The cell wall amidase AmiB is essential for Pseudomonas aeruginosa cell division,drug resistance and viability

The physiological function of cell wall amidases has been investigated in several proteobacterial species. In all cases, they have been implicated in the cleavage of cell wall material synthesized by the cytokinetic ring. Although typically non‐essential, this activity is critical for daughter cell separation and outer membrane invagination during division. In Escherichia coli, proteins with LytM domains also participate in cell separation by stimulating amidase activity. Here, we investigated the function of amidases and LytM proteins in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In agreement with studies in other organisms, ^PaAmiB and three LytM proteins were found to play crucial roles in P. aeruginosa cell separation, envelope integrity and antibiotic resistance. Importantly, the phenotype of amidase‐defective P. aeruginosa cells also differed in informative ways from the E. coli paradigm; ^PaAmiB was found to be essential for viability and the successful completion of cell constriction. Our results thus reveal a key role for amidase activity in cytokinetic ring contraction. Furthermore, we show that the essential function of ^PaAmiB can be bypassed in mutants activated for a Cpx‐like envelope stress response, suggesting that this signaling system may elicit the repair of division machinery defects in addition to general envelope damage.     

铜绿假单胞菌的分布特点耐药性分析

目的分析3年来我院患者铜绿假单胞菌的耐药特点,为临床合理用药提供依据,并有助于医院感染预防与控制。方法对2010年至2012年我院各类感染患者标本中分离获得的铜绿假单胞菌,采用纸片扩散法（K-B法）检测抗菌药物的敏感性,并用WHONET5．3软件对药敏结果进行统计分析。结果3年分离的铜绿假单胞菌共计369株,其对多黏菌素B无耐药,对亚胺培南、美罗培南、头孢哌酮／舒巴坦、哌拉西彬他唑巴坦和阿米卡星的耐药率较低（6．81％～22．73％）,对其他抗菌药物的耐药率较高（32．47％～73．38％）。结论铜绿假单胞菌对多种抗菌药物均具有较高的耐药性,临床上治疗该菌感染时应根据药敏检测结果选择抗菌药物。     

铜绿假单胞菌的临床分布和耐药性变迁

目的调查温州医学院附属第一医院铜绿假单胞菌的临床分布和耐药性及其变迁情况,指导临床合理用药和控制耐药菌的产生。方法对该院2003年至2005年437株铜绿假单胞菌进行回顾性分析,用17种抗菌药物进行体外药敏试验。结果铜绿假单胞菌分布以呼吸道感染和创口分泌物感染为主。细菌对第3代头孢菌素耐药率高,对头孢他啶、亚胺培南、头孢哌酮/舒巴坦和氟喹诺酮类药物的耐药率均有逐年增加的趋势。耐药率增加与临床广谱抗菌药物用药量增加有关。结论铜绿假单胞菌的耐药性十分突出,应在药敏指导下合理选用抗菌药物,应该适当控制碳青霉烯类和第3代头孢菌素的使用,减缓耐药菌株的产生。     

The cost of multiple drug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The spread of bacterial antibiotic resistance mutations is thought to be constrained by their pleiotropic fitness costs. Here we investigate the fitness costs of resistance in the context of the evolution of multiple drug resistance (MDR), by measuring the cost of acquiring streptomycin resistance mutations (StrepR) in independent strains of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa carrying different rifampicin resistance (RifR) mutations. In the absence of antibiotics, StrepR mutations are associated with similar fitness costs in different RifR genetic backgrounds. The cost of StrepR mutations is greater in a rifampicin‐sensitive (RifS) background, directly demonstrating antagonistic epistasis between resistance mutations. In the presence of rifampicin, StrepR mutations have contrasting effects in different RifR backgrounds: StrepR mutations have no detectable costs in some RifR backgrounds and massive fitness costs in others. Our results clearly demonstrate the importance of epistasis and genotype‐by‐environment interactions for the evolution of MDR.     

Conserved virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are required for killing Bacillus subtilis

The multi-host pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, possesses an extraordinary versatility which makes it capable of surviving the adverse conditions provided by environmental, host, and, presumably, competing microbial factors in its natural habitats. Here, we investigated the P. aeruginosa-Bacillus subtilis interaction in laboratory conditions and found that some P. aeruginosa strains can outcompete B. subtilis in mixed planktonic cultures. This is accompanied by the loss of B. subtilis viability. The bactericidal activity of P. aeruginosa is measured on B. subtilis plate cultures. The bactericidal activity is attenuated in pqsA, mvfR, lasR, pilB, gacA, dsbA, rpoS, and phnAB mutants. These results suggest that P. aeruginosa utilizes a subset of conserved virulence pathways in order to survive the conditions provided by its bacterial neighbors.     

