Kobe, 653-0838, Japan
| | - Shiuh-Bin Fang
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Pediatrics, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, 291 Jhong Jheng Road, Jhong Ho District, New Taipei City, 23561, Taiwan, ROC.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 250, Wu Hsing Street, Hsin Yi District, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Te Chiang
- Department of Urology, Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital, 291, Zhongzheng Rd, Zhonghe District, Taipei, 23561, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shian-Ying Sung
- Ph.D. Program for Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing St., Taipei, 110, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kuan-Cho Chen
- Department of Urology, Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital, 291, Zhongzheng Rd, Zhonghe District, Taipei, 23561, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Takayuki Miyara
- Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Kobe University Hospital, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Masato Fujisawa
- Department of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yahara K, Nakayama SI, Shimuta K, Lee KI, Morita M, Kawahata T, Kuroki T, Watanabe Y, Ohya H, Yasuda M, Deguchi T, Didelot X, Ohnishi M. Genomic surveillance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to investigate the distribution and evolution of antimicrobial-resistance determinants and lineages. Microb Genom 2018; 4:e000205. [PMID: 30063202 PMCID: PMC6159555 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The first extensively drug resistant (XDR) Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain with high resistance to the extended-spectrum cephalosporin ceftriaxone was identified in 2009 in Japan, but no other strain with this antimicrobial-resistance profile has been reported since. However, surveillance to date has been based on phenotypic methods and sequence typing, not genome sequencing. Therefore, little is known about the local population structure at the genomic level, and how resistance determinants and lineages are distributed and evolve. We analysed the whole-genome sequence data and the antimicrobial-susceptibility testing results of 204 strains sampled in a region where the first XDR ceftriaxone-resistant N. gonorrhoeae was isolated, complemented with 67 additional genomes from other time frames and locations within Japan. Strains resistant to ceftriaxone were not found, but we discovered a sequence type (ST)7363 sub-lineage susceptible to ceftriaxone and cefixime in which the mosaic penA allele responsible for reduced susceptibility had reverted to a susceptible allele by recombination. Approximately 85 % of isolates showed resistance to fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin) explained by linked amino acid substitutions at positions 91 and 95 of GyrA with 99 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity. Approximately 10 % showed resistance to macrolides (azithromycin), for which genetic determinants are less clear. Furthermore, we revealed different evolutionary paths of the two major lineages: single acquisition of penA X in the ST7363-associated lineage, followed by multiple independent acquisitions of the penA X and XXXIV in the ST1901-associated lineage. Our study provides a detailed picture of the distribution of resistance determinants and disentangles the evolution of the two major lineages spreading worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koji Yahara
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shu-ichi Nakayama
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken Shimuta
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken-ichi Lee
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masatomo Morita
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuya Kawahata
- Virology Section, Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshiro Kuroki
- Department of Microbiology, Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Kanagawa, Japan
- Present address: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, 1-3, Ikoinooka, Imabari, Ehime 794-8555, Japan
| | - Yuko Watanabe
- Department of Microbiology, Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hitomi Ohya
- Department of Microbiology, Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Yasuda
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takashi Deguchi
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Xavier Didelot
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Makoto Ohnishi
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Unemo M, del Rio C, Shafer WM. Antimicrobial Resistance Expressed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae: A Major Global Public Health Problem in the 21st Century. Microbiol Spectr 2016; 4:10.1128/microbiolspec.EI10-0009-2015. [PMID: 27337478 PMCID: PMC4920088 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.ei10-0009-2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a strictly human pathogen that is typically transmitted by sexual contact. The associated disease gonorrhea has plagued humankind for thousands of years, with a current estimated incidence of 78 million cases per year. Advances in antimicrobial discovery in the 1920s and 1930s leading to the discovery of sulfonamides and penicillin begun the era of effective antimicrobial treatment of gonorrhea. Unfortunately, the gonococcus developed decreased susceptibility or even resistance to these initially employed antibiotics, a trend that continued over subsequent decades with each new antibiotic that was brought into clinical practice. As this pattern of resistance has continued into the 21st century, there is now reason for great concern, especially in an era when few new antibiotics have prospects for use as treatment of gonorrhea. Here, we review the history of gonorrhea treatment regimens and gonococcal resistance to antibiotics, the mechanisms of resistance, resistance monitoring schemes that exist in different international settings, global responses to the challenge of resistance, and prospects for future treatment regimens in the 21st century.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Örebro University Hospital, SE-701 85 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Carlos del Rio
