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Gestels Z, Abdellati S, Kenyon C, Manoharan-Basil SS. Ciprofloxacin Concentrations 100-Fold Lower than the MIC Can Select for Ciprofloxacin Resistance in Neisseria subflava: An In Vitro Study. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:560. [PMID: 38927226 PMCID: PMC11200666 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13060560] [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: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae can acquire antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from other Neisseria spp. such as commensals like Neisseria subflava. Low doses of antimicrobials in food could select for AMR in N. subflava, which could then be transferred to N. gonorrhoeae. In this study, we aimed to determine the lowest concentration of ciprofloxacin that can induce ciprofloxacin resistance (minimum selection concentration-MSC) in a N. subflava isolate (ID-Co000790/2, a clinical isolate collected from a previous community study conducted at ITM). In this study, Neisseria subflava was serially passaged on gonococcal (GC) medium agar plates containing ciprofloxacin concentrations ranging from 1:100 to 1:10,000 below its ciprofloxacin MIC (0.006 µg/mL) for 6 days. After 6 days of serial passaging at ciprofloxacin concentrations of 1/100th of the MIC, 24 colonies emerged on the plate containing 0.06 µg/mL ciprofloxacin, which corresponds to the EUCAST breakpoint for N. gonorrhoeae. Their ciprofloxacin MICs were between 0.19 to 0.25 µg/mL, and whole genome sequencing revealed a missense mutation T91I in the gyrA gene, which has previously been found to cause reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones. The N. subflava MSCde novo was determined to be 0.06 ng/mL (0.00006 µg/mL), which is 100×-fold lower than the ciprofloxacin MIC. The implications of this finding are that the low concentrations of fluoroquinolones found in certain environmental samples, such as soil, river water, and even the food we eat, may be able to select for ciprofloxacin resistance in N. subflava.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zina Gestels
- Sexually Transmitted Infections Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.K.); (S.S.M.-B.)
| | - Saïd Abdellati
- Clinical and Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Chris Kenyon
- Sexually Transmitted Infections Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.K.); (S.S.M.-B.)
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Sheeba Santhini Manoharan-Basil
- Sexually Transmitted Infections Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.K.); (S.S.M.-B.)
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2
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Colón Pérez J, Villarino Fernández RA, Domínguez Lago A, Treviño Castellano MM, Pérez del Molino Bernal ML, Sánchez Poza S, Torres-Sangiao E. Addressing Sexually Transmitted Infections Due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the Present and Future. Microorganisms 2024; 12:884. [PMID: 38792714 PMCID: PMC11124187 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
It was in the 1800s when the first public publications about the infection and treatment of gonorrhoea were released. However, the first prevention programmes were only published a hundred years later. In the 1940s, the concept of vaccination was introduced into clinical prevention programmes to address early sulphonamide resistance. Since then, tons of publications on Neisseria gonorrhoeae are undisputed, around 30,000 publications today. Currently, the situation seems to be just as it was in the last century, nothing has changed or improved. So, what are we doing wrong? And more importantly, what might we do? The review presented here aims to review the current situation regarding the resistance mechanisms, prevention programmes, treatments, and vaccines, with the challenge of better understanding this special pathogen. The authors have reviewed the last five years of advancements, knowledge, and perspectives for addressing the Neisseria gonorrhoeae issue, focusing on new therapeutic alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Colón Pérez
- Servicio de Microbiología y Parasitología Clínica, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (J.C.P.); (A.D.L.); (M.M.T.C.); (M.L.P.d.M.B.)
- Grupo Microbiología, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rosa-Antía Villarino Fernández
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Adrián Domínguez Lago
- Servicio de Microbiología y Parasitología Clínica, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (J.C.P.); (A.D.L.); (M.M.T.C.); (M.L.P.d.M.B.)
- Grupo Microbiología, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - María Mercedes Treviño Castellano
- Servicio de Microbiología y Parasitología Clínica, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (J.C.P.); (A.D.L.); (M.M.T.C.); (M.L.P.d.M.B.)
