mvaT mutation modifies the expression of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa multidrug efflux operon mexEF-oprN

Pseudomonas aeruginosa carries several multidrug efflux operons, including mexEF-oprN, that contribute to its resistance to multiple antibiotics. mvaT affects the expression of several P. aeruginosa genes. In this study, we show that the mvaT mutant PAODeltamvaT is more resistant than its parent PAO1 strain to chloramphenicol and norfloxacin but more sensitive to imipenem; yet both were less resistant to chloramphenicol, norfloxacin, and imipenem than 'typical'nfxC-type mutants. Neither strain carries the deletion described for nfxC-type mutants in mexT, the mexEF-oprN regulatory gene. Expression of mexEF-oprN is increased by five- to sixfold in PAODeltamvaT, while the expression of oprD is reduced by approximately twofold. mvaT mutation had no effect on the expression of other multidrug resistance operons, although it increased the expression of several ATP-binding cassette transporter genes. We show that mvaT mutation does not affect mexEF-oprN expression through mexT or mexS. We also explored several other potential mechanisms.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of the HmrM multidrug efflux pump from Haemophilus influenzae Rd

We cloned a gene responsible for norfloxacin resistance from the chromosomal DNA of Haemophilus influenzae Rd, and designated the gene as hmrM. HmrM showed sequence similarity with NorM of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and YdhE of Escherichia coli and others that belong to the MATE family multidrug efflux pumps. The recombinant plasmid carrying the hmrM gene conferred elevated resistance not only to norfloxacin but also to acriflavine, 4 ', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, doxorubicin, ethidium bromide, tetraphenylphosphonium chloride, Hoechst 33342, daunomycin, berberine, and sodium deoxycholate in Escherichia coli KAM32, a drug-hypersensitive strain. We observed an Na+-dependent efflux of ethidium and an ethidium-induced efflux of Na+ in E. coli KAM32 cells harboring the plasmid carrying the hmrM gene. These results indicate that HmrM is an Na+/drug antiporter-type multidrug efflux pump. A difference in substrate preference was observed between HmrM, NorM, and YdhE.     

伤寒沙门菌和甲型副伤寒沙门菌分离株的外膜蛋白谱比较

目的:比较伤寒沙门菌和甲型副伤寒沙门菌流行菌株的外膜蛋白谱差异。方法:运用二维蛋白电泳方法,对我国伤寒沙门菌株XJ90和甲型副伤寒沙门菌株JX2005-92在实验室通用营养条件下培养提取的外膜蛋白进行分离,比对其差异,对差异蛋白点进行质谱鉴定,对鉴定蛋白点的基因序列也进行比较。结果:菌株XJ90中发现20个特异蛋白点,质谱鉴定出16个;菌株JX2005-92中发现29个特异蛋白点,鉴定出18个。在这些蛋白中,OmpA是数目最多的同种差异蛋白。这些差异蛋白点中的大部分编码基因在2种细菌中序列高度相似或相同。结论:伤寒沙门菌和甲型副伤寒沙门菌基因序列高度相似的外膜蛋白具有不同的修饰形式,提示其不同遗传背景在相同的环境条件下表现出精细的功能差异。     

Identification of Salmonella enterica subspecies I, Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium, Enteritidis and Typhi using multiplex PCR

This study was designed to develop a multiplex PCR method with five specific primer pairs for the detection of Salmonella spp., Salmonella subspecies I, Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium, Typhi and Enteritidis. A multiplex PCR was constructed with five primer pairs for the detection of Salmonella and pathogenic Salmonella serovars, including a specific primer pair for Salmonella Typhi, based on the sequence comparison between genomic DNA sequences of 12 Salmonella strains. Each primer pair was specifically targeted to Salmonella spp., Salmonella subspecies I, Salmonella Typhimurium, Typhi and Enteritidis. This multiplex PCR was evaluated with various DNAs of Salmonella serovars that yielded high specificity for amplifying the expected PCR products of Salmonella serovars. Using this primer pair, a set of multiplex PCR was performed for the rapid identification of salmonellae and major pathogenic Salmonella serovars. Although this multiplex PCR method will need to be evaluated for a wide range of Salmonella serovars among multilaboratories, it should be useful for identifying clinically significant strains of Salmonella serovars rapidly and accurately without the need for serological testing.     

