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Ding Y, Hao J, Xiao W, Ye C, Xiao X, Jian C, Tang M, Li G, Liu J, Zeng Z. Role of efflux pumps, their inhibitors, and regulators in colistin resistance. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1207441. [PMID: 37601369 PMCID: PMC10436536 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1207441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Colistin is highly promising against multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant bacteria clinically. Bacteria are resistant to colistin mainly through mcr and chromosome-mediated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis-related locus variation. However, the current understanding cannot fully explain the resistance mechanism in mcr-negative colistin-resistant strains. Significantly, the contribution of efflux pumps to colistin resistance remains to be clarified. This review aims to discuss the contribution of efflux pumps and their related transcriptional regulators to colistin resistance in various bacteria and the reversal effect of efflux pump inhibitors on colistin resistance. Previous studies suggested a complex regulatory relationship between the efflux pumps and their transcriptional regulators and LPS synthesis, transport, and modification. Carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), 1-(1-naphthylmethyl)-piperazine (NMP), and Phe-Arg-β-naphthylamide (PAβN) all achieved the reversal of colistin resistance, highlighting the role of efflux pumps in colistin resistance and their potential for adjuvant development. The contribution of the efflux pumps to colistin resistance might also be related to specific genetic backgrounds. They can participate in colistin tolerance and heterogeneous resistance to affect the treatment efficacy of colistin. These findings help understand the development of resistance in mcr-negative colistin-resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jinbo Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zhangrui Zeng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
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Clarke OE, Pelling H, Bennett V, Matsumoto T, Gregory GE, Nzakizwanayo J, Slate AJ, Preston A, Laabei M, Bock LJ, Wand ME, Ikebukuro K, Gebhard S, Sutton JM, Jones BV. Lipopolysaccharide structure modulates cationic biocide susceptibility and crystalline biofilm formation in Proteus mirabilis. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1150625. [PMID: 37089543 PMCID: PMC10113676 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1150625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlorhexidine (CHD) is a cationic biocide used ubiquitously in healthcare settings. Proteus mirabilis, an important pathogen of the catheterized urinary tract, and isolates of this species are often described as “resistant” to CHD-containing products used for catheter infection control. To identify the mechanisms underlying reduced CHD susceptibility in P. mirabilis, we subjected the CHD tolerant clinical isolate RS47 to random transposon mutagenesis and screened for mutants with reduced CHD minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). One mutant recovered from these screens (designated RS47-2) exhibited ~ 8-fold reduction in CHD MIC. Complete genome sequencing of RS47-2 showed a single mini-Tn5 insert in the waaC gene involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inner core biosynthesis. Phenotypic screening of RS47-2 revealed a significant increase in cell surface hydrophobicity and serum susceptibility compared to the wildtype, and confirmed defects in LPS production congruent with waaC inactivation. Disruption of waaC was also associated with increased susceptibility to a range of other cationic biocides but did not affect susceptibility to antibiotics tested. Complementation studies showed that repression of smvA efflux activity in RS47-2 further increased susceptibility to CHD and other cationic biocides, reducing CHD MICs to values comparable with the most CHD susceptible isolates characterized. The formation of crystalline biofilms and blockage of urethral catheters was also significantly attenuated in RS47-2. Taken together, these data show that aspects of LPS structure and upregulation of the smvA efflux system function in synergy to modulate susceptibility to CHD and other cationic biocides, and that LPS structure is also an important factor in P. mirabilis crystalline biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. E. Clarke
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - H. Pelling
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - V. Bennett
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - T. Matsumoto
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - G. E. Gregory
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - J. Nzakizwanayo
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - A. J. Slate
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - A. Preston
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - M. Laabei
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - L. J. Bock
- United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - M. E. Wand
- United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - K. Ikebukuro
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - S. Gebhard
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - J. M. Sutton
- United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - B. V. Jones
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: B. V. Jones,
