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Singh KV, Galloway-Peña J, Montealegre MC, Dong X, Murray BE. Genomic context as well as sequence of both psr and penicillin-binding protein 5 contributes to β-lactam resistance in Enterococcus faecium. mBio 2024; 15:e0017024. [PMID: 38564699 PMCID: PMC11077988 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00170-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Penicillin-binding protein 5 (PBP5) of Enterococcus faecium (Efm) is vital for ampicillin resistance (AMP-R). We previously designated three forms of PBP5, namely, PBP5-S in Efm clade B strains [ampicillin susceptible (AMP-S)], PBP5-S/R (AMP-S or R), and PBP5-R (AMP-R) in clade A strains. Here, pbp5 deletion resulted in a marked reduction in AMP minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to 0.01-0.09 µg/mL for clade B and 0.12-0.19 µg/mL for clade A strains; in situ complementation restored parental AMP MICs. Using D344SRF (lacking ftsW/psr/pbp5), constructs with ftsWA/psrA (from a clade A1 strain) cloned upstream of pbp5-S and pbp5-S/R alleles resulted in modest increases in MICs to 3-8 µg/mL, while high MICs (>64 µg/mL) were seen using pbp5 from A1 strains. Next, using ftsW ± psr from clade B and clade A/B and B/A hybrid constructs, the presence of psrB, even alone or in trans, resulted in much lower AMP MICs (3-8 µg/mL) than when psrA was present (MICs >64 µg/mL). qRT PCR showed relatively greater pbp5 expression (P = 0.007) with pbp5 cloned downstream of clade A1 ftsW/psr (MIC >128 µg/mL) vs when cloned downstream of clade B ftsW/psr (MIC 4-16 µg/mL), consistent with results in western blots. In conclusion, we report the effect of clade A vs B psr on AMP MICs as well as the impact of pbp5 alleles from different clades. While previously, Psr was not thought to contribute to AMP MICs in Efm, our results showed that the presence of psrB resulted in a major decrease in Efm AMP MICs. IMPORTANCE The findings of this study shed light on ampicillin resistance in Enterococcus faecium clade A strains. They underscore the significance of alterations in the amino acid sequence of penicillin-binding protein 5 (PBP5) and the pivotal role of the psr region in PBP5 expression and ampicillin resistance. Notably, the presence of a full-length psrB leads to reduced PBP5 expression and lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ampicillin compared to the presence of a shorter psrA, regardless of the pbp5 allele involved. Additionally, clade B E. faecium strains exhibit lower AMP MICs when both psr alleles from clades A and B are present, although it is important to consider other distinctions between clade A and B strains that may contribute to this effect. It is intriguing to note that the divergence between clade A and clade B E. faecium and the subsequent evolution of heightened AMP MICs in hospital-associated strains appear to coincide with changes in Pbp5 and psr. These changes in psr may have resulted in an inactive Psr, facilitating increased PBP5 expression and greater ampicillin resistance. These results raise the possibility that a mimicker of PsrB, if one could be designed, might be able to lower MICs of ampicillin-resistant E. faecium, thus potentially resorting ampicillin to our therapeutic armamentarium for this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavindra V. Singh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jessica Galloway-Peña
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Maria Camila Montealegre
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Xingxing Dong
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Barbara E. Murray
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Li W, Lim CH, Zhao Z, Wang Y, Conway PL, Loo SCJ. In Vitro Profiling of Potential Fish Probiotics, Enterococcus hirae Strains, Isolated from Jade Perch, and Safety Properties Assessed Using Whole Genome Sequencing. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2024:10.1007/s12602-024-10244-0. [PMID: 38498111 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-024-10244-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The demands of intensified aquaculture production and escalating disease prevalence underscore the need for efficacious probiotic strategies to enhance fish health. This study focused on isolating and characterising potential probiotics from the gut microbiota of the emerging aquaculture species jade perch (Scortum barcoo). Eighty-seven lactic acid bacteria and 149 other bacteria were isolated from the digestive tract of five adult jade perch. The screening revealed that 24 Enterococcus hirae isolates inhibited the freshwater pathogens Aeromonas sobria and Streptococcus iniae. Co-incubating E. hirae with the host gut suspensions demonstrated a two- to five-fold increase in the size of growth inhibition zones compared to the results when using gut suspensions from tilapia (a non-host), indicating host-specificity. Genome analysis of the lead isolate, E. hirae R44, predicted the presence of antimicrobial compounds like enterolysin A, class II lanthipeptide, and terpenes, which underlay its antibacterial attributes. Isolate R44 exhibited desirable probiotic characteristics, including survival at pH values within the range of 3 to 12, bile tolerance, antioxidant activity, ampicillin sensitivity, and absence of transferable antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors commonly associated with hospital Enterococcus strains (IS16, hylEfm, and esp). This study offers a foundation for sourcing host-adapted probiotics from underexplored aquaculture species. Characterisation of novel probiotics like E. hirae R44 can expedite the development of disease mitigation strategies to support aquaculture intensification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenrui Li
- NTU Institute for Health Technologies, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, Nanyang Technological University, 61 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637335, Singapore
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Chiun Hao Lim
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Zhongtian Zhao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Yulan Wang
- Singapore Phenome Centre, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 59 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 636921, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 59 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 636921, Singapore
| | - Patricia Lynne Conway
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- Centre for Marine Science Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Say Chye Joachim Loo
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 59 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 636921, Singapore.
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore.