- Grupo Microbiología, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - María Luisa Pérez del Molino Bernal
- Servicio de Microbiología y Parasitología Clínica, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (J.C.P.); (A.D.L.); (M.M.T.C.); (M.L.P.d.M.B.)
- Grupo Microbiología, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Sandra Sánchez Poza
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Eva Torres-Sangiao
- Servicio de Microbiología y Parasitología Clínica, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (J.C.P.); (A.D.L.); (M.M.T.C.); (M.L.P.d.M.B.)
- Grupo Microbiología, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Vanbaelen T, Laumen J, Van Dijck C, De Block T, Manoharan-Basil SS, Kenyon C. Lack of Association between Antimicrobial Consumption and Antimicrobial Resistance in a HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Population: A Cross-Sectional Study. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:188. [PMID: 38391574 PMCID: PMC10886153 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13020188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In antibiotic naïve populations, there is a strong association between the use of an antimicrobial and resistance to this antimicrobial. Less evidence is available as to whether this relationship is weakened in populations highly exposed to antimicrobials. Individuals taking HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have a high intake of antimicrobials. We previously found that there was no difference in the prevalence of pheno- and genotypic antimicrobial resistance between two groups of PrEP clients who had, and had not, taken antimicrobials in the prior 6 months. Both groups did, however, have a higher prevalence of resistance than a sample of the general population. METHODS In the current study, we used zero-inflated negative binomial regression models to evaluate if there was an individual level association between the consumption of antimicrobials and 1. the minimum inhibitory susceptibilities of oral Neisseria subflava and 2. the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes in the oropharynges of these individuals. RESULTS We found no evidence of an association between the consumption of antimicrobials and the minimum inhibitory susceptibilities of oral Neisseria subflava or the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes in these individuals. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that in high-antimicrobial-consumption populations, the association between antimicrobial consumption and resistance may be attenuated. This conclusion would not apply to lower-consumption populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaut Vanbaelen
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jolein Laumen
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tessa De Block
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Chris Kenyon
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
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Abdellati S, Laumen JGE, de Block T, De Baetselier I, Van Den Bossche D, Van Dijck C, Manoharan-Basil SS, Kenyon C. Gonococcal resistance to zoliflodacin could emerge via transformation from commensal Neisseria species. An in-vitro transformation study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1179. [PMID: 38216602 PMCID: PMC10786824 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49943-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the most promising new treatments for gonorrhoea currently in phase 3 clinical trials is zoliflodacin. Studies have found very little resistance to zoliflodacin in currently circulating N. gonorrhoeae strains, and in-vitro experiments demonstrated that it is difficult to induce resistance. However, zoliflodacin resistance may emerge in commensal Neisseria spp., which could then be transferred to N. gonorrhoeae via transformation. In this study, we investigated this commensal-resistance-pathway hypothesis for zoliflodacin. To induce zoliflodacin resistance, ten wild-type susceptible isolates belonging to 5 Neisseria species were serially passaged for up to 48 h on gonococcal agar plates containing increasing zoliflodacin concentrations. Within 7 to 10 days, all strains except N. lactamica, exhibited MICs of ≥ 4 µg/mL, resulting in MIC increase ranging from 8- to 64-fold. The last passaged strains and their baseline were sequenced. We detected mutations previously reported to cause zoliflodacin resistance in GyrB (D429N and S467N), novel mutations in the quinolone resistance determining region (QRDR) (M464R and T472P) and mutations outside the QRDR at amino acid positions 28 and 29 associated with low level resistance (MIC 2 µg/mL). Genomic DNA from the laboratory evolved zoliflodacin-resistant strains was transformed into the respective baseline wild-type strain, resulting in MICs of ≥ 8 µg/mL in most cases. WGS of transformants with decreased zoliflodacin susceptibility revealed presence of the same zoliflodacin resistance determinants as observed in the donor strains. Two inter-species transformation experiments were conducted to investigate whether zoliflodacin resistance determinants of commensal Neisseria spp. could be acquired by N. gonorrhoeae. N. gonorrhoeae strain WHO P was exposed to (i) pooled genomic DNA from the two resistant N. mucosa strains and (ii) a gyrB amplicon of the resistant N. subflava strain 45/1_8. Transformants of both experiments exhibited an MIC of 2 µg/mL and whole genome analysis revealed uptake of the mutations detected in the donor strains. This is the first in-vitro study to report that zoliflodacin resistance can be induced in commensal Neisseria spp. and subsequently transformed into N. gonorrhoeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saïd Abdellati