Lipopolysaccharide as Shield and Receptor for R-Pyocin-Mediated Killing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces three different types of bacteriocins: the soluble S-pyocins and the bacteriophage-like F- and R-pyocins. R-pyocins kill susceptible bacteria of the same or closely related species with high efficiency. Five different types of R-pyocins (R1- to R5-pyocins) have been described based on their killing spectra and tail fiber protein sequences. We analyzed the distribution of R-pyocin genes in a collection of clinical P. aeruginosa isolates. We found similar percentages of isolates not containing R-pyocins (28%) and isolates containing genes encoding R1-pyocins (25%), R2-pyocins (17%), and R5-pyocins (29%). The R-pyocin-deficient isolates were susceptible to R1-, R2-, and R5-pyocins, while most R2- and R5- pyocin producers were resistant. Determination of the O serotypes revealed that the R-pyocin-susceptible isolates belonged to serotypes O1, O3, and O6, while the R-pyocin-resistant isolates were serotype O10, O11, and O12 isolates. We hypothesized that O-serotype-specific lipopolysaccharide (LPS) packaging densities may account for the distinct accessibilities of R-pyocins to their receptors at the cell surface. Using genetically defined LPS mutants, we showed that the l-Rha residue and two distinct d-Glc residues of the outer core are part of the receptor sites for R1-, R2-, and R5-pyocins, respectively. To illustrate R-pyocin-mediated intraspecies biological warfare, we monitored the population dynamics of two different R-pyocin-producing P. aeruginosa clones of sequential respiratory isolates obtained from a colonized patient. The results of this study highlight the potential role of R-pyocins in shaping bacterial populations during host colonization and support use of these molecules as specific and potent bactericidal agents.Many bacterial species produce bacteriocins, which are proteineous compounds that are able to kill cells of members of the same or closely related species (21). Pyocins, the bacteriocins produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can be classified into three different families: the soluble S-pyocins and the high-molecular-weight F- and R-pyocins. S-pyocins (18) are similar to colicins of Escherichia coli and cause cell death through their endonuclease or pore-forming activities (16). In contrast, the flexible F-pyocins and the rod-shaped R-pyocins are genetically and morphologically related to lambda and P2 bacteriophages, respectively (17). However, unlike bacteriophages, these pyocins lack a phage head structure, do not contain DNA, and are therefore not replicative. R-pyocins kill susceptible bacteria by binding to the cell surface, contracting their sheath, and inserting their core structure through the cell envelope, which results in target cell lysis due to depolarization of the cytoplasmic membrane (26). R-pyocins kill with high efficiency (one pyocin molecule kills one bacterial cell), while for the flexible F-pyocins 100 to 200 molecules are required to kill one cell (16).The expression of R-, F-, and S-pyocins is positively and negatively regulated by the PrtN and PrtR proteins, respectively, which are activated when a bacterial cell is exposed to DNA-damaging agents (14).Recently, there has been interest in R-pyocins as specific bactericidal agents. Their specificity, mediated by the tail fiber structure, has been exploited to construct novel R-pyocins with different target spectra (29). The therapeutic efficacy of engineered R-pyocins has been demonstrated in vivo in a mouse model of P. aeruginosa peritonitis (24) and exogenously by using food products contaminated by E. coli O157:H7 (23).Five different types of R-pyocins have been described based on their killing activities (10) and, more recently, based on a comparison of the amino acid sequences of the tail fiber protein Prf15 (PA0621 of PAO1) (29). While the amino acid sequences of the tail fiber proteins of the R2-, R3-, and R4-pyocins are nearly identical, the amino acid sequences of the R1- and R5-pyocins differ considerably in the C-terminal region of the Prf15 protein (29).It has been proposed that the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core contains the R-pyocin-specific recognition sites (15). Purified LPS molecules have also been shown to bind pyocin molecules. The pyocin-LPS interaction has been exploited as an epidemiological typing method to characterize clinical P. aeruginosa strains (3, 5). The precise molecular determinants responsible for the specific R-pyocin-LPS interactions, however, have not been characterized. In this study, we examined the R-pyocin profiles of P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from tracheal aspirates of intubated patients hospitalized in European intensive care units. We compared these profiles with the O serotypes, as defined by the variable B-band oligosaccharide chain of the LPS. Based on the data obtained, we propose an R-pyocin type- and O-serotype-specific killing profile. We also suggest structural determinants required for R-pyocin type-specific pyocin recognition. Our data suggest that LPS plays an essential role both as a protective shield and as a receptor for R-pyocins.     