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Haruta A, Kawada-Matsuo M, Le MN, Yoshikawa M, Kajihara T, Yahara K, Kitamura N, Kutsuno S, Arai C, Takeuchi M, Sugawara Y, Hisatsune J, Tsuga K, Ohge H, Sugai M, Komatsuzawa H. Disinfectant Susceptibility of Third-Generation-Cephalosporin/Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated from the Oral Cavity of Residents of Long-Term-Care Facilities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0171222. [PMID: 36515531 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01712-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We have recently reported the isolation of third-generation-cephalosporin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria from the oral cavity of residents of a long-term-care facility (LTCF). Since disinfectants are often used in the oral cavity, it is important to investigate the disinfectant susceptibility of oral bacteria. Here, we evaluated the susceptibilities of Gram-negative antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (GN-ARB), including Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Enterobacteriaceae, obtained from the oral cavity of residents of LTCFs to povidone-iodine (PVPI), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), benzalkonium chloride (BZK), and chlorhexidine chloride (CHX). We also evaluated the susceptibilities of isolates from the rectum to the same agents to compare the susceptibility profiles of oral and rectal isolates. Next, we investigated the relationship between their susceptibility and disinfectant resistance genes delineated by whole-genome sequencing of the isolates. Additionally, we evaluated the correlation between disinfectant-resistant GN-ARB and clinical information. In oral GN-ARB, the MIC of PVPI showed almost identical values across isolates, while the MICs of CPC, BZK, and CHX showed a wide range of variation among species/strains. In particular, Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited high-level resistance to CPC and BZK. The disinfectant susceptibility of rectal GN-ARB showed a tendency similar to that of oral GN-ARB. The presence of qacEΔ1 was correlated with CPC/BZK resistance in P. aeruginosa, while other species exhibited no correlation between qacEΔ1 and resistance. Multiple analyses showed the correlation between the presence of CPC-resistant bacteria in the oral cavity and tube feeding. In conclusion, we found that some oral GN-ARB isolates showed resistance to not only antibiotics but also disinfectants. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) are becoming a serious concern worldwide. We previously reported the isolation of third-generation-cephalosporin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria from the oral cavity of residents of a long-term-care facility (LTCF). To prevent infection with ARB in hospitals and eldercare facilities, we must pay more attention to the use of not only antibiotics but also disinfectants. However, the effect of disinfectants on ARB is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the susceptibility of Gram-negative ARB (GN-ARB) from the oral cavity of residents of LTCFs to some disinfectants that are often used for the oral cavity; we found that some isolates showed resistance to several disinfectants. This is the first comprehensive analysis of the disinfectant susceptibility of oral GN-ARB. These results provide some important information for infection control and suggest that disinfectants should be applied carefully.
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Abstract
AbstractWith an increase in the number of isolates resistant to multiple antibiotics, infection control has become increasingly important to help combat the spread of multi-drug-resistant pathogens. An important component of this is through the use of disinfectants and antiseptics (biocides). Antibiotic resistance has been well studied in bacteria, but little is known about potential biocide resistance genes and there have been few reported outbreaks in hospitals resulting from a breakdown in biocide effectiveness. Development of increased tolerance to biocides has been thought to be more difficult due to the mode of action of biocides which affect multiple cellular targets compared with antibiotics. Very few genes which contribute towards increased biocide tolerance have been identified. However, the majority of those that have are components or regulators of different efflux pumps or genes which modulate membrane function/modification. This review will examine the role of efflux in increased tolerance towards biocides, focusing on cationic biocides and heavy metals against Gram-negative bacteria. As many efflux pumps which are upregulated by biocide presence also contribute towards an antimicrobial resistance phenotype, the role of these efflux pumps in cross-resistance to both other biocides and antibiotics will be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Wand
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - J Mark Sutton
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
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Rice CJ, Kelly SA, O’Brien SC, Melaugh EM, Ganacias JCB, Chai ZH, Gilmore BF, Skvortsov T. Novel Phage-Derived Depolymerase with Activity against Proteus mirabilis Biofilms. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2172. [PMID: 34683494 PMCID: PMC8539402 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The adherence of Proteus mirabilis to the surface of urinary catheters leads to colonization and eventual blockage of the catheter lumen by unique crystalline biofilms produced by these opportunistic pathogens, making P. mirabilis one of the leading causes of catheter-associated urinary tract infections. The Proteus biofilms reduce efficiency of antibiotic-based treatment, which in turn increases the risk of antibiotic resistance development. Bacteriophages and their enzymes have recently become investigated as alternative treatment options. In this study, a novel Proteus bacteriophage (vB_PmiS_PM-CJR) was isolated from an environmental sample and fully characterized. The phage displayed depolymerase activity and the subsequent genome analysis revealed the presence of a pectate lyase domain in its tail spike protein. The protein was heterologously expressed and purified; the ability of the purified tail spike to degrade Proteus biofilms was tested. We showed that the application of the tail spike protein was able to reduce the adherence of bacterial biofilm to plastic pegs in a MBEC (minimum biofilm eradication concentration) assay and improve the survival of Galleria mellonella larvae infected with Proteus mirabilis. Our study is the first to successfully isolate and characterize a biofilm depolymerase from a Proteus phage, demonstrating the potential of this group of enzymes in treatment of Proteus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Timofey Skvortsov
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (C.J.R.); (S.A.K.); (S.C.O.); (E.M.M.); (J.C.B.G.); (Z.H.C.); (B.F.G.)