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jolein Gyonne Elise Laumen
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Tessa de Block
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dorien Van Den Bossche
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | | | - Chris Kenyon
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Kenyon C. Commentary: Non-pathogenic Neisseria species of the oropharynx as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance: a cross-sectional study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 13:1343608. [PMID: 38264734 PMCID: PMC10803593 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1343608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Mahnoor I, Shabbir H, Nawaz S, Aziz K, Aziz U, Khalid K, Irum S, Andleeb S. Characterization of exclusively non-commensal Neisseria gonorrhoeae pangenome to prioritize globally conserved and thermodynamically stable vaccine candidates using immune-molecular dynamic simulations. Microb Pathog 2023; 185:106439. [PMID: 37944674 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ngo) has emerged as a global threat leading to one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world. It has also become one of the leading antimicrobial resistant organisms, resulting in fewer treatment options and an increased morbidity. Therefore, in recent years, there has been an increased focus on the development of new treatments and preventive strategies to combat its infection. In this study, we have combined the most conserved epitopes from the completely assembled strains of Ngo to develop a universal and a thermodynamically stable vaccine candidate. For our vaccine design, the epitopes were selected for their high immunogenicity, non-allergenicity and non-cytotoxicity, making them the ideal candidates for vaccine development. For the screening process, several reverse vaccinology tools were employed to rigorously extract non-homologous and immunogenic epitopes from the selected proteins. Consequently, a total number of 3 B-cell epitopes and 6 T-cell epitopes were selected and joined by multiple immune-modulating adjuvants and linkers to generate a promiscuous immune response. Additionally, the stability and flexible nature of the vaccine construct was confirmed using various molecular dynamic simulation tools. Overall, the vaccine candidate showed promising binding affinity to various HLA alleles and TLR receptors; however, further studies are needed to assess its efficacy in-vivo. In this way, we have designed a multi-subunit vaccine candidate to potentially combat and control the spread of N. gonorrhoeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iqra Mahnoor
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Hamna Shabbir
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Shabana Nawaz
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Kinza Aziz
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Ubair Aziz
- School of Interdisciplinary Engineering & Sciences National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Kashaf Khalid
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Sidra Irum
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Saadia Andleeb
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Vanbaelen T, Florence E, Van Dijck C, Tsoumanis A, Laumen JGE, Santhini Manoharan-Basil S, Abdellati S, De Block T, De Baetselier I, Van den Bossche D, Van Herrewege Y, Rotsaert A, Kenyon C. Effect on the Resistome of Dual vs Monotherapy for the Treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial (ResistAZM Trial). Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad462. [PMID: 37854109 PMCID: PMC10580146 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad462] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background No randomized controlled trial (RCT) has compared the impact on the resistome of ceftriaxone (CRO) plus azithromycin (AZM) vs CRO for the treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoea (NG). Methods This was an open-label, single-center, RCT comparing the effect on the resistome of CRO plus AZM vs CRO for the treatment of NG. Men who have sex with men (MSM) with genital, anorectal, or pharyngeal NG infection were randomized into the CRO/AZM and CRO arms. Oral rinse and anorectal samples were taken for culture and resistome profiling at 2 visits (baseline and day 14). The primary outcome