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Wagner TM, Pöntinen AK, Fenzel CK, Engi D, Janice J, Almeida-Santos AC, Tedim AP, Freitas AR, Peixe L, van Schaik W, Johannessen M, Hegstad K. Interactions between commensal Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus lactis and clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium. FEMS MICROBES 2024; 5:xtae009. [PMID: 38606354 PMCID: PMC11008740 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtae009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecium (Efm) is a versatile pathogen, responsible for multidrug-resistant infections, especially in hospitalized immunocompromised patients. Its population structure has been characterized by diverse clades (A1, A2, and B (reclassified as E. lactis (Ela)), adapted to different environments, and distinguished by their resistomes and virulomes. These features only partially explain the predominance of clade A1 strains in nosocomial infections. We investigated in vitro interaction of 50 clinical isolates (clade A1 Efm) against 75 commensal faecal isolates from healthy humans (25 clade A2 Efm and 50 Ela). Only 36% of the commensal isolates inhibited clinical isolates, while 76% of the clinical isolates inhibited commensal isolates. The most apparent overall differences in inhibition patterns were presented between clades. The inhibitory activity was mainly mediated by secreted, proteinaceous, heat-stable compounds, likely indicating an involvement of bacteriocins. A custom-made database targeting 76 Bacillota bacteriocins was used to reveal bacteriocins in the genomes. Our systematic screening of the interactions between nosocomial and commensal Efm and Ela on a large scale suggests that, in a clinical setting, nosocomial strains not only have an advantage over commensal strains due to their possession of AMR genes, virulence factors, and resilience but also inhibit the growth of commensal strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Maria Wagner
- Research group for Host-Microbe Interactions, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anna Kaarina Pöntinen
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Carolin Kornelia Fenzel
- Research group for Host-Microbe Interactions, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Daniel Engi
- Research group for Host-Microbe Interactions, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jessin Janice
- Research group for Host-Microbe Interactions, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ana C Almeida-Santos
- UCIBIO. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Microbiologia. Faculdade de Farmácia. Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana P Tedim
- Group for Biomedical Research in Sepsis (BioSepsis), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Respiratorias (CiberES CB22/06/00035), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana R Freitas
- UCIBIO. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Microbiologia. Faculdade de Farmácia. Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- 1H- TOXRUN – One Health Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, 4584-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Luísa Peixe
- UCIBIO. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Microbiologia. Faculdade de Farmácia. Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Willem van Schaik
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Mona Johannessen
- Research group for Host-Microbe Interactions, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kristin Hegstad
- Research group for Host-Microbe Interactions, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway
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Siddig LA, Bayoumi M, Elhadi N. Sociodemographic distributions and molecular characterization of colonized Enterococcus faecium isolates from locality hospitals in Khartoum, Sudan. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16169. [PMID: 37842047 PMCID: PMC10573385 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Enterococcus faecium is an opportunistic pathogen of humans with diverse hosts, encompassing animals as well as human beings. In the past twenty years, there has been a rise in the instances of nosocomial infections that are linked to antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus faecium. The acquisition of diverse antimicrobial resistance factors has driven the global development of robust and convergent adaptive mechanisms within the healthcare environment. The presence of microorganisms in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patient populations has been significantly aided by the facilitation of various perturbations within their respective microbiomes. Objective This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial profile, demographic and clinical characteristics, along with the detection of virulence encoding genes, and to find out the clonal genetic relationship among colonized E. faecium strains. Methodology A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out between October 2018 and March 2020 at four Khartoum locality hospitals in Sudan. The study comprised a total of 108 strains of E. faecium isolated from patients admitted to four locality hospitals in Khartoum. A self-structured questionnaire was used to gather information on sociodemographic traits. Data were analyzed using chi-square test. In all cases, P value ≤ 0.05 with a corresponding 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. Moreover, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) was utilized to assess the prevalence of clonal relationships, and the gel was analyzed using CLIQS software. Results In this study, the isolation rate of colonized E. faecium strains was 108/170 (63.5%). The colonization of E. faecium and its association with various sociodemographic and clinical features was examined. 73 (67.6%) of patients had multidrug-resistant (MDR), and 22 (20.4%) had extensively drug-resistant (XDR), 73 (67.6%) of patients engaged in self-medication practices. Eighty patients (74.1%) were non-adherence to prescribed antibiotics, while 70 (64.8%) patients reported recent antibiotic usage within the 3 months. The present study suggests that demographic factors may not be significantly associated with the incidence of E. faecium infection except for patients who had a prior history of antibiotic use (P ≤ 0.005). The analysis of virulence genes showed a high prevalence of asa1 gene (22.2%) among strains. In ERIC-PCR the genetic relatedness of E. faecium showed seven identical clusters (A-G) with 100% genetic similarity. This implies clonal propagation in hospitals and communities. Conclusion This study found that the incidence of E. faecium isolated from locality hospitals in Khartoum was likely due to the spread of E. faecium clones, thereby highlighting the need for intensifying infection control measures to prevent the spreading of nosocomial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loai Abdelati Siddig
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Magdi Bayoumi
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medical Sciences and Technology (UMST), Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Nasreldin Elhadi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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5
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Im EJ, Lee HHY, Kim M, Kim MK. Evaluation of Enterococcal Probiotic Usage and Review of Potential Health Benefits, Safety, and Risk of Antibiotic-Resistant Strain Emergence. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1327. [PMID: 37627747 PMCID: PMC10451534 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12081327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterococci are often used in probiotics but can also cause nosocomial infections. As such, enterococcal consumption may have beneficial health effects, but a thorough evaluation of virulence absence and risk of antibiotic resistance spread is needed at the strain level. This article reviewed ten online health product shopping websites in the US. On these websites, 23 probiotic products using enterococci were found across 12 companies. In addition, this article reviewed studies that demonstrated the probiotic potential of enterococcal consumption (e.g., gastrointestinal and respiratory disease, hyperlipidemia alleviation, as well as infection prevention). To investigate the safety aspects of enterococci, the present work examined studies evaluating virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, this article assessed research that explored these virulent factors, specifically in probiotics containing enterococci, as well as the potential transfer mechanism of their antibiotic resistance. Based on reviewed data, enterococcal probiotic consumption has been proven beneficial for conditions or symptoms of multiple diseases without any apparent adverse effects. However, due to the plasmid- or transposon-mediated gene transfer ability of enterococci, surveillance monitoring and further studies regarding enterococcal consumption are warranted. Future studies that identify enterococcal strains safe to use in probiotics without virulence factors and antibiotic resistance are imperative for evidence-based decisions by health organizations and government agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Jeeho Im
- College of Arts and Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA;
| | - Harry Hyun-Yup Lee
- School of Osteopathic Medicine, Campbell University, Lillington, NC 27546, USA
| | - Minzae Kim
- College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Myo-Kyoung Kim
- Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA
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6
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Udaondo Z, Abram K, Kothari A, Jun SR. Top-Down Genomic Surveillance Approach To Investigate the Genomic Epidemiology and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Enterococcus faecium Detected in Cancer Patients in Arkansas. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0490122. [PMID: 36995227 PMCID: PMC10269635 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04901-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Control of hospital-associated Enterococcus faecium infection is a strenuous task due to the difficulty of identifying transmission routes and the persistence of this nosocomial pathogen despite the implementation of infection control measures that have been successful with other important nosocomial pathogens. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of over 100 E. faecium isolates collected from 66 cancer patients at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) between June 2018 and May 2019. In the top-down approach used in this study, we employed, in addition to the 106 E. faecium UAMS isolates, a filtered set of 2,167 E. faecium strains from the GenBank database to assess the current population structure of E. faecium species and, consequently, to identify the lineages associated with our clinical isolates. We then evaluated the antibiotic resistance and virulence profiles of hospital-associated strains from the species pool, focusing on antibiotics of last resort, to establish an updated classification of high-risk and multidrug-resistant nosocomial clones. Further investigation of the clinical isolates collected from UAMS patients using whole-genome sequencing analytical methodologies (core genome multilocus sequence typing [cgMLST], core single nucleotide polymorphism [coreSNP] analysis, and phylogenomics), with the addition of patient epidemiological data, revealed a polyclonal outbreak of three sequence types occurring simultaneously in different patient wards. The integration of genomic and epidemiological data collected from the patients increased our understanding of the relationships and transmission dynamics of the E. faecium isolates. Our study provides new insights into genomic surveillance of E. faecium to assist in monitoring and further limiting the spread of multidrug-resistant E. faecium. IMPORTANCE Enterococcus faecium is a member of the gastrointestinal microbiota. Although its virulence is low in healthy, immunocompetent individuals, E. faecium has become the third leading cause of health care-associated infections in the United States. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of over 100 E. faecium isolates collected from cancer patients at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). We employed a top-down analytical approach (from population genomics to molecular biology) to classify our clinical isolates into their genetic lineages and thoroughly evaluate their antibiotic resistance and virulence profiles. The addition of patient epidemiological data to the whole-genome sequencing analytical methodologies performed in the study allowed us to increase our understanding of the relationships and transmission dynamics of the E. faecium isolates. This study provides new insights into genomic surveillance of E. faecium to help monitor and further limit the spread of multidrug-resistant E. faecium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulema Udaondo
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Kaleb Abram
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Atul Kothari
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Se-Ran Jun
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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Aswal M, Singhal N, Kumar M. Comprehensive genomic analysis of hypocholesterolemic probiotic Enterococcus faecium LR13 reveals unique proteins involved in cholesterol-assimilation. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1082566. [PMID: 37081914 PMCID: PMC10110904 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1082566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Chemotherapeutic agents for CVDs exhibit several side effects. Specific probiotics with hypocholesterolemic effects can be safe and effective alternatives to chemotherapeutics. Here, we have analyzed and compared the genome of a novel rhizospheric Enterococcus faecium LR13 cholesterol-assimilating probiotic with other probiotic/pathogenic E. faecium strains to discern genetic factors underlying probiotic efficacy and cholesterol-assimilation. Genomic analyses of E. faecium probiotic strains revealed that LR13 and WEFA23 (cholesterol-assimilating probiotics) harbored 21 unique proteins absent in non-cholesterol-assimilating probiotics. Of these, 14 proteins could directly help in cholesterol-assimilation by producing short chain fatty acids, lipid (sterol) transport and membrane stabilization, and bile salt hydrolase activity. This suggests that cholesterol-assimilation is an intrinsic, strain-specific trait exhibited by probiotics with a specific genetic constitution. Moreover, the unique proteins identified in this study can serve as biomarkers for discerning/characterizing cholesterol-assimilating probiotics as novel biotherapeutics against CVDs.