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University and Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University Schol of Medicine. 1518 Clifton Rd. NE. CNR Building, Room 7011. Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - William M. Shafer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 1510 Clifton Road, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Atlanta), 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Unemo M. Current and future antimicrobial treatment of gonorrhoea - the rapidly evolving Neisseria gonorrhoeae continues to challenge. BMC Infect Dis 2015; 15:364. [PMID: 26293005 PMCID: PMC4546108 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-1029-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae has developed antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to all drugs previously and currently recommended for empirical monotherapy of gonorrhoea. In vitro resistance, including high-level, to the last option ceftriaxone and sporadic failures to treat pharyngeal gonorrhoea with ceftriaxone have emerged. In response, empirical dual antimicrobial therapy (ceftriaxone 250–1000 mg plus azithromycin 1–2 g) has been introduced in several particularly high-income regions or countries. These treatment regimens appear currently effective and should be considered in all settings where local quality assured AMR data do not support other therapeutic options. However, the dual antimicrobial regimens, implemented in limited geographic regions, will not entirely prevent resistance emergence and, unfortunately, most likely it is only a matter of when, and not if, treatment failures with also these dual antimicrobial regimens will emerge. Accordingly, novel affordable antimicrobials for monotherapy or at least inclusion in new dual treatment regimens, which might need to be considered for all newly developed antimicrobials, are essential. Several of the recently developed antimicrobials deserve increased attention for potential future treatment of gonorrhoea. In vitro activity studies examining collections of geographically, temporally and genetically diverse gonococcal isolates, including multidrug-resistant strains particularly with resistance to ceftriaxone and azithromycin, are important. Furthermore, understanding of effects and biological fitness of current and emerging (in vitro induced/selected and in vivo emerged) genetic resistance mechanisms for these antimicrobials, prediction of resistance emergence, time-kill curve analysis to evaluate antibacterial activity, appropriate mice experiments, and correlates between genetic and phenotypic laboratory parameters, and clinical treatment outcomes, would also be valuable. Subsequently, appropriately designed, randomized controlled clinical trials evaluating efficacy, ideal dose, toxicity, adverse effects, cost, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics data for anogenital and, importantly, also pharyngeal gonorrhoea, i.e. because treatment failures initially emerge at this anatomical site. Finally, in the future treatment at first health care visit will ideally be individually-tailored, i.e. by novel rapid phenotypic AMR tests and/or genetic point of care AMR tests, including detection of gonococci, which will improve the management and public health control of gonorrhoea and AMR. Nevertheless, now is certainly the right time to readdress the challenges of developing a gonococcal vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for Pathogenic Neisseria, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro University, SE-701 85, Örebro, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Unemo M. Challenges with antimicrobial susceptibility testing for Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the era of extensively drug-resistant gonorrhoea - molecular antimicrobial resistance testing crucial. Pathog Glob Health 2015; 108:214-5. [PMID: 25175873 DOI: 10.1179/2047772414z.000000000216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
|
6
|
Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the 21st century: past, evolution, and future. Clin Microbiol Rev 2015; 27:587-613. [PMID: 24982323 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00010-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 773] [Impact Index Per Article: 85.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is evolving into a superbug with resistance to previously and currently recommended antimicrobials for treatment of gonorrhea, which is a major public health concern globally. Given the global nature of gonorrhea, the high rate of usage of antimicrobials, suboptimal control and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and treatment failures, slow update of treatment guidelines in most geographical settings, and the extraordinary capacity of the gonococci to develop and retain AMR, it is likely that the global problem of gonococcal AMR will worsen in the foreseeable future and that the severe complications of gonorrhea will emerge as a silent epidemic. By understanding the evolution, emergence, and spread of AMR in N. gonorrhoeae, including its molecular and phenotypic mechanisms, resistance to antimicrobials used clinically can be anticipated, future methods for genetic testing for AMR might permit region-specific and tailor-made antimicrobial therapy, and the design of novel antimicrobials to circumvent the resistance problems can be undertaken more rationally. This review focuses on the history and evolution of gonorrhea treatment regimens and emerging resistance to them, on genetic and phenotypic determinants of gonococcal resistance to previously and currently recommended antimicrobials, including biological costs or benefits; and on crucial actions and future advances necessary to detect and treat resistant gonococcal strains and, ultimately, retain gonorrhea as a treatable infection.