was the ratio of mean macrolide resistance determinants in anorectal samples from day 14 between arms. Results Twenty individuals were randomized into the CRO/AZM arm and 22 into the CRO arm. We found no significant difference in the mean macrolide resistance determinants in the day 14 anorectal samples between arms (ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.55-1.83; P = .102). The prevalence of baseline macrolide resistance was high (CRO/AZM arm = 95.00%; CRO arm = 90.91%). Conclusions We could not demonstrate a significant effect of dual CRO/AZM therapy on the resistome compared with CRO alone, likely due to a high baseline resistance to AZM. Interventions to prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in MSM are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaut Vanbaelen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Eric Florence
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Achilleas Tsoumanis
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Saïd Abdellati
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tessa De Block
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Yven Van Herrewege
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Anke Rotsaert
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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González N, Elise Laumen JG, Abdellati S, de Block T, De Baetselier I, Van Dijck C, Kenyon C, S. Manoharan–Basil S. Pre-exposure to azithromycin enhances gonococcal resilience to subsequent ciprofloxacin exposure: an in vitro study. F1000Res 2023; 11:1464. [PMID: 36761832 PMCID: PMC9887203 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.126078.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The effect of sequential exposure to different antibiotics is an underexplored topic. Azithromycin can be detected in humans for up to 28 days post-ingestion and may prime bacterial responses to subsequently ingested antibiotics. Methods: In this in vitro study, we assessed if preexposure to azithromycin could accelerate the acquisition of resistance to ciprofloxacin in Neisseria gonorrhoeae reference strain, WHO-F. In a morbidostat, we set two conditions in 3 vials each: mono-exposure (preexposure to Gonococcal Broth followed by exposure to ciprofloxacin) and dual sequential exposure (preexposure to azithromycin followed by exposure to ciprofloxacin).The growth of the cultures was measured by a software (MATLAB). The program decided if gonococcal broth or antibiotics were added to the vials in order to keep the evolution of the cultures. Samples were taken twice a week until the end of the experiment i.e. until resistance was achieved or cellular death. Additionally, six replicates of WHO-F WT and WHO-F with rplV mutation, caused by azithromycin, were exposed to increasing concentrations of ciprofloxacin in plates to assess if there were differences in the rate of resistance emergence. Results: We found that after 12 hours of pre-exposure to azithromycin, N. gonorrhoeae's resilience to ciprofloxacin exposure increased. Pre-exposure to azithromycin did not, however, accelerate the speed to acquisition of ciprofloxacin resistance. Conclusions: We found that azithromycin does not accelerate the emergence of ciprofloxacin resistance, but there were differences in the molecular pathways to the acquisition of ciprofloxacin resistance: the strains preexpossed to azithromycin followed a different route (GyrA: S91F pathway) than the ones without antibiotic preexposure (GyrA:D95N pathway). However, the number of isolates is too small to draw such strong conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia González
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium,
| | - Jolein Gyonne Elise Laumen
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium,Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Saïd Abdellati
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
| | - Tessa de Block
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium,Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Chris Kenyon
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium,Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Sheeba S. Manoharan–Basil
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
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9
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González N, Elise Laumen JG, Abdellati S, de Block T, De Baetselier I, Van Dijck C, Kenyon C, S. Manoharan–Basil S. Pre-exposure to azithromycin enhances gonococcal resilience to subsequent ciprofloxacin exposure: an in vitro study. F1000Res 2022; 11:1464. [PMID: 36761832 PMCID: PMC9887203 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.126078.