Detection of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) by selective amplification of invA, viaB, fliC-d and prt genes by polymerase chain reaction in mutiplex format

AIMS: Development of a PCR assay that can target multiple genes for rapid detection of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) from water and food samples. METHODS AND RESULTS: PCR primers for invasion, O, H and Vi antigen genes, invA, prt, fliC-d and viaB were designed and used for the rapid detection of S. Typhi by multiplex PCR. Internal amplification control, which co-amplified with prt primers, was also included in the assay. The results showed that all cultures of Salmonella were accurately identified by the assay with no nonspecific amplification in other cultures. The assay had 100% detection probability when a cell suspension of 10(4) CFU ml(-1) (500 CFU per reaction) was used. Salmonella Typhi bacteria were artificially inoculated in the water and food (milk and meat rinse) samples and detected by mPCR after overnight pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water. No Salmonella bacteria could be detected from water samples collected from the field by mPCR or standard culture method. CONCLUSIONS: The developed mPCR assay provides specific detection of S. Typhi. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Rapid methods for detection of S. Typhi from complex environmental matrices are almost nonexistent. The mPCR assay reported in this study can be useful to identify S. Typhi bacteria in field environmental samples.     

Identification and molecular characterisation of CmeB, a Campylobacter jejuni multidrug efflux pump

A multidrug efflux pump gene (cmeB) was identified from the published Campylobacter jejuni genome sequence. Secondary structural analysis showed that the gene encoded a protein belonging to the resistance nodulation cell division (RND) family of efflux transporters. The gene was inactivated by insertional mutagenesis. Compared with the wild-type strain (NCTC 11168), the resultant knockout strain (NCTC 11168-cmeB::kan(r)) displayed increased susceptibility to a range of antibiotics including beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, ethidium bromide, the dye acridine orange and the detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate. Accumulation of ciprofloxacin was increased in the knockout mutant, but carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone, a proton motive force inhibitor, had less effect upon ciprofloxacin accumulation in the knockout mutant compared with NCTC 11168. These data show that the identified gene encodes an RND-type multi-substrate efflux transporter, which contributes to intrinsic resistance to a range of structurally unrelated compounds in C. jejuni. This efflux pump has been named CmeB (for Campylobacter multidrug efflux).     

Cellular drug efflux and reversal therapy of cancer

A prevalent form of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells is caused by an ATP-dependent drug efflux pump; this pump catalyzes the rapid exit of cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs from the cells. The Michaelis equation can be used to describe drug efflux through the MDR pump at a low drug substrate concentration [S]. The inhibition mechanism of an MDR reversal agent can be characterized when two different values of [S] are used to determine two values for the half-inhibition of efflux through the pump (I ₅₀). The reaction is noncompetitive when the two values ofI ₅₀ are identical; the reaction is competitive when an increase in [S] produces a significant increase in the value ofI ₅₀ TheI ₅₀ has been determined for several different reversal agents with the substrate rhodamine 123. The inhibition potency observed is: cyclosporin A >DMDP>amiodarone>verapamil>quinidine>quinine>propranolol. Chemotherapy drugs that are potent inhibitors of the MDR pump could be used for the treatment of MDR neoplasia.     

单增李斯特菌耐药外排泵研究进展

单增李斯特菌是一种重要的人兽共患食源性胞内致病菌,广泛存在于自然环境中且易污染动物性食品,人及动物感染后可引起严重的李斯特菌病,死亡率高达30%。单增李斯特菌通常对多种药物敏感,然而,因不合理使用抗菌药或消毒剂形成的选择压力导致李斯特菌多重耐药情况的报道日渐增多。外排泵蛋白是细菌中一类重要的蛋白,可参与机体多种生物学过程,包括影响细菌对抗生素敏感性、促进有毒化合物泵出、影响细菌毒力等。本文综述了近年来关于单增李斯特菌耐药外排泵的功能及调控机制的研究进展,为深入理解李斯特菌耐药等环境适应机制及有效控制该病原污染传播和筛选抗感染药物新靶点提供理论基础。     

Heavy metal transport by the CusCFBA efflux system

It is widely accepted that the increased use of antibiotics has resulted in bacteria with developed resistance to such treatments. These organisms are capable of forming multi‐protein structures that bridge both the inner and outer membrane to expel diverse toxic compounds directly from the cell. Proteins of the resistance nodulation cell division (RND) superfamily typically assemble as tripartite efflux pumps, composed of an inner membrane transporter, a periplasmic membrane fusion protein, and an outer membrane factor channel protein. These machines are the most powerful antimicrobial efflux machinery available to bacteria. In Escherichia coli, the CusCFBA complex is the only known RND transporter with a specificity for heavy metals, detoxifying both Cu⁺ and Ag⁺ ions. In this review, we discuss the known structural information for the CusCFBA proteins, with an emphasis on their assembly, interaction, and the relationship between structure and function.     