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Leshem T, Gilron S, Azrad M, Peretz A. Characterization of reduced susceptibility to chlorhexidine among Gram-negative bacteria. Microbes Infect 2021; 24:104891. [PMID: 34628010 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2021.104891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is one of the most commonly used antiseptic, acting against Gram-negative, Gram-positive bacteria, yeast and fungi. However, over use may lead to reduced susceptibility of different bacteria to CHG. This study aimed to characterize the CHG susceptibility among Gram-negative strains in Israel, to evaluate factors that may affect this susceptibility, and to compare CHG susceptibility between ESBLs bacteria to strains without these enzymes. P. aeruginosa, P. mirabilis, K. spp, E. coli, and A. baumannii were isolated from clinical samples of 193 patients hospitalized at Padeh-Poriya Medical Center. Phenotypic CHG susceptibility was assessed by determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The highest CHG MIC was found among P. mirabilis. The differences between the CHG MIC values among the different strains were statistically significant (p <0.001). ESBL-positive strains had higher MIC values as compared to ESBL-negative strains (p =0.030). A significant association was found between CHG susceptibility and sample source (p =0.015). In conclusion, the information gathered here significantly improves our knowledge on the reduced susceptibility to CHG among Gram-negative bacteria in Israel. Moreover, ESBL-positive bacteria are less susceptible to CHG and finally, bacteria in sputum, wounds, and body fluids are less CHG-susceptible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Leshem
- Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Poriya, Tiberias 1528001, Israel
| | - Shani Gilron
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Maya Azrad
- Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Poriya, Tiberias 1528001, Israel
| | - Avi Peretz
- Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Poriya, Tiberias 1528001, Israel; The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel.
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Short FL, Liu Q, Shah B, Clift HE, Naidu V, Li L, Prity FT, Mabbutt BC, Hassan KA, Paulsen IT. The Acinetobacter baumannii disinfectant resistance protein, AmvA, is a spermidine and spermine efflux pump. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1114. [PMID: 34552198 PMCID: PMC8458285 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02629-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance genes, including multidrug efflux pumps, evolved long before the ubiquitous use of antimicrobials in medicine and infection control. Multidrug efflux pumps often transport metabolites, signals and host-derived molecules in addition to antibiotics or biocides. Understanding their ancestral physiological roles could inform the development of strategies to subvert their activity. In this study, we investigated the response of Acinetobacter baumannii to polyamines, a widespread, abundant class of amino acid-derived metabolites, which led us to identify long-chain polyamines as natural substrates of the disinfectant efflux pump AmvA. Loss of amvA dramatically reduced tolerance to long-chain polyamines, and these molecules induce expression of amvA through binding to its cognate regulator AmvR. A second clinically-important efflux pump, AdeABC, also contributed to polyamine tolerance. Our results suggest that the disinfectant resistance capability that allows A. baumannii to survive in hospitals may have evolutionary origins in the transport of polyamine metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca L. Short
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC Australia
| | - Qi Liu
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Bhumika Shah
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Heather E. Clift
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia ,grid.280427.b0000 0004 0434 015XPresent Address: Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI USA
| | - Varsha Naidu
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Liping Li
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Farzana T. Prity
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Bridget C. Mabbutt
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Karl A. Hassan
- grid.266842.c0000 0000 8831 109XSchool of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW Australia
| | - Ian T. Paulsen
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
