Unique variations of pbp2b sequences in penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from Korea

Molecular Characterization of Penicillin-Binding Protein2x, 2b and 1a of Streptococcus pneumoniae Causing Invasive Pneumococcal Diseases in China: A Multicenter Study

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common human pathogen that can cause severe invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs). Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) are the targets for β-lactam antibiotics (BLAs), which are the common empirical drugs for treatment of pneumococcal infection. This study investigated the serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance patterns of S. pneumoniae strains causing IPD in China, including exploring the association between penicillin (PEN) susceptibility and PBPs variations. A total of 300 invasive S. pneumoniae isolates were collected from 27 teaching hospitals in China (2010-2015). Serotypes were determined by Quellung reaction. Serotypes 23F and 19F were the commonest serotypes in isolates from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), whilst serotypes 19A and 23F were most commonly seen in non-CSF specimens. Among the 300 invasive S. pneumoniae strains, only one strain (serotype 6A, MIC = 0.25 μg/ml) with PEN MIC value ≤ 0.25 μg/ml did not have any substitutions in the PBPs active sites. All the strains with PEN MIC value ≥ 0.5 μg/ml had different substitutions within PBPs active sites. Substitutions in PBP2b and PBP2x active sites were common in low-level penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) strains (MIC = 0.5 μg/ml), with or without PBP1a substitution, while all strains with PEN MIC ≥ 1 μg/ml had substitutions in PBP1a active sites, accompanied by PBP2b and PBP2x active site substitutions. Based on the three PBPs substitution combinations, a high degree of diversity was observed amongst the isolates. This study provides some new insights for understanding the serology and antibiotic resistance dynamics of S. pneumoniae causing IPD in China. However, further genomic studies are needed to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of antibiotic resistance mechanisms of S. pneumoniae.

Analysis of amino acid motif of penicillin-binding proteins 1a, 2b, and 2x in invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae nonsusceptible to penicillin isolated from pediatric patients in Casablanca, Morocco

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the nature of the amino acid motifs found in PBPs of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in invasive diseases from pediatric patients at Casablanca, Morocco. Five penicillin-susceptible (PSSP), ten penicillin-intermediate (PISP), and fifteen penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) were studied by PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing of the pbp1a, - 2b, and - 2x genes.

RESULTS

There were no changes in the conserved motifs of PBP1a, PBP2b and PBP2x for PSSP strains. Substitution close to PBP1a conserved motifs were found in all PRSP isolates and six/five PISP. Analysis of PBP2b showed that all but one of the 10 PISP strains and all PRSP had substitutions. Substitution close to PBP2x motifs showed that all but three of the 10 PISP strains and all PRSP had substitutions in tow conserved motifs. A total of 6, 11 and 10 genotypes were found after analysis of pbp1a, pbp2b, and pbp2x, respectively. The penicillin-nonsusceptible S. pneumoniae isolated in Casablanca share most amino acid substitutions of those reported worldwide, but they occurred among pneumococci with low level resistance to b-lactams.

Molecular characteristics of penicillin-binding protein 2b, 2x and 1a sequences in Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates causing invasive diseases among children in Northeast China

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the common pathogens causing severe invasive infections in children. This study aimed to investigate the serotype distribution and variations of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) 2b, 2x and 1a in S. pneumoniae isolates causing invasive diseases in Northeast China. A total of 256 strains were isolated from children with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) from January 2000 to October 2014. All strains were serotyped and determined for antibiotic resistance. The amplicons of penicillin-binding domains in pbp1a, pbp2b and pbp2x genes were sequenced for variation identification. The most prevalent serotypes of isolates in IPD children were 19A, 14, 19F, 23F and 6B. 19A and 19F were the most frequent serotypes of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP), which present with high resistance to amoxicillin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and meropenem. The numbers of amino acid substitutions of penicillin-non-susceptible S. pneumoniae (PNSP) isolates were higher than those of penicillin-sensitive S. pneumoniae isolates in all the PBP genes (p < 0.01). The patterns of amino acid mutation in PBP2b, PBP2x and PBP1a were unique and different from those of other countries. All of the serotype 19A and 19F PRSP isolates carried 25 amino acid mutations, including Ala618 → Gly between positions 560 and 675 in PBP2b and Thr338 → Ala substitutions in PBP2x. The amino acid alterations in PBP2b, PBP2x and PBP1a from S. pneumoniae were closely associated with resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. This study provides new data for further monitoring of genetic changes related to the emergence and spread of resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in China.

Roles of virulence genes (PsaA and CpsA) on the invasion of Streptococcus pneumoniae into blood system

BACKGROUND

Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) is the major cause of childhood mortality worldwide, we need to understand virulence genes of SP so can better target the treatment.We investigated the expression of virulence genes PsaA and CpsA in different strains of SP interacting with monocyte cell line (THP-1) or pneumocyte cell line (A549) and the possible mechanism of SP invasion of the blood system.

METHODS

A total of 23 strains of SP were collected from hospitalized patients (blood-derived and sputum-derived) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College. The strains and ATCC 49619 were cultured, and RNAs were extracted. THP-1 and A549 cells were stimulated by different SP and ATCC 49619 for 4 h and 8 h, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to analyze the mRNA expression of PsaA and CpsA. The data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0.

RESULTS

The mRNA level of PsaA and CpsA were all significantly increased in clinical SP strains when compared to ATCC49619 after tedTHP-1 and A549 cells were stimulated. Clinical SPs showed higher virulence compared with ATCC49619.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of CpsA is the basis of the pathogenicity of SP. The expression of virulence gene PsaA may be helpful to the invasion of SP to the blood system.