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Quintela-Baluja M, Jobling K, Graham DW, Tabraiz S, Shamurad B, Alnakip M, Böhme K, Barros-Velázquez J, Carrera M, Calo-Mata P. Rapid Proteomic Characterization of Bacteriocin-Producing Enterococcus faecium Strains from Foodstuffs. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213830. [PMID: 36430310 PMCID: PMC9697693 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus belongs to a group of microorganisms known as lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which constitute a broad heterogeneous group of generally food-grade microorganisms historically used in food preservation. Enterococci live as commensals of the gastrointestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, although they also are present in food of animal origin (milk, cheese, fermented sausages), vegetables, and plant materials because of their ability to survive heat treatments and adverse environmental conditions. The biotechnological traits of enterococci can be applied in the food industry; however, the emergence of enterococci as a cause of nosocomial infections makes their food status uncertain. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing allow the subtyping of bacterial pathogens, but it cannot reflect the temporal dynamics and functional activities of microbiomes or bacterial isolates. Moreover, genetic analysis is based on sequence homologies, inferring functions from databases. Here, we used an end-to-end proteomic workflow to rapidly characterize two bacteriocin-producing Enterococcus faecium (Efm) strains. The proteome analysis was performed with liquid chromatography coupled to a trapped ion mobility spectrometry-time-of-flight mass spectrometry instrument (TimsTOF) for high-throughput and high-resolution characterization of bacterial proteins. Thus, we identified almost half of the proteins predicted in the bacterial genomes (>1100 unique proteins per isolate), including quantifying proteins conferring resistance to antibiotics, heavy metals, virulence factors, and bacteriocins. The obtained proteomes were annotated according to function, resulting in 22 complete KEGG metabolic pathway modules for both strains. The workflow used here successfully characterized these bacterial isolates and showed great promise for determining and optimizing the bioengineering and biotechnology properties of other LAB strains in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Quintela-Baluja
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Kelly Jobling
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - David W. Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Shamas Tabraiz
- School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury CT1 1QU, UK
| | | | - Mohamed Alnakip
- Department of Food Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Karola Böhme
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain
| | - Jorge Barros-Velázquez
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain
| | - Mónica Carrera
- Department of Food Technology, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Marine Research Institute (IIM), 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Pilar Calo-Mata
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain
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Enterococcus faecium Clade Competition in the Presence of β-Lactam Antibiotics in a Mouse GI Tract Colonization Model. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0090322. [PMID: 36255277 PMCID: PMC9664857 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00903-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we showed that Enterococcus faecium clade B strains outcompeted health care-associated clade A1 strains in murine gastrointestinal colonization. Here, parenterally administered piperacillin-tazobactam and ceftriaxone significantly promoted colonization by clade A1 over clade B strains except that ceftriaxone, at the dose used, did not favor the least β-lactam-resistant A1 strain. The advantage that β-lactam administration gives to more highly ampicillin-resistant E. faecium over ampicillin-susceptible strains mirrors what occurs in hospitalized patients administered these antibiotics.
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Sanderson H, Gray KL, Manuele A, Maguire F, Khan A, Liu C, Navanekere Rudrappa C, Nash JHE, Robertson J, Bessonov K, Oloni M, Alcock BP, Raphenya AR, McAllister TA, Peacock SJ, Raven KE, Gouliouris T, McArthur AG, Brinkman FSL, Fink RC, Zaheer R, Beiko RG. Exploring the mobilome and resistome of Enterococcus faecium in a One Health context across two continents. Microb Genom 2022; 8. [PMID: 36129737 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecium is a ubiquitous opportunistic pathogen that is exhibiting increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Many of the genes that confer resistance and pathogenic functions are localized on mobile genetic elements (MGEs), which facilitate their transfer between lineages. Here, features including resistance determinants, virulence factors and MGEs were profiled in a set of 1273 E. faecium genomes from two disparate geographic locations (in the UK and Canada) from a range of agricultural, clinical and associated habitats. Neither lineages of E. faecium, type A and B, nor MGEs are constrained by geographic proximity, but our results show evidence of a strong association of many profiled genes and MGEs with habitat. Many features were associated with a group of clinical and municipal wastewater genomes that are likely forming a new human-associated ecotype within type A. The evolutionary dynamics of E. faecium make it a highly versatile emerging pathogen, and its ability to acquire, transmit and lose features presents a high risk for the emergence of new pathogenic variants and novel resistance combinations. This study provides a workflow for MGE-centric surveillance of AMR in Enterococcus that can be adapted to other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley Sanderson
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Kristen L Gray
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Colombia, Canada
| | - Alexander Manuele
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Institute for Comparative Genomics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Finlay Maguire
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Institute for Comparative Genomics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Amjad Khan
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Institute for Comparative Genomics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Chaoyue Liu
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Institute for Comparative Genomics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Chandana Navanekere Rudrappa
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Institute for Comparative Genomics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - John H E Nash
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph and Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James Robertson
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph and Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kyrylo Bessonov
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph and Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martins Oloni
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian P Alcock
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amogelang R Raphenya
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tim A McAllister
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Kathy E Raven
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Andrew G McArthur
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fiona S L Brinkman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Colombia, Canada
| | - Ryan C Fink
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Institute for Comparative Genomics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Rahat Zaheer
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Robert G Beiko
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Institute for Comparative Genomics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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11
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Perez RH, Zendo T, Sonomoto K. Multiple bacteriocin production in lactic acid bacteria. J Biosci Bioeng 2022; 134:277-287. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2022.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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12
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El Haddad L, Angelidakis G, Clark JR, Mendoza JF, Terwilliger AL, Chaftari CP, Duna M, Yusuf ST, Harb CP, Stibich M, Maresso A, Chemaly RF. Genomic and Functional Characterization of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci-Specific Bacteriophages in the Galleria mellonella Wax Moth Larvae Model. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:1591. [PMID: 36015218 PMCID: PMC9414631 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Phages are naturally occurring viruses that selectively kill bacterial species without disturbing the individual's normal flora, averting the collateral damage of antimicrobial usage. The safety and the effectiveness of phages have been mainly confirmed in the food industry as well as in animal models. In this study, we report on the successful isolation of phages specific to Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, including Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) and Enterococcus faecalis from sewage samples, and demonstrate their efficacy and safety for VREfm infection in the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella model. No virulence-associated genes, antibiotic resistance genes or integrases were detected in the phages' genomes, rendering them safe to be used in an in vivo model. Phages may be considered as potential agents for therapy for bacterial infections secondary to multidrug-resistant organisms such as VREfm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn El Haddad
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (L.E.H.); (J.F.M.)
