Corinne Villers

New lnu(C) Gene Conferring Resistance to Lincomycin by Nucleotidylation in Streptococcus agalactiae UCN36

ABSTRACT Streptococcus agalactiae UCN36 was resistant to lincomycin (MIC = 16 μg/ml) but susceptible to clindamycin (MIC = 0.12 μg/ml) and erythromycin (MIC = 0.06 μg/ml). A 4-kb HindIII fragment was cloned from S. agalactiae UCN36 total DNA on plasmid pUC18 and introduced into Escherichia coli AG100A, where it conferred resistance to lincomycin. The sequence analysis of the fragment showed the presence of a 1,724-bp element delineated by imperfect inverted repeats (22 of 25 bp) and inserted in the operon for capsular synthesis of S. agalactiae UCN36. This element carried two open reading frames (ORF). The deduced amino acid sequence of the upstream ORF displayed similarity with transposases from anaerobes and IS1. The downstream ORF, lnu(C), encoded a 164-amino-acid protein with 26% to 27% identity with the LnuAN2, LnuA, and LnuA′ lincosamide nucleotidyltransferases reported for Bacteroides and Staphylococcus, respectively. Crude lysates of E. coli AG100A containing the cloned lnu(C) gene inactivated lincomycin and clindamycin in the presence of ATP and MgCl2. Mass spectrometry experiments demonstrated that the LnuC enzyme catalyzed adenylylation of lincomycin.

Lincomycin Resistance Gene lnu(D) in Streptococcus uberis

ABSTRACT Streptococcus uberis UCN 42, isolated from a case of bovine mastitis, was intermediately resistant to lincomycin (MIC = 2 μg/ml) while remaining susceptible to clindamycin (MIC = 0.06 μg/ml) and erythromycin. A 1.1-kb SacI fragment was cloned from S. uberis UCN 42 total DNA on plasmid pUC 18 and introduced into Escherichia coli AG100A, where it conferred resistance to both clindamycin and lincomycin. The sequence analysis of the fragment showed the presence of a new gene, named lnu(D), that encoded a 164-amino-acid protein with 53% identity with Lnu(C) previously reported to occur in Streptococcus agalactiae. Crude lysates of E. coli AG100A containing the cloned lnu(D) gene inactivated lincomycin and clindamycin in the presence of ATP and MgCl2. Mass spectrometry experiments demonstrated that the lnu(D) enzyme catalyzed adenylylation of clindamycin. A domain conserved in deduced sequences of lincosamide O-nucleotidyltransferases Lnu(A), Lnu(C), LinAN2, and Lin(D) and in the aminoglycoside nucleotidyltransferase ANT(2′′) was identified.

Macrolide Resistance Gene mreA of Streptococcus agalactiae Encodes a Flavokinase

ABSTRACT The mreA gene from Streptococcus agalactiae COH31 γ/δ, resistant to macrolides and clindamycin by active efflux, has recently been cloned inEscherichia coli, where it was reported to confer macrolide resistance (J. Clancy, F. Dib-Hajj, J. W. Petitpas, and W. Yuan, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 41:2719–2723, 1997). Cumulative data suggested that the mreA gene was located on the chromosome of S. agalactiae COH31 γ/δ. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of mreArevealed significant homology with several bifunctional flavokinases/(flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) synthetases, which convert riboflavin to flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and FMN to FAD, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography experiments showed that the mreA gene product had a monofunctional flavokinase activity, similar to that of RibR from Bacillus subtilis. Sequences identical to those of the mreA gene and of a 121-bp upstream region containing a putative promoter were detected in strains of S. agalactiae UCN4, UCN5, and UCN6 susceptible to macrolides. mreA and its allele from S. agalactiae UCN4 were cloned on the shuttle vector pAT28. Both constructs were introduced into E. coli, where they conferred a similar two- to fourfold increase in the MICs of erythromycin, spiramycin, and clindamycin. The MICs of a variety of other molecules, including crystal violet, acriflavin, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and antibiotics, such as certain cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, doxycycline, nalidixic acid, novobiocin, and rifampin, were also increased. In contrast, resistance to these compounds was not detected when the constructs were introduced into E. faecalis JH2–2. In conclusion, the mreA gene was probably resident in S. agalactiae and may encode a metabolic function. We could not provide any evidence that it was responsible for macrolide resistance in S. agalactiae COH31 γ/δ; broad-spectrum resistance conferred by the gene in E. coli could involve multidrug efflux pumps by a mechanism that remains to be elucidated.

Emergence of Macrolide Resistance Gene mph(B) in Streptococcus uberis and Cooperative Effects with rdmC-Like Gene

ABSTRACT Streptococcus uberis UCN60 was resistant to spiramycin (MIC = 8 μg/ml) but susceptible to erythromycin (MIC = 0.06 μg/ml), azithromycin (MIC = 0.12 μg/ml), josamycin (MIC = 0.25 μg/ml), and tylosin (MIC = 0.5 μg/ml). A 2.5-kb HindIII fragment was cloned from S. uberis UCN60 DNA on plasmid pUC18 and introduced into Escherichia coli AG100A, where it conferred resistance to spiramycin by inactivation. The sequence analysis of the fragment showed the presence of an rdmC-like gene that putatively encoded a protein belonging to the alpha/beta hydrolase family and of the first 196 nucleotides of the mph(B) gene putatively encoding a phosphotransferase known to inactivate 14-, 15-, and 16-membered macrolides in E. coli. The entire mph(B) gene was then identified in S. uberis UCN60. The two genes were expressed alone or in combination in E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. Analysis of MICs revealed that rdmC-like alone did not confer resistance to erythromycin, tylosin, and josamycin in those three hosts. It conferred resistance to spiramycin in E. coli and E. faecalis but not in S. aureus. mph(B) conferred resistance in E. coli to erythromycin, tylosin, josamycin, and spiramycin but only low levels of resistance in E. faecalis and S. aureus to spiramycin (MIC = 8 μg/ml). The combination of mph(B) and rdmC-like genes resulted in a resistance to spiramycin and tylosin in the three hosts that significantly exceeded the mere addition of the resistance levels conferred by each resistance mechanism alone.

