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Leal M, Morais C, Ramos B, Pomba C, Abrantes P, Costa SS, Couto I. Exploring Efflux as a Mechanism of Reduced Susceptibility towards Biocides and Fluoroquinolones in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1270. [PMID: 37048526 PMCID: PMC10093712 DOI: 10.3390/ani13071270] [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] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is the main bacterial cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in companion animals, particularly dogs. The emergence of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) strains, frequently with multidrug resistance phenotypes is a public health concern. This study aimed to evaluate efflux, a resistance mechanism still poorly characterized in S. pseudintermedius, as a contributor to biocide and fluoroquinolone resistance. Susceptibility to the efflux pump substrates ethidium bromide (EtBr), tetraphenylphosphonium bromide (TPP) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) was evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination for 155 SSTIs-related S. pseudintermedius in companion animals. EtBr and TPP MIC distributions were analyzed to estimate cut-off (COWT) values. The effect of the efflux inhibitors (EIs) thioridazine and verapamil was assessed upon MICs and fluorometric EtBr accumulation assays, performed with/without glucose and/or EIs. This approach detected a non-wild type population towards TPP with increased efflux, showed to be strain-specific and glucose-dependent. Resistance to fluoroquinolones was mainly linked to target gene mutations, yet a contribution of efflux on CIP resistance levels could not be ruled out. In sum, this study highlights the relevance of efflux-mediated resistance in clinical S. pseudintermedius, particularly to biocides, and provides a methodological basis for further studies on the efflux activity on this important pathogen of companion animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Leal
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Catarina Morais
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Ramos
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Constança Pomba
- CIISA, Centre of Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
- GeneVet, Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular Veterinário, Rua Quinta da Nora Loja 3B, 2790-140 Carnaxide, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Abrantes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sofia Santos Costa
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabel Couto
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
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Occurrence and Variability of the Efflux Pump Gene norA across the Staphylococcus Genus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315306. [PMID: 36499632 PMCID: PMC9738427 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
NorA is one of the main native MDR efflux pumps of Staphylococcus aureus, contributing to reduced susceptibility towards fluoroquinolones and biocides, but little is known about its variability within S. aureus or its distribution and conservation among other staphylococci. We screened for sequences homologous to S. aureus norA and found it in 61 out of the 63 Staphylococcus species described. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the occurrence of norA across the Staphylococcus genus. The norA phylogenetic tree follows the evolutionary relations of staphylococci and the closely related Mammalliicoccus genus. Comparative analyses suggest a conservation of the NorA function in staphylococci. We also analyzed the variability of norA within S. aureus, for which there are several circulating norA alleles, differing up to 10% at the nucleotide level, which may hamper proper norA detection. We demonstrate the applicability of a PCR-based algorithm to detect and differentiate norA alleles in 52 S. aureus representing a wider collection of 89 isolates from different hosts. Our results highlight the prevalence of norAI and norAII in different settings and the association of norA alleles with specific S. aureus clonal lineages. Ultimately, it confirms the applicability of our PCR-based algorithm to rapidly detect and assign the different norA alleles, a trait that may impact antimicrobial efflux capacity and the search for potential NorA inhibitors.