301株铜绿假单胞菌的分布及耐药性分析

目的 通过对临床中分离的铜绿假单胞菌的分布及对临床常用13种抗生素的耐药性进行分析指导临床合理用药.方法 收集大连医科大学附属第二医院2010年1月至12月临床送检的标本,采用全自动细菌和药敏分析仪分离铜绿假单胞菌同时进行药敏试验.结果 铜绿假单胞菌在痰液标本中分离率高达79.06％;对头孢噻肟、头孢西丁、头孢唑啉3种药物的耐药率均大于50％;对头孢他啶,哌拉西林/他唑巴坦耐药率低于20％.结论 铜绿假单胞菌易产生多源耐药,加强耐药性监测,控制医院内感染,对临床医生选用有效的抗生素具有十分重要的意义.     

309株铜绿假单胞菌的分布及耐药性

目的分析铜绿假单胞菌的耐药特点,为临床合理选药提供依据。方法对首都医科大学附属北京潞河医院2014年1月至12月分离的铜绿假单胞菌,采用全自动细菌鉴定仪,用微量稀释法进行药敏试验,并用WHONET 5.6软件对药敏结果进行统计分析。结果 309株铜绿假单胞菌对哌拉西林、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、阿米卡星、妥布霉素的敏感性菌大于90.0%,对头孢吡肟、庆大霉素的敏感性分别为84.8%、84.5%,对亚胺培南、美罗培南的敏感率为71.5%、74.1%,对氨曲南的耐药率达78.0%;标本来源主要来自呼吸道标本,其次为分泌物标本、尿液标本;科室主要以呼吸科、神经外科、ICU为主。结论对铜绿假单胞菌感染应优先选择哌拉西林、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、阿米卡星、妥布霉素等,临床应限制氨曲南的使用。     

Evidence that WapB is a 1,2-glucosyltransferase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa involved in Lipopolysaccharide outer core biosynthesis

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen infecting debilitated individuals. One of the major virulence factors expressed by P. aeruginosa is lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is composed of lipid A, core oligosaccharide (OS), and O-antigen polysaccharide. The core OS is divided into inner and outer regions. Although the structure of the outer core OS has been elucidated, the functions and mechanisms of the glycosyltransferases involved in core OS biogenesis are currently unknown. Here, we show that a previously uncharacterized gene, pa1014, is involved in outer core biosynthesis, and we propose to rename this gene wapB. We constructed a chromosomal mutant, wapB::Gm, in a PAO1 (O5 serotype) strain background. Characterization of the LPS from the mutant by Western immunoblotting showed a lack of reactivity to PAO1 outer core-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) 5c-101. The chemical structure of the core OS of the wapB mutant was elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques and revealed that the core OS of the wapB mutant lacked the terminal β-1,2-linked-d-glucose residue. Complementation of the mutant with wapB in trans restored the core structure to one that is identical to that of the wild type. Eleven of the 20 P. aeruginosa International Antigenic Typing Scheme (IATS) serotypes produce LPSs that lack the terminal d-glucose residue (Glc(IV)). Interestingly, expressing wapB in each of these 11 serotypes modifies each of their outer core OS structures, which became reactive to MAb 5c-101 in Western immunoblotting, suggesting the presence of a terminal d-glucose in these core OS structures. Our results strongly suggested that wapB encodes a 1,2-glucosyltransferase.     

重症监护病房鲍曼不动杆菌和铜绿假单胞菌的分布及耐药性监测

目的探讨医院重症监护病房(ICU)鲍曼不动杆菌及铜绿假单胞菌临床分离株的分布及耐药性特点。方法回顾性调查2006年7月至2010年6月ICU患者中分离出的鲍曼不动杆菌和铜绿假单胞菌的临床感染情况,对111株鲍曼不动杆菌和73株铜绿假单胞菌的药敏结果进行统计分析,所有数据采用WHONET 5.5软件进行分析。结果鲍曼不动杆菌及铜绿假单胞菌在呼吸道标本中检出率最高(76.1%),其次是CVP导管尖端(8.7%),鲍曼不动杆菌对临床常用抗菌药物耐药率85%的有8种,对亚胺培南的耐药率也达70.3%,耐药率最低的仅有头孢哌酮/舒巴坦(17.1%);铜绿假单胞菌对替卡西林、亚胺培南有较高的耐药率,分别为45.2%、41.1%,对其他抗菌药物耐药率均25%。结论下呼吸道是ICU患者鲍曼不动杆菌和铜绿假单胞菌感染的主要部位;ICU患者感染以鲍曼不动杆菌和铜绿假单胞菌为主,鲍曼不动杆菌较铜绿假单胞菌耐药及多重耐药性严重。     