伤寒沙门菌非编码RNA617的分子鉴定及其对生物膜形成的影响研究

本研究旨在探讨伤寒沙门菌(Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, S. Typhi)中非编码RNA617(non-coding RNA617,ncRNA617)的分子特性,并研究其对生物膜形成的影响及作用机制。采用Northern blot方法检测ncRNA617的表达,通过cDNA 5’末端快速扩增技术(5’-rapid amplification of cDNA end,5’RACE)和逆转录-聚合酶链式反应(reverse transcriotion-polymerase chain reaction,3’RT-PCR)实验分析ncRNA617可能的转录起始位点和终止位点;构建ncRNA617缺陷菌株、回补菌株和过表达菌株等相关菌株,通过生物膜形成实验,观察ncRNA617对伤寒沙门菌生物膜形成的影响,并用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,qPCR)分析生物膜形成相关基因表达水平的变化,综合运用生物信息学方法预测ncRNA617和差异基因的结合区域,初步分析ncRNA617发挥调控作用的机制。结果显示,伤寒沙门菌确有ncRNA617的表达,长度约300 nt,其转录起始位点位于mig-14终止密码子下游967 nt处,终止位点位于t2681起始密码子上游 2 378～2 560 nt处。与野生对照菌株相比,ncRNA617缺陷菌株生物膜形成能力增强(P<0.05),回补菌株的生物膜形成能力恢复至野生菌株水平,过表达菌株的生物膜形成能力有所下降(P<0.05)。qPCR结果表明,ncRNA617可负向调控多个生物膜形成相关基因的转录表达水平(P<0.05)。经生物信息学方法预测发现,ncRNA617与差异基因有不同的结合区域。本研究结果提示,ncRNA617在伤寒沙门菌中存在,其长度约270～452 nt。ncRNA617可能通过靶向结合生物膜形成相关基因下调基因表达,从而负向调控伤寒沙门菌生物膜的生成。     

Functional role of bacterial multidrug efflux pumps in microbial natural ecosystems

Multidrug efflux pumps have emerged as relevant elements in the intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens. In contrast with other antibiotic resistance genes that have been obtained by virulent bacteria through horizontal gene transfer, genes coding for multidrug efflux pumps are present in the chromosomes of all living organisms. In addition, these genes are highly conserved (all members of the same species contain the same efflux pumps) and their expression is tightly regulated. Together, these characteristics suggest that the main function of these systems is not resisting the antibiotics used in therapy and that they should have other roles relevant to the behavior of bacteria in their natural ecosystems. Among the potential roles, it has been demonstrated that efflux pumps are important for processes of detoxification of intracellular metabolites, bacterial virulence in both animal and plant hosts, cell homeostasis and intercellular signal trafficking.     

Effect of selected antimicrobial compounds on the radiosensitization of Salmonella Typhi in ground beef

Aims:  In this study, we extended our previous work to determine the efficiency of antimicrobial compounds in increase of relative radiosensitivity of Salmonella Typhi in medium fat ground beef (23% fat) by testing 41 different essential oils (EOs), oleoresins and food sauces.
Methods and Results:  Ground beef samples inoculated with Salmonella Typhi (10⁶ CFU g⁻¹ ) were treated with each antimicrobial compound at a concentration of 0·5% (w/w). Then, the samples (25 g each) were packaged under air and irradiated in a ⁶⁰Co irradiator at doses from 0 to 1·75 kGy. Radiosensitivity was evaluated by calculating relative radiation sensitivity, defined as the ratio of radiation D ₁₀ value in the absence/presence of antimicrobial compound.
Conclusions:  Depending on the compound tested, the addition of antimicrobial compound decreased the D ₁₀ value of Salmonella Typhi, resulting in an increase of the radiation sensitivity up to more than four times. Among these antimicrobial compounds, Chinese cinnamon EO, clove EO and trans -cinnamaldehyde were most effective to increase the radiosensitivity of Salmonella Typhi in ground beef.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  These observations demonstrate that some active compounds can function as radiosensitizers of Salmonella Typhi.     