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Rampacci E, Felicetti T, Pietrella D, Sabatini S, Passamonti F. Drug efflux transporters in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius: in silico prediction and characterization of resistance. J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 77:3283-3290. [PMID: 36173389 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To perform an in silico prediction of drug efflux pumps (EPs) in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and investigate their role in conferring resistance to antibiotic and biocidal agents and biofilm formation. METHODS A S. pseudintermedius efflux mutant was obtained by stimulating an isogenic line (ATCC 49444) with increasing concentrations of an efflux system substrate. Changes in antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm-forming capability were evaluated in the presence/absence of the EP inhibitors (EPIs) thioridazine and reserpine and the efflux activity was assayed by fluorometry. Homologues of EPs of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were searched by exploratory GenBank investigations. Gene expression analyses and sequencing were then conducted on selected genes. RESULTS Susceptibility to chlorhexidine, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin, but not enrofloxacin, was affected by the increased efflux and it was variably restored by the EPIs. The efflux mutant showed much greater biofilm formation that the original strain, which was significantly inhibited by thioridazine and reserpine at MIC/2. A high expression of norA, which was mgrA-independent, was found in the S. pseudintermedius efflux mutant, apparently regulated by an 11 bp deletion in its promoter region, whilst lmrB was transitorily overexpressed. icaA, which encodes the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin forming the extracellular matrix of staphylococcal biofilm, was also up-regulated. CONCLUSIONS EPs, particularly NorA, are supposed to have complex involvement in multiple stages of resistance development. Overexpression of EPs appears to be correlated with a remarkable increase of S. pseudintermedius biofilm production; however, the regulatory mechanisms remain to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Rampacci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy
| | - Tommaso Felicetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, via del Liceo 1, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Donatella Pietrella
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, via Gambuli 1, Perugia 06156, Italy
| | - Stefano Sabatini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, via del Liceo 1, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passamonti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy
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Shin J, Naskar A, Ko D, Kim S, Kim KS. Bioconjugated Thymol-Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite as a Selective and Biocompatible Antibacterial Agent against Staphylococcus Species. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6770. [PMID: 35743214 PMCID: PMC9224476 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Owing to the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance among Staphylococcus species, effective and low-risk alternatives to antibiotics are being actively searched. Thymol (THO), the most abundant component of the oil extracted from thyme, can be considered as a natural antibacterial alternative. However, the low antibacterial activity and non-selectivity of THO limit its usage as a universal anti-Staphylococcus agent. Herein, we report the bioconjugation of THO with ZnO nanoparticle (ZO), which resulted in the TZ nanocomposite (NC), as a potent and selective antibacterial agent against Staphylococcus species, particularly S. epidermidis. The cell-free supernatant (CFS) of ATCC 25923 cultures was employed for the production of TZ NC. Successful production of TZ NC was confirmed via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) studies. TZ NC had selective efficacy against Staphylococcus species, with MIC values 2-32-fold lower than THO. The antibacterial mechanisms of TZ NC are proposed to involve membrane rupture, suppression of biofilm formation, and modulation of new cell wall and protein-synthesis-associated cellular pathways. Its biocompatibility against HCT116 cells was also checked. Our findings suggest that the TZ nanocomposite could improve the selectivity and bactericidal activity of THO against target species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joonho Shin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea; (J.S.); (A.N.)
| | - Atanu Naskar
- Department of Chemistry and Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea; (J.S.); (A.N.)
| | - Dongjoon Ko
- Microbiome Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (D.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Semi Kim
- Microbiome Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (D.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Kwang-sun Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea; (J.S.); (A.N.)