铜绿假单胞菌的院内感染分布及耐药性的调查

目的了解铜绿假单胞菌（PA）在医院内感染的分布特点及其耐药性,指导临床合理用药,降低医院感染率。方法回顾分析2005年1月至2008年11月我院临床分离的铜绿假单胞菌152株,按WHO推荐的NC-CLS标准方法（K—B法）进行药敏试验,分析菌株的临床分布特征及体外药敏结果。结果铜绿假单胞菌在临床上主要以呼吸道感染为主。在17种临床常用抗生素中,多表现为多重耐药。美洛培南、亚胺培南及左旋氧氟沙星抗PA效果最好,耐药率分别只有14．47％、14．47和5．26％。结论多重耐药铜绿假单胞菌在临床广泛存在,应当根据临床体外药敏结果合理选择抗菌药物进行治疗,以取得良好临床效果并减少耐药菌产生;同时规范院内感染控制措施,减少耐药菌株的播散。     

Evolution and utility of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa drug resistance factor.

We describe the addition to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa sex factor, FP2, of carbenicillin resistance encoded by the RP1 plasmid. This occurred in a step-wise manner as detected by variations in the characteristics of the FP2-RP1 plasmid aggregate. The addition of the carbenicillin resistance marker to FP2 facilitates estimates of FP2 transfer. Transfer frequencies for the presumed cointegrate plasmid, using carbenicillin selection, approached 10(-1) per donor bacterium. The chromosomal mobilization properties of the derived plasmid, designated pR0271, resembled those of the progenitor plasmid FP2. Plasmid pR0271 was also observed to mobilize a nontransmissible drug resistance plasmid sharing genetic homology at frequencies corresponding to those observed for chromosomal markers proximal to the origin of transfer.     

ICU患者铜绿假单胞菌获得性肺炎耐药研究

目的监测重症监护病房（ICU）铜绿假单胞菌（Pseudomonas aeruginosa,PA）的感染状况及耐药变迁,指导临床合理使用抗菌药物。方法对2003年至2007年间,我院ICU收治的患者下呼吸道分泌物进行培养及体外耐药试验。结果铜绿假单胞菌是ICU下呼吸道感染的主导致病菌且感染率呈逐年上升的趋势（46．3％-81．0％）,细菌对三代头孢、亚胺培南及氨基糖苷类药物的耐药性也呈逐年上升的趋势,并呈现多重耐药的特性。结论铜绿假单胞菌是ICU院内下呼吸道感染的常见病原菌,其多重耐药性及应引起高度重视。     

126株铜绿假单胞菌的临床分布及耐药性分析

目的调查分析象山县中医医院铜绿假单胞菌的临床分布及药敏情况,为临床合理选用抗生素提供可靠的依据。方法采集疑似患者的标本,进行分离、培养与鉴定。采用自动微生物鉴定／药敏分析仪进行鉴定及药敏试验,对2012年7月至2013年10月分离出的126株铜绿假单胞菌（包括21株黏液型铜绿假单胞菌）的分布及耐药性进行回顾性分析。结果126株铜绿假单胞菌临床主要分布情况：痰占80．2％,尿液占11．1％,脓液占7．1％,以呼吸道感染为主。对铜绿假单胞菌保持活性较强同时耐药率〈20％的抗生素有阿米卡星、妥布霉素、亚胺培南、哌拉西林／他唑巴坦,其中碳青霉烯类耐药率升至5％,原来被认为抗铜绿假单胞菌较为有效的喹诺酮类抗生素的耐药率也有了很大提升,左氧氟沙星耐药率升至33％。黏液型铜绿假单胞菌的体外抗菌药物敏感试验耐药性较弱,且明显弱于非黏液型铜绿假单胞菌的耐药性。结论铜绿假单胞菌为医院呼吸道感染的常见致病菌,对多种抗菌药物呈不同程度耐药。加强动态监测,合理使用抗菌药物,对铜绿假单胞菌感染的预防和药物治疗具有重要指导意义。     

Cluster II che genes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa are required for an optimal chemotactic response