杭州地区多重耐药沙门氏菌的耐药特征

【背景】沙门氏菌是重要的食源性致病菌,其多重耐药现象不容忽视。【目的】分析杭州地区临床来源多重耐药沙门氏菌的耐药特征和感染状况。【方法】利用微量肉汤稀释法对339株沙门氏菌进行14类28种药物的最低抑菌浓度(Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,MIC)测定,对同时耐3类或3类以上药物的多种耐药株进行耐药特征、血清型分布等分析,并对其进行Xba I酶切及脉冲场凝胶电泳(Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis,PFGE)。【结果】从339株沙门氏菌中检出234株多重耐药株,多重耐药率达69.03%,近3年数据比较结果显示差异无统计学意义(χ²=0.117,P=0.943);以同时耐4-8类药物的菌株多见,合计占总菌株数的56.93%(193/339);大部分多重耐药沙门氏菌(199/234,85.04%)同时耐5-13种药物;菌株的耐药模式较为分散,相对优势的耐药谱为AMP-AMS-NAl-STR-SUL(10株,4.27%)和AMP-STR-TET-MIN-DOX-SUL(7株,2.99%);鼠伤寒单相变种和德尔卑血清型的多重耐药现象较为突出,其多重耐药率分别为97.06%(66/68)和100%(11/11);234株多重耐药沙门氏菌分为162个PFGE带型,相似度为44.2%-100%,其带型呈散在多态性;PFGE带型相同的菌株,其耐药类别和耐药谱不一定相同,PFGE带型不同的菌株,其耐药类别和耐药谱也可能相同。【结论】杭州地区临床来源沙门氏菌多重耐药现象普遍,但耐药谱分散,耐药表型呈多样性,而且PFGE带型呈散在多态性,与耐药表型也不存在对应关系。其基因组特征和主要食物来源有待于进一步研究。     

Crystal structures of OprN and OprJ,outer membrane factors of multidrug tripartite efflux pumps of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa encodes tripartite efflux pumps that extrude functionally and structurally dissimilar antibiotics from the bacterial cell. MexAB‐OprM, MexCD‐OprJ, MexEF‐OprN, and MexXY‐OprM are the main tripartite efflux pumps responsible for multidrug resistance in P. aeruginosa. The outer membrane factors OprN, OprJ, and OprM are essential components of functional tripartite efflux pumps. To elucidate the structural basis of multidrug resistance, we determined the crystal structures of OprN and OprJ. These structures revealed several features, including tri‐acylation of the N‐terminal cysteine, a small pore in the β‐barrel domain, and a tightly sealed gate in the α‐barrel domain. Despite the overall similarity of OprN, OprJ, and OprM, a comparison of their structures and electrostatic distributions revealed subtle differences at the periplasmic end of the α‐barrel domain. These results suggested that the overall structures of these outer membrane factors are specifically optimized for particular tripartite efflux pumps. Proteins 2016; 84:759–769. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Gene cloning and properties of the RND-type multidrug efflux pumps MexPQ-OpmE and MexMN-OprM from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

We cloned two operons for putative RND-type multidrug efflux pumps from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a PCR method. We designated the genes in one operon mexPQ(-opmE) and in another operon mexMN. Introduction of the mexPQ-opmE into drug hypersensitive cells resulted in elevated MICs of macrolides, fluoroquinolones and some other drugs. Introduction of the mexMN into the hypersensitive cells possessing oprM, but not into cells not possessing oprM, resulted in elevated MICs of chloramphenicol and thiamphenicol. Thus, we conclude that MexPQ-OpmE and MexMN-OprM are functional multidrug efflux pumps when expressed in P. aeruginosa.     

Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding the z66 antigen of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi

Z66 antigen-positive strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi change flagellin expression in only one direction from the z66 antigen to the d or j antigen, which is different from the phase variation of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium. In the present study, we identified a new flagellin gene in z66 antigen-positive strains of S. enterica serovar Typhi. The genomic structure of the region containing this new flagellin gene was similar to that of fljBA operon of biphasic S. enterica serovars. A fljA-like gene was present downstream of the new flagellin gene. A rho-independent terminator was located between the new flagellin gene and the fljA-like gene. Hin-like gene was not present upstream of the new flagellin gene. We generated a mutant strain of S. enterica serovar Typhi, which carries a deletion of the new flagellin gene. Western blotting revealed that the 51-kDa z66 antigen protein was absent from the population of proteins secreted by the mutant strain. Southern hybridization demonstrated that the z66 antigen-positive strains of S. enterica serovar Typhi carried the new flagellin gene and fliC on two different genomic EcoRI fragments. When z66 antigen-positive strains were incubated with anti-z66 antiserum, the flagellin expression by S. enterica serovar Typhi changed from z66 antigen to j antigen. The new flagellin gene and the fljA-like gene were absent in the strain with altered flagellin expression. These results suggested that the new flagellin gene is a fljB-like gene, which encodes the z66 antigen of S. enterica serovar Typhi, and that deletion of fljBA-like operon may explain why S. enterica serovar Typhi alters the flagellin expression in only one direction from the z66 antigen to the d or j antigen.     