Collapse
|
7
|
Whole-genome phylogenomic heterogeneity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with decreased cephalosporin susceptibility collected in Canada between 1989 and 2013. J Clin Microbiol 2014; 53:191-200. [PMID: 25378573 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02589-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A large-scale, whole-genome comparison of Canadian Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with high-level cephalosporin MICs was used to demonstrate a genomic epidemiology approach to investigate strain relatedness and dynamics. Although current typing methods have been very successful in tracing short-chain transmission of gonorrheal disease, investigating the temporal evolutionary relationships and geographical dissemination of highly clonal lineages requires enhanced resolution only available through whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Phylogenomic cluster analysis grouped 169 Canadian strains into 12 distinct clades. While some N. gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence types (NG-MAST) agreed with specific phylogenomic clades or subclades, other sequence types (ST) and closely related groups of ST were widely distributed among clades. Decreased susceptibility to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC-DS) emerged among a group of diverse strains in Canada during the 1990s with a variety of nonmosaic penA alleles, followed in 2000/2001 with the penA mosaic X allele and then in 2007 with ST1407 strains with the penA mosaic XXXIV allele. Five genetically distinct ESC-DS lineages were associated with penA mosaic X, XXXV, and XXXIV alleles and nonmosaic XII and XIII alleles. ESC-DS with coresistance to azithromycin was observed in 5 strains with 23S rRNA C2599T or A2143G mutations. As the costs associated with WGS decline and analysis tools are streamlined, WGS can provide a more thorough understanding of strain dynamics, facilitate epidemiological studies to better resolve social networks, and improve surveillance to optimize treatment for gonorrheal infections.
Collapse
|
8
|
Unemo M, Golparian D, Shafer WM. Challenges with gonorrhea in the era of multi-drug and extensively drug resistance - are we on the right track? Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 12:653-6. [PMID: 24702589 DOI: 10.1586/14787210.2014.906902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae has retained antimicrobial resistance to drugs previously recommended for first-line empiric treatment of gonorrhea, and resistance to ceftriaxone, the last option for monotherapy, is evolving. Crucial actions to combat this developing situation include implementing response plans; considering use of dual antimicrobial regimens; enhancing surveillance of gonorrhea, gonococcal antimicrobial resistance, treatment failures and antimicrobial use/misuse and improving prevention, early diagnosis, contact tracing and treatment. The ways forward also include an intensified research to identify novel antimicrobial resistance determinants and develop and evaluate appropriate use of molecular antimicrobial resistance testing, ideally point-of-care and with simultaneous detection of gonococci, to supplement culture-based methods and ideally guide tailored treatment. It is crucial with an enhanced understanding of the dynamics of the national and international emergence, transmission and evolution of antimicrobial-resistant gonococcal strains. Genome sequencing combined with epidemiological metadata will detail these issues and might also revolutionize the molecular antimicrobial resistance testing. Ultimately, novel antimicrobials are essential and some antimicrobials in development have shown potent in vitro activity against gonococci. Several of these antimicrobials deserve further attention for potential future treatment of gonorrhea.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, National Reference Laboratory for Pathogenic Neisseria, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | | |
Collapse
|