CHANGES IN THE GLYCOSYLATION PATTERN OF RECOMBINANT PROTEINS EFFECTED BY DEFINED CULTURE CONDITIONS OF BHK-21 CELLS

ABSTRACT A genetically engineered human IL-2 variant protein (IL-2-Mu6) expressed by BHK-21 cells was used as a model protein for studying the effect of different controlled cell culture conditions on the O- and N-glycosylation of recombinant glycoproteins. IL-2-Mu6 contains a single amino acid substitution (Glu100↔Asn) thus creating a potential N-glycosylation recognition site (Asn100-Xxx-Thr/Ser)[1, 2]. Cultivations were carried out in perfused 2-liter double membrane bioreactors. The products of cells grown in suspension and on microcarriers, both in the presence and absence of fetal calf serum, were compared [3]. Glycoprotein products obtained under different cultivation conditions showed differences in proximal α1–6 fucosylation, NeuAc content as well as in the antennarity of the N-glycans.

Rapid detection of the alternativeN-glycosylation pathway using high pH anion exchange chromatography

An alternativeN-glycosylation pathway using Glc1–3Man5GlcNAc2 as a donor to be transferred to a protein acceptor is found either in Man-P-Dol synthase deficient cells or in wild type CHO cells grown in energy deprivation conditions. Discrimination between oligomannosides of this alternative pathway and oligomannosides of the major one containing the same number of sugar residues Man6–8GlcNAc2 required structural studies. Taking advantage of the specific chromatographic behaviour of glucosylated oligomannosides, in pellicular high pH anion exchange chromatography, we developed a one-step method for the identification of the alternativeN-glycosylation pathway compounds differing from those of the major one.

Functional Characterization of the DNA Gyrases in Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Mutants of Francisella novicida

ABSTRACT Fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance is a major health concern in the treatment of tularemia. Because DNA gyrase has been described as the main target of these compounds, our aim was to clarify the contributions of both GyrA and GyrB mutations found in Francisella novicida clones highly resistant to FQs. Wild-type and mutated GyrA and GyrB subunits were overexpressed so that the in vitro FQ sensitivity of functional reconstituted complexes could be evaluated. The data obtained were compared to the MICs of FQs against bacterial clones harboring the same mutations and were further validated through complementation experiments and structural modeling. Whole-genome sequencing of highly FQ-resistant lineages was also done. Supercoiling and DNA cleavage assays demonstrated that GyrA D87 is a hot spot FQ resistance target in F. novicida and pointed out the role of the GyrA P43H substitution in resistance acquisition. An unusual feature of FQ resistance acquisition in F. novicida is that the first-step mutation occurs in GyrB, with direct or indirect consequences for FQ sensitivity. Insertion of P466 into GyrB leads to a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) comparable to that observed for a mutant gyrase carrying the GyrA D87Y substitution, while the D487E-ΔK488 mutation, while not active on its own, contributes to the high level of resistance that occurs following acquisition of the GyrA D87G substitution in double GyrA/GyrB mutants. The involvement of other putative targets is discussed, including that of a ParE mutation that was found to arise in the very late stage of antibiotic exposure. This study provides the first characterization of the molecular mechanisms responsible for FQ resistance in Francisella.

S1.28 Release of oligomannoside type glycans as a marker of the degradation of newly synthesized glycoproteins

The N-glycosylation of proteins is accompanied by the release of soluble oligosaccharide material. Besides oligosaccharide phosphates originating from the cleavage of lipid intermediates, neutral free oligosaccharides represent the major part of this material and are heterogeneous depending on whether the reducing end has one or two N-acetylglucosamine residues. The present study focuses on the intracellular origin of neutral free oligosaccharides in a CHO cell line. Kinetic and pulse-chase experiments clearly indicate that oligosaccharides possessing a chitobiosyl unit are derived from oligosaccharide pyrophosphodolichol, whereas oligosaccharides possessing one N-acetyl-glucosamine residue are derived from newly synthesized glycoprotein. This relationship is confirmed by comparing the glycosylation pattern of lipid donors and glycoproteins with those of neutral free oligosaccharides under various incubation conditions (inhibition of protein synthesis, presence of processing inhibitors, presence or absence of glucose). Degradation of newly synthesized glycoprotein and formation of neutral oligosaccharides with one N-acetylglucosamine residue are inhibited at 16 degrees C but not affected by lysosomotropic agents such as leupeptin or NH4Cl. Together with the fact that the degradation of newly synthesized glycoproteins and the subsequent release of the glycan are recovered in permeabilized cells, these results suggest that this phenomenon occurs in the rough endoplasmic reticulum or in a closely related compartment.