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The effect of sequential exposure to different antibiotics is an underexplored topic. Azithromycin can be detected in humans for up to 28 days post-ingestion and may prime bacterial responses to subsequently ingested antibiotics. Methods: In this in vitro study, we assessed if preexposure to azithromycin could accelerate the acquisition of resistance to ciprofloxacin in Neisseria gonorrhoeae reference strain, WHO-F. In a morbidostat, we set two conditions in 3 vials each: mono-exposure (preexposure to Gonococcal Broth followed by exposure to ciprofloxacin) and dual sequential exposure (preexposure to azithromycin followed by exposure to ciprofloxacin).The growth of the cultures was measured by a software (MATLAB). The program decided if gonococcal broth or antibiotics were added to the vials in order to keep the evolution of the cultures. Samples were taken twice a week until the end of the experiment i.e. until resistance was achieved or cellular death. Additionally, six replicates of WHO-F WT and WHO-F with rplV mutation, caused by azithromycin, were exposed to increasing concentrations of ciprofloxacin in plates to assess if there were differences in the rate of resistance emergence. Results: We found that after 12 hours of pre-exposure to azithromycin, N. gonorrhoeae's resilience to ciprofloxacin exposure increased. Pre-exposure to azithromycin did not, however, accelerate the speed to acquisition of ciprofloxacin resistance. Conclusions: We found that azithromycin does not accelerate the emergence of ciprofloxacin resistance, but there were differences in the molecular pathways to the acquisition of ciprofloxacin resistance: the strains preexpossed to azithromycin followed a different route (GyrA: S91F pathway) than the ones without antibiotic preexposure (GyrA:D95N pathway). However, the number of isolates is too small to draw such strong conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia González
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
| | - Jolein Gyonne Elise Laumen
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Saïd Abdellati
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
| | - Tessa de Block
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Chris Kenyon
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Sheeba S. Manoharan–Basil
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium
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Canary in the Coal Mine: How Resistance Surveillance in Commensals Could Help Curb the Spread of AMR in Pathogenic Neisseria. mBio 2022; 13:e0199122. [PMID: 36154280 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01991-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is widespread within Neisseria gonorrhoeae populations. Recent work has highlighted the importance of commensal Neisseria (cN) as a source of AMR for their pathogenic relatives through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of AMR alleles, such as mosaic penicillin binding protein 2 (penA), multiple transferable efflux pump (mtr), and DNA gyrase subunit A (gyrA) which impact beta-lactam, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin susceptibility, respectively. However, nonpathogenic commensal species are rarely characterized. Here, we propose that surveillance of the universally carried commensal Neisseria may play the role of the "canary in the coal mine," and reveal circulating known and novel antimicrobial resistance determinants transferable to pathogenic Neisseria. We summarize the current understanding of commensal Neisseria as an AMR reservoir, and call to increase research on commensal Neisseria species, through expanding established gonococcal surveillance programs to include the collection, isolation, antimicrobial resistance phenotyping, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of commensal isolates. This will help combat AMR in the pathogenic Neisseria by: (i) determining the contemporary AMR profile of commensal Neisseria, (ii) correlating AMR phenotypes with known and novel genetic determinants, (iii) qualifying and quantifying horizontal gene transfer (HGT) for AMR determinants, and (iv) expanding commensal Neisseria genomic databases, perhaps leading to the identification of new drug and vaccine targets. The proposed modification to established Neisseria collection protocols could transform our ability to address AMR N. gonorrhoeae, while requiring minor modifications to current surveillance practices. IMPORTANCE Contemporary increases in the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae populations is a direct threat to global public health and the effective treatment of gonorrhea. Substantial effort and financial support are being spent on identifying resistance mechanisms circulating within the gonococcal population. However, these surveys often overlook a known source of resistance for gonococci-the commensal Neisseria. Commensal Neisseria and pathogenic Neisseria frequently share DNA through horizontal gene transfer, which has played a large role in rendering antibiotic therapies ineffective in pathogenic Neisseria populations. Here, we propose the expansion of established gonococcal surveillance programs to integrate a collection, AMR profiling, and genomic sequencing pipeline for commensal species. This proposed expansion will enhance the field's ability to identify resistance in and from nonpathogenic reservoirs and anticipate AMR trends in pathogenic Neisseria.