Emergence of a unique penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae serogroup 35 strain

We analyzed seven Streptococcus pneumoniae serogroup 35 isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of the genome and pbp2b gene nucleotide sequences. Three penicillin-susceptible strains and one penicillin-intermediate-resistant strain exhibited 100% identity to prototype R6. Two resistant strains and one other intermediate strain differed from them and contained a unique sequence.

Molecular characteristics of penicillin-binding protein 2b, 2x, and 1a sequences in penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Shenyang, China

The aim of this sudy was to investigate the nature of the amino acid motifs found in penicillin-binding proteins (PBP) 2b, 2x, and 1a of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from Shenyang, China, and to obtain information regarding the prevalence of alterations within the motifs or in positions flanking the motifs. For 18 clinical isolates comprising 4 penicillin-susceptible S. pneumoniae, 5 penicillin-intermediate S. pneumoniae, and 9 penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae. the DNA sequences of PBP2b, PBP2x, and PBP1a transpeptidase domains were determined and then genotyped by multilocus sequence typing. Sequence analysis revealed that most penicillin-nonsusceptible S. pneumoniae isolates (penicillin MIC ≥ 1.5 μg/mL and cefotaxime MIC ≥ 2 μg/mL) shared identical PBP2b, PBP2x, and PBP1a amino acid profiles. Most penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae isolates were ST320 (4-16-19-15-6-20-1), the double-locus variant of the Taiwan19F-14 clone. This study will serve as a basis for future monitoring of genetic changes associated with the emergence and spread of β-lactam resistance in Shenyang, China.

Molecular characteristics of pbp1a and pbp2b in clinical Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Quebec, Canada

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the nature of the amino acid motifs found in penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2b and PBP1a of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates across Quebec (Canada), and to obtain preliminary information regarding the prevalence of these alterations.

METHODS

DNA sequences of pbp2b (codons 210-675) and pbp1a (codons 310-682) transpeptidase domains were determined and compared in 48 clinical isolates comprising 17 penicillin-susceptible (PSSP), 19 penicillin-intermediate (PISP) and 12 penicillin-resistant (PRSP) pneumococci.

RESULTS

The degree of diversity within PBP1a and PBP2b correlated with increased resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. There were an average of 0.6 +/- 0.4 and 2.9 +/- 0.2 mutations in PSSP, 16.8 +/- 1.4 and 36.3 +/- 5.2 in PISP, and 18.7 +/- 2.5 and 51.4 +/- 1.3 in PRSP isolates compared with control penicillin-susceptible R6-PBP2b and R6-PBP1a sequences, respectively. At least seven PBP2b and six PBP1a distinct amino acid profiles were identified among intermediate or resistant strains isolated in Quebec. The pattern of distribution of the PBPs' altered amino acids differs from that of other countries, with pneumococci isolates from Quebec showing a unique genetic signature.

CONCLUSION

This study will serve as a basis for future monitoring of genetic changes associated with the emergence and spread of beta-lactam resistance in Quebec, Canada.

New species of Bordetella, Bordetella ansorpii sp. nov., isolated from the purulent exudate of an epidermal cyst

A gram-negative bacillus, SMC-8986(T), which was isolated from the purulent exudate of an epidermal cyst but could not be identified by a conventional microbiologic method, was characterized by a variety of phenotypic and genotypic analyses. Sequences of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that this bacterium belongs to the genus Bordetella but diverged distinctly from previously described Bordetella species. Analyses of cellular fatty acid composition and performance of biochemical tests confirmed that this bacterium is distinct from other Bordetella species. Furthermore, the results of comparative sequence analyses of two protein-coding genes (risA and ompA) also showed that this strain represents a new species within the genus Bordetella. Based on the evaluated phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, it is proposed that SMC-8986(T) should be classified as a new species, namely Bordetella ansorpii sp. nov.

Genetic analysis of pbp2x in clinical Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Quebec, Canada

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the nature of the amino acid motifs found in penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2x of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates across the province of Quebec (Canada), and to obtain preliminary information regarding the prevalence of these alterations.

METHODS

The pbp2x genomic region encompassing codons 178-703, which includes the entire region of the transpeptidase domain, was sequenced and compared for 52 clinical isolates comprising 20 penicillin-susceptible (PSSP), 20 penicillin-intermediate (PISP) and 12 penicillin-resistant (PRSP) pneumococci.

RESULTS

The degree of diversity within PBP2x correlated with increased resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. There were an average of 5.0 +/- 1.8 mutations in PSSP, 37.9 +/- 4.4 in PISP, and 63.0 +/- 2.0 in PRSP isolates when compared with the control penicillin-susceptible strain R6. At least six distinct amino acid profiles were identified among PISP strains isolated in Quebec. In contrast, all PRSP isolates shared a similar pattern of altered amino acids compared with the sequence from susceptible strains.

CONCLUSIONS

These data will be useful in future studies to monitor the genetic changes associated with the emergence and spread of beta-lactam resistance in Quebec.

Distribution of major genotypes among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clones in Asian countries

To investigate the evolutionary pattern and genotypic characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains in the Asian region, 74 MRSA strains isolated from 12 Asian countries were analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and SCCmec typing. Overall, a total of 16 genotypes based on sequence type and SCCmec types were identified among MRSA strains from Asian countries. Data revealed two major genotypes of MRSA strains in Asia, with unique geographic distributions. By MLST analysis, all strains from Korea and Japan except one belonged to clonal complex 5 (CC5) while most MRSA isolates from other Asian countries belonged to CC239. SCCmec typing showed that most isolates from Korea and Japan were SSmec type II whereas SCCmec type III (or IIIA) was the most common type in strains from other Asian countries. Our data documented a unique geographic distribution and evolutionary pattern of MRSA clones in Asia.