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Li T, Lu Y, Zhang H, Wang L, Beier RC, Jin Y, Wang W, Li H, Hou X. Antibacterial Activity and Membrane-Targeting Mechanism of Aloe-Emodin Against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:621866. [PMID: 34484130 PMCID: PMC8415635 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.621866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) dwarfs the current antibiotic development and calls for the discovery of new antibacterial agents. Aloe-emodin is a plant-derived compound that holds promise to battle against these strains. This work reports the antimicrobial activity of aloe-emodin against S. epidermidis and other Gram-positive pathogenic species, manifesting minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBCs) around 4-32 and 32-128 μg/mL, respectively. For Gram-negative bacteria tested, the MICs and MBCs of aloe-emodin were 128-256 and above 1024 μg/mL, respectively. Aloe-emodin at the MBC for 4 h eradicated 96.9% of S. epidermidis cells. Aloe-emodin treatment led to deformities in the morphology of S. epidermidis cells and the destroy of the selective permeability of the cell membranes. Analysis of the transcriptional profiles of aloe-emodin-treated cells revealed changes of genes involved in sulfur metabolism, L-lysine and peptidoglycan biosynthesis, and biofilm formation. Aloe-emodin therefore can safely control Gram-positive bacterial infections and proves to target the bacterial outer membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Animal Education, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Animal Education, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Beijing Huafukang Bioscience Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Ross C. Beier
- Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Yajie Jin
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Shanghai, China
| | - Huanrong Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Animal Education, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Animal Education, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, China
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Rampacci E, Marenzoni ML, Cannalire R, Pietrella D, Sabatini S, Giovagnoli S, Felicetti T, Pepe M, Passamonti F. Ethidium bromide exposure unmasks an antibiotic efflux system in Rhodococcus equi. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 76:2040-2048. [PMID: 33855442 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study introduces a newly created strain (Rhodococcus equiEtBr25) by exposing R. equi ATCC 33701 to ethidium bromide (EtBr), a substrate for MDR transporters. Such an approach allowed us to investigate the resulting phenotype and genetic mechanisms underlying the efflux-mediated resistance in R. equi. METHODS R. equi ATCC 33701 was stimulated with increasing concentrations of EtBr. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the parental strain and R. equiEtBr25 was investigated in the presence/absence of efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs). EtBr efflux was evaluated by EtBr-agar method and flow cytometry. The presence of efflux pump genes was determined by conventional PCR before to quantify the expression of 30 genes coding for membrane transporters by qPCR. The presence of erm(46) and mutations in 23S rRNA, and gyrA/gyrB was assessed by PCR and DNA sequencing to exclude the occurrence of resistance mechanisms other than efflux. RESULTS R. equi EtBr25 showed an increased EtBr efflux. Against this strain, the activity of EtBr, azithromycin and ciprofloxacin was more affected than that of rifampicin and azithromycin/rifampicin combinations. Resistances were reversed by combining the antimicrobials with EPIs. Gene expression analysis detected a marked up-regulation of REQ_RS13460 encoding for a Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) transporter. G→A transition occurred in the transcriptional repressor tetR/acrR adjacent to REQ_RS13460. CONCLUSIONS Exposure of R. equi to EtBr unmasked an efflux-mediated defence against azithromycin and ciprofloxacin, which seemingly correlates with the overexpression of a specific MFS transporter. This genotype may mirror an insidious low-level resistance of clinically important isolates that could be countered by EPI-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Rampacci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Marenzoni
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Rolando Cannalire
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Donatella Pietrella
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, via Gambuli 1, 06156 Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Sabatini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, via del Liceo 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Giovagnoli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, via del Liceo 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Tommaso Felicetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, via del Liceo 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Marco Pepe
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passamonti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
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Branska B, Vasylkivska M, Raschmanova H, Jureckova K, Sedlar K, Provaznik I, Patakova P. Changes in efflux pump activity of Clostridium beijerinckii throughout ABE fermentation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:877-889. [PMID: 33409609 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-11072-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Pumping toxic substances through a cytoplasmic membrane by protein transporters known as efflux pumps represents one bacterial mechanism involved in the stress response to the presence of toxic compounds. The active efflux might also take part in exporting low-molecular-weight alcohols produced by intrinsic cell metabolism; in the case of solventogenic clostridia, predominantly acetone, butanol and ethanol (ABE). However, little is known about this active efflux, even though some evidence exists that membrane pumps might be involved in solvent tolerance. In this study, we investigated changes in overall active efflux during ABE fermentation, employing a flow cytometric protocol adjusted for Clostridia and using ethidium bromide (EB) as a fluorescence marker for quantification of direct efflux. A fluctuation in efflux during the course of standard ABE fermentation was observed, with a maximum reached during late