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de Block T, González N, Abdellati S, Laumen JGE, Van Dijck C, De Baetselier I, Van den Bossche D, Manoharan-Basil SS, Kenyon C. Successful Intra- but Not Inter-species Recombination of msr(D) in Neisseria subflava. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:855482. [PMID: 35432273 PMCID: PMC9007320 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.855482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance acquisition via natural transformation is a common process in the Neisseria genus. Transformation has played an important role in the emergence of resistance to many antimicrobials in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis. In a previous study, we found that currently circulating isolates of Neisseria subflava had acquired an msr(D) gene that has been found to result in macrolide resistance in other bacteria but never found in Neisseria species before. To determine if this resistance mechanism is transferable among Neisseria species, we assessed if we could transform the msr(D) gene into other commensal and pathogenic Neisseria under low dose azithromycin pressure. Intraspecies recombination in commensal N. subflava was confirmed with PCR and resulted in high-level macrolide resistance. Whole-genome sequencing of these transformed strains identified the complete uptake of the msr(D) integration fragment. Sequence analysis showed that a large fragment of DNA (5 and 12 kb) was transferred through a single horizontal gene transfer event. Furthermore, uptake of the msr(D) gene had no apparent fitness cost. Interspecies transformation of msr(D) from N. subflava to N. gonorrhoeae was, however, not successful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa de Block
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Natalia González
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Saïd Abdellati
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jolein Gyonne Elise Laumen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Vanbaelen T, Van Dijck C, Laumen J, Gonzalez N, De Baetselier I, Manoharan-Basil SS, De Block T, Kenyon C. Global epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in commensal Neisseria species: A systematic review. Int J Med Microbiol 2022; 312:151551. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2022.151551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Manoharan-Basil SS, González N, Laumen JGE, Kenyon C. Horizontal Gene Transfer of Fluoroquinolone Resistance-Conferring Genes From Commensal Neisseria to Neisseria gonorrhoeae: A Global Phylogenetic Analysis of 20,047 Isolates. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:793612. [PMID: 35369513 PMCID: PMC8973304 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.793612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an important global health concern. The genetically related commensal Neisseria act as a reservoir of resistance genes, and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has been shown to play an important role in the genesis of resistance to cephalosporins and macrolides in N. gonorrhoeae. In this study, we evaluated if there was evidence of HGT in the genes gyrA/gyrB and parC/parE responsible for fluoroquinolone resistance. Even though the role of gyrB and parE in quinolone resistance is unclear, the subunits gyrB and parE were included as zoliflodacin, a promising new drug to treat N. gonorrhoeae targets the gyrB subunit. We analyzed a collection of 20,047 isolates; 18,800 N. gonorrhoeae, 1,238 commensal Neisseria spp., and nine Neisseria meningitidis. Comparative genomic analyses identified HGT events in genes, gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE. Recombination events were predicted in N. gonorrhoeae and Neisseria commensals. Neisseria lactamica, Neisseria macacae, and Neisseria mucosa were identified as likely progenitors of the HGT events in gyrA, gyrB, and parE, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheeba Santhini Manoharan-Basil
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Sheeba Santhini Manoharan-Basil,
| | - Natalia González
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Neisseria mucosa Does Not Inhibit the Growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. SCI 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/sci4010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic-sparing treatments are required to prevent the further emergence of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Commensal Neisseria species have previously been found to inhibit the growth of pathogenic Neisseria species. For example, a previous study found that three out of five historical isolates of Neisseria mucosa could inhibit the growth of N. gonorrhoeae. In this study, we used agar overlay assays to assess if 24 circulating and historical isolates of Neisseria mucosa could inhibit the growth of 28 circulating and historical isolates of N. gonorrhoeae. Although pitting around each colony of N. mucosa created an optical illusion of decreased growth of N. gonorrhoeae, we found no evidence of inhibition (n = 24). In contrast, positive controls of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli demonstrated a strong inhibitory effect against the growth of N. gonorrhoeae.