| | - Georgios Angelidakis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (G.A.); (C.P.C.); (M.D.); (S.T.Y.); (C.P.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Justin R. Clark
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (J.R.C.); (A.L.T.); (A.M.)
| | - Jesus F. Mendoza
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (L.E.H.); (J.F.M.)
| | - Austen L. Terwilliger
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (J.R.C.); (A.L.T.); (A.M.)
| | - Christopher P. Chaftari
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (G.A.); (C.P.C.); (M.D.); (S.T.Y.); (C.P.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Mark Duna
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (G.A.); (C.P.C.); (M.D.); (S.T.Y.); (C.P.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Serena T. Yusuf
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (G.A.); (C.P.C.); (M.D.); (S.T.Y.); (C.P.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Cynthia P. Harb
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (G.A.); (C.P.C.); (M.D.); (S.T.Y.); (C.P.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Mark Stibich
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (G.A.); (C.P.C.); (M.D.); (S.T.Y.); (C.P.H.); (M.S.)
- Xenex Disinfection Services, San Antonio, TX 78216, USA
| | - Anthony Maresso
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (J.R.C.); (A.L.T.); (A.M.)
| | - Roy F. Chemaly
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (G.A.); (C.P.C.); (M.D.); (S.T.Y.); (C.P.H.); (M.S.)
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13
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Reissier S, Le Neindre K, Bordeau V, Dejoies L, Le Bot A, Felden B, Cattoir V, Revest M. The Regulatory RNA ern0160 Confers a Potential Selective Advantage to Enterococcus faecium for Intestinal Colonization. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:757227. [PMID: 34858368 PMCID: PMC8631354 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.757227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the regulatory small RNA (sRNA) Ern0160 in gastrointestinal tract (GIT) colonization by Enterococcus faecium. For this purpose, four strains of E. faecium were used, Aus0004 (WT), an ern0160-deleted Aus0004 mutant (Δ0160), a trans-complemented Δ0160 strain overexpressing ern0160 (Δ0160_0160), and a strain Δ0160 with an empty pAT29 vector (Δ0160_pAT29). Strains were studied both in vitro and in vivo, alone and in competitive assays. In in vitro experiments, no difference was observed between WT and Δ0160 strains cultured single while Δ0160_0160 strain grew more slowly than Δ0160_pAT29. In competitive assays, the WT strain was predominant compared to the deleted strain Δ0160 at the end of the experiment. Then, in vivo experiments were performed using a GIT colonization mouse model. Several existing models of GIT colonization were compared while a novel one, combining ceftriaxone and amoxicillin, was developed. A GIT colonization was performed with each strain alone, and no significant difference was noticed. By contrast, significant results were obtained with co-colonization experiments. With WT + Δ0160 suspension, a significant advantage for the WT strain was observed from day 5 to the end of the protocol, suggesting the involvement of ern0160 in GIT colonization. With Δ0160_0160 + Δ0160_pAT29 suspension, the strain with the empty vector took the advantage from day 3 to the end of the protocol, suggesting a deleterious effect of ern0160 overexpression. Altogether, these findings demonstrate the potential implication of Ern0160 in GIT colonization of E. faecium. Further investigations are needed for the identification of sRNA target(s) in order to decipher underlying molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Killian Le Neindre
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France.,Service de Bactériologie-Hygiène Hospitalière & CNR de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques (Laboratoire Associé 'Entérocoques'), CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | | | - Loren Dejoies
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France.,Service de Bactériologie-Hygiène Hospitalière & CNR de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques (Laboratoire Associé 'Entérocoques'), CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Audrey Le Bot
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France.,Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Réanimation Médicale, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Brice Felden
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Vincent Cattoir
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France.,Service de Bactériologie-Hygiène Hospitalière & CNR de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques (Laboratoire Associé 'Entérocoques'), CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Matthieu Revest
- Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France.,Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Réanimation Médicale, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
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14
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Enterococci from Raw-Milk Cheeses: Current Knowledge on Safety, Technological, and Probiotic Concerns. Foods 2021; 10:foods10112753. [PMID: 34829034 PMCID: PMC8624194 DOI: 10.3390/foods10112753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study is focused on the safety, technological characteristics, and probiotic evaluation of Enterococcus species from different artisanal raw milk dairy products, mainly cheeses with ripening. Apart from proteolytic and lipolytic activities, most enterococci show the ability to metabolize citrate and convert it to various aromatic compounds. Long-ripened cheeses therefore have a specific flavor that makes them different from cheeses produced from thermally treated milk with commercial starter cultures. In addition, enterococci are producers of bacteriocins effective against spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, so they can be used as food preservatives. However, the use of enterococci in the dairy industry should be approached with caution. Although originating from food, enterococci strains may carry various virulence factors and antibiotic-resistance genes and can have many adverse effects on human health. Still, despite their controversial status, the use of enterococci in the food industry is not strictly regulated since the existence of these so-called desirable and undesirable traits in enterococci is a strain-dependent characteristic. To be specific, the results of many studies showed that there are some enterococci strains that are safe for use as starter cultures or as probiotics since they do not carry virulence factors and antibiotic-resistance genes. These strains even exhibit strong health-promoting effects such as stimulation of the immune response, anti-inflammatory activity, hypocholesterolemic action, and usefulness in prevention/treatment of some diseases.
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15
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Cattoir V. The multifaceted lifestyle of enterococci: genetic diversity, ecology and risks for public health. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 65:73-80. [PMID: 34768106 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Enterococci are long-standing members of the gastrointestinal tract of humans and many animals and they are also ubiquitously distributed in natural environments. Classically as harmless bacteria, two main species (namely Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium) have become a leading cause of human infections, especially in hospital settings, with the worldwide spread of multidrug-resistant isolates, especially vancomycin-resistant enterococci. In this review, it will be summarized what is known about genetic diversity and ecology of enterococci with a focus on E. faecalis and E. faecium from human and non-human habitats and related risks for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Cattoir
- Service de Bactériologie-Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France; CNR de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques (Laboratoire Associé 'Entérocoques'), Rennes, France; Unité Inserm U1230, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France.