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a gamma-proteobacterium, is motile by means of a single polar flagellum and is chemotactic to a variety of organic compounds and phosphate. P. aeruginosa has multiple homologues of Escherichia coli chemotaxis genes that are organized into five gene clusters. Previously, it was demonstrated that genes in cluster I and cluster V are essential for chemotaxis. A third cluster (cluster II) contains a complete set of che genes, as well as two genes, mcpA and mcpB, encoding methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins. Mutations were constructed in several of the cluster II che genes and in the mcp genes to examine their possible contributions to P. aeruginosa chemotaxis. A cheB2 mutant was partially impaired in chemotaxis in soft-agar swarm plate assays. Providing cheB2 in trans complemented this defect. Further, overexpression of CheB2 restored chemotaxis to a completely nonchemotactic, cluster I, cheB-deficient strain to near wild-type levels. An mcpA mutant was defective in chemotaxis in media that were low in magnesium. The defect could be relieved by the addition of magnesium to the swarm plate medium. An mcpB mutant was defective in chemotaxis when assayed in dilute rich soft-agar swarm medium or in minimal-medium swarm plates containing any 1 of 60 chemoattractants. The mutant phenotype could be complemented by the addition of mcpB in trans. Overexpression of either McpA or McpB in P. aeruginosa or Escherichia coli resulted in impairment of chemotaxis, and these cells had smooth-swimming phenotypes when observed under the microscope. Expression of P. aeruginosa cheA2, cheB2, or cheW2 in E. coli K-12 completely disrupted wild-type chemotaxis, while expression of cheY2 had no effect. These results indicate that che cluster II genes are expressed in P. aeruginosa and are required for an optimal chemotactic response.     

Multiple drug resistance and strength of attachment to surfaces in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates

Aims: To investigate the presence of a relationship between the strength of attachment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to stainless steel surfaces and their observed multiple drug resistance. Methods and Results: Multiple drug resistance of clinical and environmental isolates of Ps. aeruginosa was evaluated using disc diffusion method. The blot succession technique was used to quantify the strength of attachment of Ps. aeruginosa isolates. Different multiple drug–resistant Ps. aeruginosa isolates exhibited variable attachment strength. Although the highest multiple drug–resistant clinical isolate was shown to have the least attachment strength among clinical isolates, a weak correlation was found between attachment strength and multiple resistance among our investigated Ps. aeruginosa isolates. Conclusions: There is a weak correlation between multiple drug resistance and strength of attachment to stainless steel surfaces. Significance and Impact of the Study: Even low‐resistant Ps. aeruginosa could have the potential of attaching firmly to surfaces and forming biofilm.     

铜绿假单胞菌的临床感染及耐药性分析

目的了解铜绿假单胞菌（PAE）临床感染特点和耐药特性,为医院感染的监测与控制提供依据。方法采用法国生物梅里埃公司的API鉴定系统及VITEK2系统进行细菌鉴定,用K-B纸片扩散法进行药敏试验,用WHONET 5.4软件分析PAE的耐药性。结果10年来共分离出2479株PAE,主要来源于病房的呼吸道标本,其对23种抗菌药物的耐药率逐年上升,只有美罗培南、亚胺培南、头孢他啶和环丙沙星的耐药率〈30%,多重耐药PAE共有188株,主要分布在重症监护病房、呼吸内科。结论PAE的耐药性已十分严重,必须进行严密监控,以预防PAE导致的医院感染暴发流行。     

Variability in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lipopolysaccharide Expression during Crude Oil Degradation

Bacterial utilization of crude oil components, such as the n-alkanes, requires complex cell surface adaptation to allow adherence to oil. To better understand microbial cell surface adaptation to growth on crude oil, the cell surface characteristics of two Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, U1 and U3, both isolated from the same crude oil-degrading microbial community enriched on Bonny Light crude oil (BLC), were compared. Analysis of growth rates demonstrated an increased lag time for U1 cells compared to U3 cells. Amendment with EDTA inhibited U1 and U3 growth and degradation of the n-alkane component of BLC, suggesting a link between cell surface structure and crude oil degradation. U1 cells demonstrated a smooth-to-rough colony morphology transition when grown on BLC, while U3 cells exhibited rough colony morphology at the outset. Combining high-resolution atomic force microscopy of the cell surface and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of extracted lipopolysaccharides (LPS), we demonstrate that isolates grown on BLC have reduced O-antigen expression compared with that of glucose-grown cells. The loss of O-antigen resulted in shorter LPS molecules, increased cell surface hydrophobicity, and increased n-alkane degradation.