Molecular analysis of the multidrug transporter

The multidrug resistance gene product, P-glycoprotein or the multidrug transporter, confers multidrug resistance to cancer cells by maintaining intracellular levels of cytotoxic agents below a killing threshold. P-glycoprotein is located within the plasma membrane and is thought to act as an energy-dependent drug efflux pump. The multidrug transporter represents a member of the ATP-binding cassette superfamily of transporters (or traffic ATPases) and is composed of two highly homologous halves, each of which harbors a hydrophobic transmembrane domain and a hydrophilic ATP-binding fold. This review focuses on various biochemical and molecular genetic approaches used to analyze the structure, function, and mechanism of action of the multidrug transporter, whose most intriguing feature is its ability to interact with a large number of structurally and functionally different amphiphilic compounds. These studies have underscored the complexity of this membrane protein which has recently been suggested to assume alternative topological and quaternary structures, and to serve multiple functions both as a transporter and as a channel. With respect to the multidrug transporter activity of P-glycoprotein, progress has been made towards the elucidation of essential amino acid residues and/or polypeptide regions. Furthermore, the drug-stimulatable ATPase activity of P-glycoprotein has been established. The mechanism of drug transport by P-glycoprotein, however, is still unknown and its physiological role remains a matter of speculation.     

Gene cloning and characterization of VcrM,a Na+-coupled multidrug efflux pump,from Vibrio cholerae non-O1

We cloned a DNA fragment responsible for drug resistance from chromosome of Vibrio cholerae non-O1. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this fragment revealed the presence of a single open reading frame encoding a protein consisting of 445 amino acid residues. We designated the gene as vcrM. Hydropathy analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of VcrM suggests the presence of 12 trans-membrane segments. A dendrogram showed that VcrM is a member of the DinF-subfamily within the MATE family of multidrug efflux pumps. Expression of the cloned vcrM gene in drug-hypersensitive Escherichia coli KAM32 cells made them resistant to acriflavine, 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, Hoechst 33342, rhodamine 6G, tetraphenylphosphonium chloride (TPPCl) and ethidium bromide. Efflux of acriflavine due to VcrM was dependent on Na+ or Li+. Moreover, Na+ efflux was observed with VcrM when TPPCl was added to Na+-loaded cells. Therefore, we conclude that VcrM is a Na+/drug antiporter-type multidrug efflux pump.     

革兰氏阴性菌AcrAB-TolC多药外排泵结构数据对抑制剂研发的启示

革兰氏阴性菌的多重耐药性已成为全球广泛聚焦的问题。近年研究发现,耐药结节细胞分化(resistance-nodulation-cell division,RND)家族外排泵的过表达,与革兰氏阴性菌的多重耐药性密切相关。在RND家族中,广泛存在于革兰氏阴性菌中的AcrAB-TolC外排泵被认为是导致多重耐药性的主要原因之一。为了开发有效的抑制剂,需要对AcrAB-TolC外排泵的结构有一个清晰的认识。以往对该外排泵结构的研究主要局限于体外采用X射线晶体学技术或冷冻电镜单颗粒分析技术来解析其单个组分或全泵的结构。细胞冷冻电子断层扫描技术为揭示AcrAB-TolC外排泵在天然细胞膜环境中的组装和运行机制提供了新的见解,本文综述了AcrAB-TolC不同层级的结构数据在研发外排泵抑制剂方面的贡献。     

Cytolysin A-mediated protein exportation efficiency and its role in enhancing the fitness of live recombinant Salmonella Typhi vaccine strain

The genetic fusion of cytolysin A (clyA) to heterologous antigen expressed in live Salmonella vector demonstrated efficient translocation into periplasmic space and extracellular medium. Accumulating evidence has shown that clyA-mediated antigen delivery improved growth fitness and enhanced immunogenicity of live vector vaccine, but the factors influencing this protein exportation has not been investigated. In this study, Toxoplasma gondii antigen fused at C-terminal of clyA protein was expressed in live S. Typhi vector via both plasmid and chromosomal-based expressions. The bivalent strains showed comparable growth rates as monovalent strains, but in varies antigen exportation efficiency. ClyA-fusion antigen with positive charges was translocated to the extracellular spaces, whereas those with negative charges were retained in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, excessive cellular resources expenditure on antigen expression, especially antigen with larger size, could limit the clyA-fusion antigen exportation, resulting in undesirable metabolic burden that eventually affects the growth fitness. Altogether, the present work indicates potential linkage of factors mainly on antigen properties and expression platforms that may affect clyA-mediated antigen delivery to enhance the growth fitness of live vector strain.