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Garratt I, Aranega-Bou P, Sutton JM, Moore G, Wand ME. Long-Term Exposure to Octenidine in a Simulated Sink Trap Environment Results in Selection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter, and Enterobacter Isolates with Mutations in Efflux Pump Regulators. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e00210-21. [PMID: 33674437 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.00210-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Octenidine-based disinfection products are becoming increasingly popular for infection control of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative isolates. When a waste trap was removed from a hospital and allowed to acclimatize in a standard tap rig in our laboratory, it was shown that Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Citrobacter and Enterobacter spp. were readily isolated. This study aimed to understand the potential impact of prolonged exposure to low doses of a commercial product containing octenidine on these bacteria. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses showed that P. aeruginosa strains had increased tolerance to octenidine, which was characterized by mutations in the Tet repressor SmvR. Enterobacter species demonstrated increased tolerance to many other cationic biocides, although not octenidine, as well as the antibiotics ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and ceftazidime, through mutations in another Tet repressor, RamR. Citrobacter species with mutations in RamR and MarR were identified following octenidine exposure, and this is linked to development of resistance to ampicillin, piperacillin, and chloramphenicol, as well as an increased MIC for ciprofloxacin. Isolates were able to retain fitness, as characterized by growth, biofilm formation, and virulence in Galleria mellonella, after prolonged contact with octenidine, although there were strain-to-strain differences. These results demonstrate that continued low-level octenidine exposure in a simulated sink trap environment selects for mutations that affect smvR It may also promote microbial adaptation to other cationic biocides and cross-resistance to antibiotics, while not incurring a fitness cost. This suggests that hospital sink traps may act as a reservoir for more biocide-tolerant organisms.IMPORTANCE Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of bacteria are a major clinical problem, and several reports have linked outbreaks of MDR bacteria with bacterial populations in hospital sinks. Biocides such as octenidine are used clinically in body washes and other products, such as wound dressings for infection control. Therefore, increased tolerance to these biocides would be detrimental to infection control processes. Here, we exposed bacterial populations originally from hospital sink traps to repeated dosing with an octenidine-containing product over several weeks and observed how particular species adapted. We found mutations in genes related to biocide and antibiotic susceptibility, which resulted in increased tolerance, although this was species dependent. Bacteria that became more tolerant to octenidine also showed no loss of fitness. This shows that prolonged octenidine exposure has the potential to promote microbial adaptation in the environment and that hospital sink traps may act as a reservoir for increased biocide- and antibiotic-tolerant organisms.
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Impey RE, Hawkins DA, Sutton JM, Soares da Costa TP. Overcoming Intrinsic and Acquired Resistance Mechanisms Associated with the Cell Wall of Gram-Negative Bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:E623. [PMID: 32961699 PMCID: PMC7558195 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9090623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The global increase in multi-drug-resistant bacteria is severely impacting our ability to effectively treat common infections. For Gram-negative bacteria, their intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms are heightened by their unique cell wall structure. The cell wall, while being a target of some antibiotics, represents a barrier due to the inability of most antibacterial compounds to traverse and reach their intended target. This means that its composition and resulting mechanisms of resistance must be considered when developing new therapies. Here, we discuss potential antibiotic targets within the most well-characterised resistance mechanisms associated with the cell wall in Gram-negative bacteria, including the outer membrane structure, porins and efflux pumps. We also provide a timely update on the current progress of inhibitor development in these areas. Such compounds could represent new avenues for drug discovery as well as adjuvant therapy to help us overcome antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael E. Impey
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia; (R.E.I.); (D.A.H.)
| | - Daniel A. Hawkins
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia; (R.E.I.); (D.A.H.)
| | - J. Mark Sutton
- National Infection Service, Research and Development Institute, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK;
| | - Tatiana P. Soares da Costa
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia; (R.E.I.); (D.A.H.)
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