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Laumen JGE, Abdellati S, Van Dijck C, Martiny D, De Baetselier I, Manoharan-Basil SS, Van den Bossche D, Kenyon C. A Novel Method to Assess Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Commensal Oropharyngeal Neisseria-A Pilot Study. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:100. [PMID: 35052976 PMCID: PMC8772996 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Commensal Neisseria provide a reservoir of resistance genes that can be transferred to the pathogens Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis in the human oropharynx. Surveillance programs are thus needed to monitor resistance in oropharyngeal commensal Neisseria, but currently the isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of these commensals is laborious, complex and expensive. In addition, the posterior oropharyngeal/tonsillar swab, which is commonly used to sample oropharyngeal Neisseria, is poorly tolerated by many individuals. We evaluated an alternative non-invasive method to isolate oropharyngeal commensal Neisseria and to detect decreased susceptibility to azithromycin using selective media (LBVT.SNR) with and without azithromycin (2 µg/mL). In this pilot study, we compared paired posterior oropharyngeal/tonsillar swabs and oral rinse-and-gargle samples from 10 participants and demonstrated that a similar Neisseria species diversity and number of colonies were isolated from both sample types. Moreover, the proportion of Neisseria colonies that had a decreased susceptibility to azithromycin was similar in the rinse samples compared to the swabs. This pilot study has produced encouraging data that a simple protocol of oral rinse-and-gargle and culture on plates selective for commensal Neisseria with and without a target antimicrobial can be used as a surveillance tool to monitor antimicrobial susceptibility in commensal oropharyngeal Neisseria. Larger studies are required to validate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolein Gyonne Elise Laumen
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.V.D.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.K.)
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Saïd Abdellati
- Clinical and Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (I.D.B.); (D.V.d.B.)
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.V.D.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.K.)
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Delphine Martiny
- Department of Microbiology, Laboratoire Hospitalier Universitaire de Bruxelles-Universitair Laboratorium Brussel (LHUB-ULB), Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium;
- Faculté de Médecine et Pharmacie, Université de Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Clinical and Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (I.D.B.); (D.V.d.B.)
| | - Sheeba Santhini Manoharan-Basil
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.V.D.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.K.)
| | - Dorien Van den Bossche
- Clinical and Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (S.A.); (I.D.B.); (D.V.d.B.)
| | - Chris Kenyon
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.V.D.); (S.S.M.-B.); (C.K.)
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
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Laumen JGE, Van Dijck C, Abdellati S, De Baetselier I, Serrano G, Manoharan-Basil SS, Bottieau E, Martiny D, Kenyon C. Antimicrobial susceptibility of commensal Neisseria in a general population and men who have sex with men in Belgium. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9. [PMID: 34997050 PMCID: PMC8741786 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03995-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-pathogenic Neisseria are a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes for pathogenic Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at risk of co-colonization with resistant non-pathogenic and pathogenic Neisseria. We assessed if the antimicrobial susceptibility of non-pathogenic Neisseria among MSM differs from a general population and if antimicrobial exposure impacts susceptibility. We recruited 96 participants at our center in Belgium: 32 employees, 32 MSM who did not use antibiotics in the previous 6 months, and 32 MSM who did. Oropharyngeal Neisseria were cultured and identified with MALDI-TOF–MS. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for azithromycin, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin were determined using E-tests® and compared between groups with non-parametric tests. Non-pathogenic Neisseria from employees as well as MSM were remarkably resistant. Those from MSM were significantly less susceptible than employees to azithromycin and ciprofloxacin (p < 0.0001, p < 0.001), but not ceftriaxone (p = 0.3). Susceptibility did not differ significantly according to recent antimicrobial exposure in MSM. Surveilling antimicrobial susceptibility of non-pathogenic Neisseria may be a sensitive way to assess impact of antimicrobial exposure in a population. The high levels of antimicrobial resistance in this survey indicate that novel resistance determinants may be readily available for future transfer from non-pathogenic to pathogenic Neisseria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolein Gyonne Elise Laumen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Dijck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Saïd Abdellati
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gabriela Serrano
- Department of Microbiology, Laboratoire Hospitalier Universitaire de Bruxelles, Pôle Hospitalier Universitaire de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Emmanuel Bottieau
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Delphine Martiny
- Department of Microbiology, Laboratoire Hospitalier Universitaire de Bruxelles, Pôle Hospitalier Universitaire de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Faculté de Médecine et Pharmacie, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium. .,Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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