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Zhou K, Chen SC, Yang F, van der Veen S, Yin YP. Impact of the gonococcal FC428 penA allele 60.001 on ceftriaxone resistance and biological fitness. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 9:1219-1229. [PMID: 32438866 PMCID: PMC7448936 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1773325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Global dissemination of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae ceftriaxone-resistant FC428 clone jeopardizes the currently recommended ceftriaxone-based first-line therapies. Ceftriaxone resistance in the FC428 clone has been associated with the presence of its mosaic penA allele 60.001. Here we investigated the contribution penA allele 60.001 to ceftriaxone resistance and its impact on biological fitness. Gonococcal isolates expressing penA allele 60.001 and mosaic penA allele 10.001, which is widespread in the Asia-Pacific region and associated with reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone and cefixime, were genetic engineered to exchange their penA alleles. Subsequent antimicrobial susceptibility analyses showed that mutants containing penA 60.001 displayed 8- to 16-fold higher ceftriaxone and cefixime minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) compared with otherwise isogenic mutants containing penA 10.001. Further analysis of biological fitness showed that in vitro liquid growth of single strains and in the competition was identical between the isogenic penA allele exchange mutants. However, in the presence of high concentrations of palmitic acid or lithocholic acid, the penA 60.001-containing mutants grew better than the isogenic penA 10.001-containing mutants when grown as single strains. In contrast, the penA 10.001 mutants outcompeted the penA 60.001 mutants when grown in competition at slightly lower palmitic acid or lithocholic acid concentrations. Finally, the penA 60.001 mutants were outcompeted by their penA 10.001 counterparts for in vivo colonization and survival in a mouse vaginal tract infection model. In conclusion, penA allele 60.001 is essential for ceftriaxone resistance of the FC428 clone, while its impact on biological fitness is dependent on the specific growth conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhou
- Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- National Center for STD Control, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shao-Chun Chen
- Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- National Center for STD Control, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Stijn van der Veen
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue-Ping Yin
- Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- National Center for STD Control, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
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