acidogenesis, a high efflux rate during early and mid-solventogenesis and an apparent decrease in EB efflux rate in late solventogenesis. The fluctuation in efflux activity was in accordance with transcriptomic data obtained for various membrane exporters in a former study. Surprisingly, under altered cultivation conditions, when solvent production was attenuated, and extended acidogenesis was promoted, stable low efflux activity was reached after an initial peak that appeared in the stage comparable to standard ABE fermentation. This study confirmed that efflux pump activity is not constant during ABE fermentation and suggests that undisturbed solvent production might be a trigger for activation of pumps involved in solvent efflux. KEY POINTS: • Flow cytometric assay for efflux quantification in Clostridia was established. • Efflux rate peaked in late acidogenesis and in early solventogenesis. • Impaired solventogenesis led to an overall decrease in efflux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Branska
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technicka 5, 166 28, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Maryna Vasylkivska
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technicka 5, 166 28, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Raschmanova
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technicka 5, 166 28, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Jureckova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, Technicka 12, 616 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Sedlar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, Technicka 12, 616 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Provaznik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, Technicka 12, 616 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Patakova
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technicka 5, 166 28, Prague, Czech Republic
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Anti-staphylococcal activity and mode of action of thioridazine photoproducts. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18043. [PMID: 33093568 PMCID: PMC7582912 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74752-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance became an increasing risk for population health threatening our ability to fight infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the activity of laser irradiated thioridazine (TZ) against clinically-relevant bacteria in view to fight antibiotic resistance. TZ in ultrapure water solutions was irradiated (1–240 min) with 266 nm pulsed laser radiation. Irradiated solutions were characterized by UV–Vis and FTIR absorption spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography, laser-induced fluorescence, and dynamic surface tension measurements. Molecular docking studies were made to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of photoproducts action against Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA. More general, solutions were evaluated for their antimicrobial and efflux inhibitory activity against a panel of bacteria of clinical relevance. We observed an enhanced antimicrobial activity of TZ photoproducts against Gram-positive bacteria. This was higher than ciprofloxacin effects for methicillin- and ciprofloxacin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Molecular docking showed the Penicillin-binding proteins PBP3 and PBP2a inhibition by sulforidazine as a possible mechanism of action against Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA strains, respectively. Irradiated TZ reveals possible advantages in the treatment of infectious diseases produced by antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. TZ repurposing and its photoproducts, obtained by laser irradiation, show accelerated and low-costs of development if compared to chemical synthesis.
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Ribič U, Jakše J, Toplak N, Koren S, Kovač M, Klančnik A, Jeršek B. Transporters and Efflux Pumps Are the Main Mechanisms Involved in Staphylococcus epidermidis Adaptation and Tolerance to Didecyldimethylammonium Chloride. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E344. [PMID: 32121333 PMCID: PMC7143832 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8030344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis cleanroom strains are often exposed to sub-inhibitory concentrations of disinfectants, including didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC). Consequently, they can adapt or even become tolerant to them. RNA-sequencing was used to investigate adaptation and tolerance mechanisms of S. epidermidis cleanroom strains (SE11, SE18), with S. epidermidis SE11Ad adapted and S. epidermidis SE18To tolerant to DDAC. Adaptation to DDAC was identified with up-regulation of genes mainly involved in transport (thioredoxin reductase [pstS], the arsenic efflux pump [gene ID, SE0334], sugar phosphate antiporter [uhpT]), while down-regulation was seen for the Agr system (agrA, arC, agrD, psm, SE1543), for enhanced biofilm formation. Tolerance to DDAC revealed the up-regulation of genes associated with transporters (L-cysteine transport [tcyB]; uracil permease [SE0875]; multidrug transporter [lmrP]; arsenic efflux pump [arsB]); the down-regulation of genes involved in amino-acid biosynthesis (lysine [dapE]; histidine [hisA]; methionine [metC]), and an enzyme involved in peptidoglycan, and therefore cell wall modifications (alanine racemase [SE1079]). We show for the first time the differentially expressed genes in DDAC-adapted and DDAC-tolerant S. epidermidis strains, which highlight the complexity of the responses through the involvement of different mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urška Ribič
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (U.R.); (A.K.)
| | - Jernej Jakše
- Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Nataša Toplak
- Omega d.o.o., Dolinškova 8, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.T.); (S.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Simon Koren
- Omega d.o.o., Dolinškova 8, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.T.); (S.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Minka Kovač
- Omega d.o.o., Dolinškova 8, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.T.); (S.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Anja Klančnik
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (U.R.); (A.K.)
| | - Barbara Jeršek
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (U.R.); (A.K.)