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16
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Ferchichi M, Sebei K, Boukerb AM, Karray-Bouraoui N, Chevalier S, Feuilloley MGJ, Connil N, Zommiti M. Enterococcus spp.: Is It a Bad Choice for a Good Use-A Conundrum to Solve? Microorganisms 2021; 9:2222. [PMID: 34835352 PMCID: PMC8622268 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Since antiquity, the ubiquitous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Enterococci, which are just as predominant in both human and animal intestinal commensal flora, have been used (and still are) as probiotics in food and feed production. Their qualities encounter several hurdles, particularly in terms of the array of virulence determinants, reflecting a notorious reputation that nearly prevents their use as probiotics. Additionally, representatives of the Enterococcus spp. genus showed intrinsic resistance to several antimicrobial agents, and flexibility to acquire resistance determinants encoded on a broad array of conjugative plasmids, transposons, and bacteriophages. The presence of such pathogenic aspects among some species represents a critical barrier compromising their use as probiotics in food. Thus, the genus neither has Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status nor has it been included in the Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) list implying drastic legislation towards these microorganisms. To date, the knowledge of the virulence factors and the genetic structure of foodborne enterococcal strains is rather limited. Although enterococcal infections originating from food have never been reported, the consumption of food carrying virulence enterococci seems to be a risky path of transfer, and hence, it renders them poor choices as probiotics. Auspiciously, enterococcal virulence factors seem to be strain specific suggesting that clinical isolates carry much more determinants that food isolates. The latter remain widely susceptible to clinically relevant antibiotics and subsequently, have a lower potential for pathogenicity. In terms of the ideal enterococcal candidate, selected strains deemed for use in foods should not possess any virulence genes and should be susceptible to clinically relevant antibiotics. Overall, implementation of an appropriate risk/benefit analysis, in addition to the case-by-case assessment, the establishment of a strain's innocuity, and consideration for relevant guidelines, legislation, and regulatory aspects surrounding functional food development seem to be the crucial elements for industries, health-staff and consumers to accept enterococci, like other LAB, as important candidates for useful and beneficial applications in food industry and food biotechnology. The present review aims at shedding light on the world of hurdles and limitations that hampers the Enterococcus spp. genus and its representatives from being used or proposed for use as probiotics. The future of enterococci use as probiotics and legislation in this field are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mounir Ferchichi
- Unité de Protéomique Fonctionnelle et Potentiel Nutraceutique de la Biodiversité de Tunisie, Institut Supérieur des Sciences Biologiques Appliquées de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1006, Tunisia; (M.F.); (K.S.)
| | - Khaled Sebei
- Unité de Protéomique Fonctionnelle et Potentiel Nutraceutique de la Biodiversité de Tunisie, Institut Supérieur des Sciences Biologiques Appliquées de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1006, Tunisia; (M.F.); (K.S.)
| | - Amine Mohamed Boukerb
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Signaux et Microenvironnement (LMSM) EA 4312, Université de Rouen Normandie, 27000 Evreux, France; (A.M.B.); (S.C.); (M.G.J.F.); (N.C.)
| | - Najoua Karray-Bouraoui
- Laboratoire de Productivité Végétale et Contraintes Abiotiques, LR18ES04, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 2092, Tunisia;
| | - Sylvie Chevalier
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Signaux et Microenvironnement (LMSM) EA 4312, Université de Rouen Normandie, 27000 Evreux, France; (A.M.B.); (S.C.); (M.G.J.F.); (N.C.)
| | - Marc G. J. Feuilloley
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Signaux et Microenvironnement (LMSM) EA 4312, Université de Rouen Normandie, 27000 Evreux, France; (A.M.B.); (S.C.); (M.G.J.F.); (N.C.)
| | - Nathalie Connil
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Signaux et Microenvironnement (LMSM) EA 4312, Université de Rouen Normandie, 27000 Evreux, France; (A.M.B.); (S.C.); (M.G.J.F.); (N.C.)
| | - Mohamed Zommiti
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Signaux et Microenvironnement (LMSM) EA 4312, Université de Rouen Normandie, 27000 Evreux, France; (A.M.B.); (S.C.); (M.G.J.F.); (N.C.)
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17
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Microbiota-mediated protection against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Genes Immun 2021; 22:255-267. [PMID: 33947987 PMCID: PMC8497270 DOI: 10.1038/s41435-021-00129-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Colonization by the microbiota provides one of our most effective barriers against infection by pathogenic microbes. The microbiota protects against infection by priming immune defenses, by metabolic exclusion of pathogens from their preferred niches, and through direct antimicrobial antagonism. Disruption of the microbiota, especially by antibiotics, is a major risk factor for bacterial pathogen colonization. Restoration of the microbiota through microbiota transplantation has been shown to be an effective way to reduce pathogen burden in the intestine but comes with a number of drawbacks, including the possibility of transferring other pathogens into the host, lack of standardization, and potential disruption to host metabolism. More refined methods to exploit the power of the microbiota would allow us to utilize its protective power without the drawbacks of fecal microbiota transplantation. To achieve this requires detailed understanding of which members of the microbiota protect against specific pathogens and the mechanistic basis for their effects. In this review, we will discuss the clinical and experimental evidence that has begun to reveal which members of the microbiota protect against some of the most troublesome antibiotic-resistant pathogens: Klebsiella pneumoniae, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and Clostridioides difficile.
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18
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Abstract
Serious infections owing to vancomycin-resistant enterococci have historically proven to be difficult clinical cases, requiring combination therapy and management of treatment-related toxicity. Despite the introduction of new antibiotics with activity against vancomycin-resistant enterococci to the therapeutic armamentarium, significant challenges remain. An understanding of the factors driving the emergence of resistance in vancomycin-resistant enterococci, the dynamics of gastrointestinal colonization and microbiota-mediated colonization resistance, and the mechanisms of resistance to the currently available therapeutics will permit clinicians to be better prepared to tackle these challenging hospital-associated pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Miller
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin St. MSB 2.112, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genomics (CARMiG)
| | - Barbara E Murray
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin St. MSB 2.112, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genomics (CARMiG); Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, 6431 Fannin St. MSB 2.112, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Louis B Rice
- Department of Internal Medicine, Brown University, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Cesar A Arias
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin St. MSB 2.112, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genomics (CARMiG); Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, 6431 Fannin St. MSB 2.112, Houston, TX 77030, USA; University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA; Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, International Center for Microbial Genomics, Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia.
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19
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Freitas AR, Pereira AP, Novais C, Peixe L. Multidrug-resistant high-risk Enterococcus faecium clones: can we really define them? Int J Antimicrob Agents 2020; 57:106227. [PMID: 33207280 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.106227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Enterococcus faecium is a significant opportunistic human pathogen with a broad host range, including humans, farm animals, pets and wildlife. Specialised subpopulations have globally evolved towards a powerful and convergent adaption to the healthcare environment by acquiring a cocktail of key antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes, enabling them to thrive in the disturbed microbiota of hospitalised patients. These populations can also be found in different community reservoirs, but the relevance of their dispersal in non-human hosts is greatly unknown and is here discussed. This review provides a brief historical overview of what we have been considering E. faecium high-risk clones worldwide alongside the advances in strain typing technologies that have revolutionised our understanding of the genetic evolution of this species over the last three decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana R Freitas
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana P Pereira
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carla Novais
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luísa Peixe
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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20
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Abstract
Enterococci are unusually well adapted for survival and persistence in a variety of adverse environments, including on inanimate surfaces in the hospital environment and at sites of infection. This intrinsic ruggedness undoubtedly played a role in providing opportunities for enterococci to interact with other overtly drug-resistant microbes and acquire additional resistances on mobile elements. The rapid rise of antimicrobial resistance among hospital-adapted enterococci has rendered hospital-acquired infections a leading therapeutic challenge. With about a quarter of a genome of additional DNA conveyed by mobile elements, there are undoubtedly many more properties that have been acquired that help enterococci persist and spread in the hospital setting and cause diseases that have yet to be defined. Much remains to be learned about these ancient and rugged microbes, particularly in the area of pathogenic mechanisms involved with human diseases.
