Identification of sulI allele of dihydropteroate synthase by representational difference analysis in Haemophilus parasuis serovar 2

Genetic basis for sulfonamide resistance in Bacillus anthracis

Natural resistance of field strains of Bacillus anthracis to drugs from the sulfonamide class of antimicrobials that act by inhibiting dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) has been reported. Though the structure of B. anthracis DHPS has been determined, its connection to the apparent intrinsic sulfonamide resistance of the bacterium has not been established. The aim of this study was to determine if a connection exists between DHPS and the observed sulfonamide resistance of B. anthracis. Microdilution broth assays verified that B. anthracis Sterne is highly resistant to a variety of sulfonamides with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) exceeding 1250 microg/ml. A putative gene encoding DHPS (folP) was amplified from B. anthracis Sterne chromosomal DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned. Sequence comparisons showed 100% identity with DHPSs from published genome sequences for various strains of B. anthracis. Additionally, expression of folP in B. anthracis Sterne was confirmed. Functionality of the B. anthracis DHPS was confirmed by complementation of an Escherichia coli folP deletion mutant as well as a standard enzyme assay. Concomitant transfer of high level sulfonamide resistance to this mutant along with increased sulfonamide IC(50)values for purified B. anthracis DHPS links DHPS to sulfonamide resistance in B. anthracis. These findings lay the groundwork that will aid future development of antimicrobics that target DHPS to treat anthrax infections.

Update on the diagnosis of Haemophilus parasuis infection in pigs and novel genotyping methods

Haemophilus parasuis causes Glässer's disease as well as a number of other diseases in pigs. The diagnosis of H. parasuis-associated disease is usually established by clinical signs, pathological findings and bacterial isolation but diagnosis is complicated by the existence of non-virulent strains and the early colonisation of the upper respiratory tract of healthy piglets. Moreover, several strains can be found on a farm and even within a single animal so it is important to determine the specific strain that is causing the clinical outbreak. Recently, genotyping methods have been developed with the goal of correlating genotype with the degree of virulence of H. parasuis strains. The association between genotype and virulence in H. parasuis is challenging due to the lack of knowledge of the complete genomic sequence and virulence factors of this bacterium.