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Cave R, Misra R, Chen J, Wang S, Mkrtchyan HV. Whole genome sequencing revealed new molecular characteristics in multidrug resistant staphylococci recovered from high frequency touched surfaces in London. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9637. [PMID: 31371820 PMCID: PMC6675788 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45886-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The rise of antibiotic resistance (AMR) is one of the most important public health threats worldwide.Today, increasing attention is being paid to multidrug resistant staphylococci isolated from healthcare and non-healthcare environments as the treatment of these bacteria has become increasingly difficult. In this study, we compared staphylococci isolates recovered from high frequency touched surfaces from public areas in the community and hospitals in East and West London. 281 out of 600 (46.83%) staphylococci isolates recovered were multidrug resistant, of which 49 (8.17%) were mecA positive. There was significantly higher proportion of multidrug resistant staphylococci (P = 0.0002) in East London (56.7%) compared to West London (49.96%). The most common species identified as multidrug resistant were S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus and S. hominis, whereas penicillin, fusidic acid and erythromycin were the most frequent antibiotics the isolates were resistant to. Whole genome sequenced of mecA positive isolates revealed that S. sciuri isolates carried the mecA1 gene, which has only 84.43% homology with mecA. In addition, other frequently identified resistance genes included blaZ, qacA/B and dfrC. We have also identified a diverse range of SCCmec types, many of which were untypable due to carrying a novel combination of ccr genes or multiple ccr complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory Cave
- University of East London, School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, Water Lane, London, E15 4LZ, UK
| | - Raju Misra
- Natural History Museum, Core Research Laboratories, Molecular Biology, Cromwell Rd, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Jiazhen Chen
- Department of Infectious Disease, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Rd., Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Shiyong Wang
- Department of Infectious Disease, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Rd., Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Hermine V Mkrtchyan
- University of East London, School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, Water Lane, London, E15 4LZ, UK.
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Costa SS, Sobkowiak B, Parreira R, Edgeworth JD, Viveiros M, Clark TG, Couto I. Genetic Diversity of norA, Coding for a Main Efflux Pump of Staphylococcus aureus. Front Genet 2019; 9:710. [PMID: 30687388 PMCID: PMC6333699 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
NorA is the best studied efflux system of Staphylococcus aureus and therefore frequently used as a model for investigating efflux-mediated resistance in this pathogen. NorA activity is associated with resistance to fluoroquinolones, several antiseptics and disinfectants and several reports have pointed out the role of efflux systems, including NorA, as a first-line response to antimicrobials in S. aureus. Genetic diversity studies of the gene norA have described three alleles; norAI, norAII and norAIII. However, the epidemiology of these alleles and their impact on NorA activity remains unclear. Additionally, increasing studies do not account for norA variability when establishing relations between resistance phenotypes and norA presence or reported absence, which actually corresponds, as we now demonstrate, to different norA alleles. In the present study we assessed the variability of the norA gene present in the genome of over 1,000 S. aureus isolates, corresponding to 112 S. aureus strains with whole genome sequences publicly available; 917 MRSA strains sourced from a London-based study and nine MRSA isolates collected in a major Hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. Our analyses show that norA is part of the core genome of S. aureus. It also suggests that occurrence of norA variants reflects the population structure of this major pathogen. Overall, this work highlights the ubiquitous nature of norA in S. aureus which must be taken into account when studying the role played by this important determinant on S. aureus resistance to antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Santos Costa
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Benjamin Sobkowiak
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ricardo Parreira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jonathan D. Edgeworth
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Clinical Infection and Diagnostics Research, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel Viveiros
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Taane G. Clark
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Couto
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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