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21
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Singhal N, Maurya AK, Mohanty S, Kumar M, Virdi JS. Evaluation of Bile Salt Hydrolases, Cholesterol-Lowering Capabilities, and Probiotic Potential of Enterococcus faecium Isolated From Rhizosphere. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1567. [PMID: 31379762 PMCID: PMC6646458 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, hypo-cholesterolemic effect, and probiotic properties have been reported for Enterococcus strains isolated from animal and human gut and fermented foods but not for strains isolated from environmental niches, like aquatic and terrestrial plants, soil, and water. The present study is the first report on isolation of Enterococcus faecium from rhizospheric soils that harbor the bsh gene, remove cholesterol in vitro, and possess essential and desirable probiotic attributes. Fifteen samples were collected from different sites located in northern, southern, and central regions of India, of which five yielded pure colonies that were named LR2, LR3, ER5, LR13, and VB1. These were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as E. faecium and evaluated for BSH activity, cholesterol-lowering potential in vitro, and probiotic properties. Our results indicated that all the strains were capable of surviving the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and did not harbor any of the virulence genes. Though all strains showed the presence of bsh and potential for cholesterol removal, E. faecium strain LR13 showed a remarkable cholesterol removal capability and vancomycin susceptibility and possessed most of the desirable and essential attributes of a probiotic. Hence, it seems to be a fairly promising probiotic candidate that needs to be further evaluated in in vivo studies, especially for its hypo-cholesterolemic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelja Singhal
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Shilpa Mohanty
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Manish Kumar
- Department of Biophysics, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
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22
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Somashekaraiah R, Shruthi B, Deepthi BV, Sreenivasa MY. Probiotic Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated From Neera: A Naturally Fermenting Coconut Palm Nectar. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1382. [PMID: 31316477 PMCID: PMC6611078 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Probiotic bacteria were isolated from different traditional fermented foods as there are several such foods that are not well explored for their probiotic activities. Hence, the present study was conducted to find the potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as probiotics that were isolated from the sap extract of the coconut palm inflorescence - Neera, which is a naturally fermented drink consumed in various regions of India. A total of 75 isolates were selected from the Neera samples collected aseptically in the early morning (before sunrise). These isolates were initially screened for cultural, microscopic, and biochemical characteristics. The initial screening yielded 40 Gram-positive, catalase-negative isolates that were further subjected to acid - bile tolerance with resistance to phenol. Among 40 isolates, 16 survived screening using analysis of cell surface hydrophobicity, auto aggregation with adhesion to epithelial cells, and gastric-pancreatic digestion for gastrointestinal colonization. The isolates were also assessed for antimicrobial, antibiotic sensitivity, and anti-oxidative potential. The safety of these isolates was evaluated by their hemolytic and deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activities. Based on these results, seven isolates with the best probiotic attributes were selected and presented in this study. These LAB isolates, with 51.91-70.34% survival at low pH, proved their resistance to gastric conditions. The cell surface hydrophobicity of 50.32-77.8% and auto aggregation of 51.02-78.95% represented the adhesion properties of these isolates. All the seven isolates exhibited good antibacterial and antifungal activity, showing hydroxyl-scavenging activity of 32.86-77.87%. The results proved that LAB isolated from Neera exhibited promising probiotic properties and seem favorable for use in functional fermented foods as preservatives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - B. Shruthi
- Department of Biotechnology, Sahyadri Science College, Kuvempu University, Shimoga, India
| | - B. V. Deepthi
- Department of Studies in Microbiology, University of Mysore, Mysuru, India
| | - M. Y. Sreenivasa
- Department of Studies in Microbiology, University of Mysore, Mysuru, India
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23
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Lopes DRG, La Reau AJ, Duarte MDS, Detmann E, Bento CBP, Mercadante MEZ, Bonilha SFM, Suen G, Mantovani HC. The Bacterial and Fungal Microbiota of Nelore Steers Is Dynamic Across the Gastrointestinal Tract and Its Fecal-Associated Microbiota Is Correlated to Feed Efficiency. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1263. [PMID: 31293524 PMCID: PMC6603086 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ruminant gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiome plays a major role in the health, physiology and production traits of the host. In this work, we characterized the bacterial and fungal microbiota of the rumen, small intestine (SI), cecum and feces of 27 Nelore steers using next-generation sequencing and evaluated biochemical parameters within the GIT segments. We found that only the bacterial microbiota clustered according to each GIT segment. Bacterial diversity and richness as well as volatile fatty acid concentration was lowest in the SI. Taxonomic grouping of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) revealed that Lachnospiraceae (24.61 ± SD 6.58%) and Ruminococcaceae (20.87 ± SD 4.22%) were the two most abundant taxa across the GIT. For the fungi, the family Neocallismastigaceae dominated in all GIT segments, with the genus Orpinomyces being the most abundant. Twenty-eight bacterial and six fungal OTUs were shared across all GIT segments in at least 50% of the steers. We also evaluated if the fecal-associated microbiota of steers showing negative and positive residual feed intake (n-RFI and p-RFI, respectively) was associated with their feed efficiency phenotype. Diversity indices for both bacterial and fungal fecal microbiota did not vary between the two feed efficiency groups. Differences in the fecal bacterial composition between high and low feed efficiency steers were primarily assigned to OTUs belonging to the families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae and to the genus Prevotella. The fungal OTUs shared across the GIT did not vary between feed efficiency groups, but 7 and 3 OTUs were found only in steers with positive and negative RFI, respectively. These results provide further insights into the composition of the Nelore GIT microbiota, which could have implications for improving animal health and productivity. Our findings also reveal differences in fecal-associated bacterial OTUs between steers from different feed efficiency groups, suggesting that fecal sampling may represent a non-invasive strategy to link the bovine microbiota with productivity phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alex J. La Reau
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | | | - Edenio Detmann
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Garret Suen
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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Jiang X, Lin D, Shao H, Yang X. Antioxidant properties of Komagataeibacter hansenii CGMCC 3917 and its ameliorative effects on alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. CYTA - JOURNAL OF FOOD 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/19476337.2019.1584647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Jiang
- Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Food Green Processing and Safety Control, College of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi‘an, China
| | - Dehui Lin
- Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Food Green Processing and Safety Control, College of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi‘an, China
| | - Hongjun Shao
- Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Food Green Processing and Safety Control, College of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi‘an, China
| | - Xingbin Yang
- Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Food Green Processing and Safety Control, College of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi‘an, China
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Risk Factors and Outcomes of Vancomycin-Resistant Versus Vancomycin-Sensitive Enterococcal Bloodstream Infections in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia. INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN CLINICAL PRACTICE 2019. [DOI: 10.1097/ipc.0000000000000710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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26
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Mantravadi PK, Kalesh KA, Dobson RCJ, Hudson AO, Parthasarathy A. The Quest for Novel Antimicrobial Compounds: Emerging Trends in Research, Development, and Technologies. Antibiotics (Basel) 2019; 8:E8. [PMID: 30682820 PMCID: PMC6466574 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics8010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic antibiotic resistant bacteria pose one of the most important health challenges of the 21st century. The overuse and abuse of antibiotics coupled with the natural evolutionary processes of bacteria has led to this crisis. Only incremental advances in antibiotic development have occurred over the last 30 years. Novel classes of molecules, such as engineered antibodies, antibiotic enhancers, siderophore conjugates, engineered phages, photo-switchable antibiotics, and genome editing facilitated by the CRISPR/Cas system, are providing new avenues to facilitate the development of antimicrobial therapies. The informatics revolution is transforming research and development efforts to discover novel antibiotics. The explosion of nanotechnology and micro-engineering is driving the invention of antimicrobial materials, enabling the cultivation of "uncultivable" microbes and creating specific and rapid diagnostic technologies. Finally, a revival in the ecological aspects of microbial disease management, the growth of prebiotics, and integrated management based on the "One Health" model, provide additional avenues to manage this health crisis. These, and future scientific and technological developments, must be coupled and aligned with sound policy and public awareness to address the risks posed by rising antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Renwick C J Dobson
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800 Christchurch, New Zealand.
| | - André O Hudson
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, 85 Lomb Memorial Dr, Rochester, NY 14623, USA.
| | - Anutthaman Parthasarathy
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, 85 Lomb Memorial Dr, Rochester, NY 14623, USA.
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Hung WW, Chen YH, Tseng SP, Jao YT, Teng LJ, Hung WC. Using groEL as the target for identification of Enterococcus faecium clades and 7 clinically relevant Enterococcus species. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2018; 52:255-264. [PMID: 30473144 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Accurate identification is important for effective treatment because Enterococcus species have talents to cope with various antibiotics either by intrinsic resistance or by acquisition of mobile genetic elements. The groEL gene is a permissive target in identification of bacteria. We aimed to develop simple assays based on groEL for identification of enterococci. RESULTS We continued our previous work and determined groEL gene sequences of Enterococcus species isolated from clinical specimens. Phylogenetic analysis based on groEL revealed that each strain clustered well with their reference strains (bootstrap value 100%), in which Enterococcusfaecium and Enterococcusgallinarum could be split into two clades. The divergence of E. faecium was coincident with hospital-associated clade, known as clade A, and community-associated clade, known as clade B. A PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay was therefore designed to differentiate the two E. faecium clades, based on the specific RsaI cutting sites present in the two clades. To differentiate 7 clinical relevant Enterococcus species, the multiplex PCR assay was designed to identify Enterococcusavium, Enterococcuscasseliflavus, Enterococcusfaecalis, E. faecium, E. gallinarum, Enterococcushirae and Enterococcusraffinosus. Specificity was tested with other Enterococcus species including Enterococcuscecorum, Enterococcusdurans and Enterococcusmundtii. None of these bacterial species generated products of similar size to those of the seven Enterococcus species. CONCLUSION The simple PCR-RFLP and multiplex PCR assays on the basis of groEL gene provided an alternative way to identify Enterococcus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Wen Hung
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hsu Chen
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Pin Tseng
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ting Jao
- Infection Control Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Lee-Jene Teng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Wei-Chun Hung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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28
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Banla LI, Salzman NH, Kristich CJ. Colonization of the mammalian intestinal tract by enterococci. Curr Opin Microbiol 2018; 47:26-31. [PMID: 30439685 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Enterococci are colonizers of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and normally live in healthy association with their human host. However, enterococci are also major causes of healthcare-acquired infections, prompting the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to declare vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) a serious threat to public health. Because of both intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance, enterococci proliferate in the GIT during antibiotic therapy, leading to dissemination and disease. The recognition that colonization of the GIT is a pre-requisite for enterococcal infections has prompted research to study mechanisms used by enterococci to colonize this niche. This review discusses major findings of recent research to understand GIT colonization by enterococci using diverse experimental models, each of which exhibits unique strengths. This work has revealed enterococcal transcriptional reprogramming in the GIT, contributions of specific enterococcal genes encoded by the core genome to GIT colonization, the impact of genome plasticity, and roles for intra-species and inter-species interactions in modulation of GIT colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leou Ismael Banla
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Nita H Salzman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.
| | - Christopher J Kristich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.
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29
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Hanchi H, Mottawea W, Sebei K, Hammami R. The Genus Enterococcus: Between Probiotic Potential and Safety Concerns-An Update. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1791. [PMID: 30123208 PMCID: PMC6085487 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 249] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A considerable number of strains belonging to different species of Enterococcus are highly competitive due to their resistance to wide range of pH and temperature. Their competitiveness is also owed to their ability to produce bacteriocins recognized for their wide-range effectiveness on pathogenic and spoilage bacteria. Enterococcal bacteriocins have attracted great research interest as natural antimicrobial agents in the food industry, and as a potential drug candidate for replacing antibiotics in order to treat multiple drugs resistance pathogens. However, the prevalence of virulence factors and antibiotic-resistance genes and the ability to cause disease could compromise their application in food, human and animal health. From the current regulatory point of view, the genus Enterococcus is neither recommended for the QPS list nor have GRAS status. Although recent advances in molecular biology and the recommended methods for the safety evaluation of Enterococcus strains allowed the distinction between commensal and clinical clades, development of highly adapted methods and legislations are still required. In the present review, we evaluate some aspects of Enterococcus spp. related to their probiotic properties and safety concerns as well as the current and potential application in food systems and treatment of infections. The regulatory status of commensal Enterococcus candidates for food, feed, probiotic use, and recommended methods to assess and ensure their safety are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasna Hanchi
- Nutraceuticals and Functional Proteomics Potential of Biodiversity in Tunisia, Higher Institute of Applied Biological Sciences of Tunis (ISSBAT), University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Walid Mottawea
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nutrition Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Khaled Sebei
- Nutraceuticals and Functional Proteomics Potential of Biodiversity in Tunisia, Higher Institute of Applied Biological Sciences of Tunis (ISSBAT), University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Riadh Hammami
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nutrition Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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30
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Loss of Ethanolamine Utilization in Enterococcus faecalis Increases Gastrointestinal Tract Colonization. mBio 2018; 9:mBio.00790-18. [PMID: 29739905 PMCID: PMC5941071 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00790-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis is paradoxically a dangerous nosocomial pathogen and a normal constituent of the human gut microbiome, an environment rich in ethanolamine. E. faecalis carries the eut (ethanolamine utilization) genes, which enable the catabolism of ethanolamine (EA) as a valuable source of carbon and/or nitrogen. EA catabolism was previously shown to contribute to the colonization and growth of enteric pathogens, such as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), in the gut environment. We tested the ability of eut mutants of E. faecalis to colonize the gut using a murine model of gastrointestinal (GI) tract competition and report the surprising observation that these mutants outcompete the wild-type strain. Some bacteria that are normal, harmless colonizers of the human body can cause disease in immunocompromised patients, particularly those that have been heavily treated with antibiotics. Therefore, it is important to understand the factors that promote or negate these organisms’ ability to colonize. Previously, ethanolamine, found in high concentrations in the GI tract, was shown to promote the colonization and growth of bacteria associated with food poisoning. Here, we report the surprising, opposite effect of ethanolamine utilization on the commensal colonizer E. faecalis, namely, that loss of this metabolic capacity made it a better colonizer.
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31
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Modulators of Enterococcus faecalis Cell Envelope Integrity and Antimicrobial Resistance Influence Stable Colonization of the Mammalian Gastrointestinal Tract. Infect Immun 2017; 86:IAI.00381-17. [PMID: 29038125 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00381-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gram-positive bacterium Enterococcus faecalis is both a colonizer of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and an agent of serious nosocomial infections. Although it is typically required for pathogenesis, GIT colonization by E. faecalis is poorly understood. E. faecalis tolerates high concentrations of GIT antimicrobials, like cholate and lysozyme, leading us to hypothesize that resistance to intestinal antimicrobials is essential for long-term GIT colonization. Analyses of E. faecalis mutants exhibiting defects in antimicrobial resistance revealed that IreK, a determinant of envelope integrity and antimicrobial resistance, is required for long-term GIT colonization. IreK is a member of the PASTA kinase protein family, bacterial transmembrane signaling proteins implicated in the regulation of cell wall homeostasis. Among several determinants of cholate and lysozyme resistance in E. faecalis, IreK was the only one found to be required for intestinal colonization, emphasizing the importance of this protein to enterococcal adaptation to the GIT. By studying ΔireK suppressor mutants that recovered the ability to colonize the GIT, we identified two conserved enterococcal proteins (OG1RF_11271 and OG1RF_11272) that function antagonistically to IreK and interfere with cell envelope integrity, antimicrobial resistance, and GIT colonization. Our data suggest that IreK, through its kinase activity, inhibits the actions of these proteins. IreK, OG1RF_11271, and OG1RF_11272 are found in all enterococci, suggesting that their effect on GIT colonization is universal across enterococci. Thus, we have defined conserved genes in the enterococcal core genome that influence GIT colonization through their effect on enterococcal envelope integrity and antimicrobial resistance.
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Abstract
The Enterococcus genus comprises over 50 species that live as commensal bacteria in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals. Named "entero" to emphasize their intestinal habitat, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were first isolated in the early 1900s and are the most abundant species of this genus found in the human fecal microbiota. In the past 3 decades, enterococci have developed increased resistance to several classes of antibiotics and emerged as a prevalent causative agent of health care-related infections. In U.S. hospitals, antibiotic use has increased the transmission of multidrug-resistant enterococci. Antibiotic treatment depletes broad communities of commensal microbes from the GI tract, allowing resistant enterococci to densely colonize the gut. The reestablishment of a diverse intestinal microbiota is an emerging approach to combat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the GI tract. Because enterococci exist as commensals, modifying the intestinal microbiome to eliminate enterococcal clinical pathogens poses a challenge. To better understand how enterococci exist as both commensals and pathogens, in this article we discuss their clinical importance, antibiotic resistance, diversity in genomic composition and habitats, and interaction with the intestinal microbiome that may be used to prevent clinical infection.
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Landete JM, Peirotén Á, Medina M, Arqués JL, Rodríguez-Mínguez E. Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance of Enterococci Isolated from Healthy Breastfed Infants. Microb Drug Resist 2017; 24:63-69. [PMID: 28708453 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2016.0320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic ability has been extensively studied in clinical enterococci, but to a lesser extent in community-derived ones. Most studies to date in enterococci from healthy infants have been focused on Enterococcus faecalis, despite the growing concern about nosocomial infections caused by E. faecium. In this work, we studied the antibiotic resistance and virulence determinants of 26 E. faecalis and 15 E. faecium intestinal isolates from Spanish healthy breastfed infants. Overall, commensal enterococci studied contained antibiotic resistance and virulence genes, although their patterns were not according to those described for antibiotic-resistant hospital-associated enterococci. None of the isolates was resistant to vancomycin, although the majority showed resistance to some antibiotics. E. faecalis isolates harbored considerably more virulence determinants than E. faecium isolates, but some genes linked to colonization were abundant in both species. Hemolysin activity was not detected in any of the isolates; and the gelatinase gene, when present, was silent in E. faecium, whereas gelatinase activity occurred in half of the E. faecalis isolates studied. These results suggest an ambivalent role of some virulence determinants as elements of pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Landete
- Departamento de Tecnología de Alimentos, INIA , Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángela Peirotén
- Departamento de Tecnología de Alimentos, INIA , Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan L Arqués
- Departamento de Tecnología de Alimentos, INIA , Madrid, Spain
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34
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Guzman Prieto AM, van Schaik W, Rogers MRC, Coque TM, Baquero F, Corander J, Willems RJL. Global Emergence and Dissemination of Enterococci as Nosocomial Pathogens: Attack of the Clones? Front Microbiol 2016; 7:788. [PMID: 27303380 PMCID: PMC4880559 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococci are Gram-positive bacteria that are found in plants, soil and as commensals of the gastrointestinal tract of humans, mammals, and insects. Despite their commensal nature, they have also become globally important nosocomial pathogens. Within the genus Enterococcus, Enterococcus faecium, and Enterococcus faecalis are clinically most relevant. In this review, we will discuss how E. faecium and E. faecalis have evolved to become a globally disseminated nosocomial pathogen. E. faecium has a defined sub-population that is associated with hospitalized patients and is rarely encountered in community settings. These hospital-associated clones are characterized by the acquisition of adaptive genetic elements, including genes involved in metabolism, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance. In contrast to E. faecium, clones of E. faecalis isolated from hospitalized patients, including strains causing clinical infections, are not exclusively found in hospitals but are also present in healthy individuals and animals. This observation suggests that the division between commensals and hospital-adapted lineages is less clear for E. faecalis than for E. faecium. In addition, genes that are reported to be associated with virulence of E. faecalis are often not unique to clinical isolates, but are also found in strains that originate from commensal niches. As a reflection of more ancient association of E. faecalis with different hosts, these determinants Thus, they may not represent genuine virulence genes but may act as host-adaptive functions that are useful in a variety of intestinal environments. The scope of the review is to summarize recent trends in the emergence of antibiotic resistance and explore recent developments in the molecular epidemiology, population structure and mechanisms of adaptation of E. faecium and E. faecalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Guzman Prieto
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Willem van Schaik
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Malbert R C Rogers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Teresa M Coque
- Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación SanitariaMadrid, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud PúblicaMadrid, Spain; Unidad de Resistencia a Antibióticos y Virulencia Bacteriana Asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasMadrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Baquero
- Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación SanitariaMadrid, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud PúblicaMadrid, Spain; Unidad de Resistencia a Antibióticos y Virulencia Bacteriana Asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasMadrid, Spain
| | - Jukka Corander
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Helsinki Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rob J L Willems
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands
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35
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Wurster JI, Saavedra JT, Gilmore MS. Impact of Antibiotic Use on the Evolution of Enterococcus faecium. J Infect Dis 2015; 213:1862-5. [PMID: 26671888 PMCID: PMC4878719 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna I Wurster
- Department of Ophthalmology Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - José T Saavedra
- Department of Ophthalmology Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael S Gilmore
- Department of Ophthalmology Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
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Abstract
The Enterococcus genus comprises over 50 species that live as commensal bacteria in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals. Named "entero" to emphasize their intestinal habitat, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were first isolated in the early 1900s and are the most abundant species of this genus found in the human fecal microbiota. In the past 3 decades, enterococci have developed increased resistance to several classes of antibiotics and emerged as a prevalent causative agent of health care-related infections. In U.S. hospitals, antibiotic use has increased the transmission of multidrug-resistant enterococci. Antibiotic treatment depletes broad communities of commensal microbes from the GI tract, allowing resistant enterococci to densely colonize the gut. The reestablishment of a diverse intestinal microbiota is an emerging approach to combat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the GI tract. Because enterococci exist as commensals, modifying the intestinal microbiome to eliminate enterococcal clinical pathogens poses a challenge. To better understand how enterococci exist as both commensals and pathogens, in this article we discuss their clinical importance, antibiotic resistance, diversity in genomic composition and habitats, and interaction with the intestinal microbiome that may be used to prevent clinical infection.
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