Takehiko Mima

PBAD-Based Shuttle Vectors for Functional Analysis of Toxic and Highly Regulated Genes in Pseudomonas and Burkholderia spp. and Other Bacteria

ABSTRACT We report the construction of a series of Escherichia-Pseudomonas broad-host-range expression vectors utilizing the PBAD promoter and the araC regulator for routine cloning, conditional expression, and analysis of tightly controlled and/or toxic genes in pseudomonads.

Identification and Characterization of TriABC-OpmH, a Triclosan Efflux Pump of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Requiring Two Membrane Fusion Proteins

Pseudomonas aeruginosa achieves high-level (MIC>1 mg/ml) triclosan resistance either by constitutive expression of MexAB-OprM, an efflux pump of the resistance nodulation cell division (RND) family, or expression of MexCD-OprJ, MexEF-OprN, and MexJK-OpmH in regulatory mutants. A triclosan-resistant target enzyme and perhaps other mechanisms probably act synergistically with efflux. To probe this notion, we exposed the susceptible Delta(mexAB-oprM) Delta(mexCD-oprJ) Delta(mexEF-oprN) Delta(mexJK) Delta(mexXY) strain PAO509 to increasing triclosan concentrations and derived a resistant strain, PAO509.5. This mutant overexpressed the PA0156-PA0157-PA0158 pump, which only effluxed triclosan, but not closely related compounds, antibiotics, and divalent cations, and was therefore renamed TriABC. Constitutive expression of the triABC operon was due to a single promoter-up mutation. Deletion of two adjacent genes, pcaR and PA0159, encoding transcriptional regulators had no effect on expression of this operon. TriABC is the only P. aeruginosa RND pump which contains two membrane fusion proteins, TriA and TriB, and both are required for efflux pump function. Probably owing to tight transcriptional coupling of the triABC genes, complementation of individual mutations was only partially achievable. Full complementation was only observed when a complete triABC operon was provided in trans, either in single or multiple copies. TriABC associated with OpmH, but not OprM, for assembly of a functional triclosan efflux pump. TriABC is the fifth RND pump in P. aeruginosa shown to efficiently efflux triclosan, supporting the notion that efflux is the primary mechanism responsible for this bacteriums high intrinsic and acquired triclosan resistance.

An H+-Coupled Multidrug Efflux Pump, PmpM, a Member of the MATE Family of Transporters, from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

We cloned the gene PA1361 (we designated the gene pmpM), which seemed to encode a multidrug efflux pump belonging to the MATE family, of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the PCR method using the drug-hypersensitive Escherichia coli KAM32 strain as a host. Cells of E. coli possessing the pmpM gene showed elevated resistance to several antimicrobial agents. We observed energy-dependent efflux of ethidium from cells possessing the pmpM gene. We found that PmpM is an H(+)-drug antiporter, and this finding is the first reported case of an H(+)-coupled efflux pump in the MATE family. Disruption and reintroduction of the pmpM gene in P. aeruginosa revealed that PmpM is functional and that benzalkonium chloride, fluoroquinolones, ethidium bromide, acriflavine, and tetraphenylphosphonium chloride are substrates for PmpM in this microorganism.

Functional Cloning and Characterization of a Multidrug Efflux Pump, MexHI-OpmD, from a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Mutant

ABSTRACT We isolated mutant YM644, which showed elevated resistance to norfloxacin, ethidium bromide, acriflavine, and rhodamine 6G, from Pseudomonas aeruginosa YM64, a strain that lacks four major multidrug efflux pumps. The genes responsible for the resistance were mexHI-opmD. Elevated ethidium extrusion was observed with cells of YM644 and YM64 harboring a plasmid carrying the genes. Disruption of the genes in the chromosomal DNA of YM644 made the cells sensitive to the drugs.

A Burkholderia pseudomallei ΔpurM Mutant Is Avirulent in Immunocompetent and Immunodeficient Animals: Candidate Strain for Exclusion from Select-Agent Lists

ABSTRACT Burkholderia pseudomallei causes the disease melioidosis in humans and is classified as a category B select agent. Research utilizing this pathogen is highly regulated in the United States, and even basic studies must be conducted in biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) facilities. There is currently no attenuated B. pseudomallei strain available that is excluded from select-agent regulations and can be safely handled at BSL-2 facilities. To address this need, we created Bp82 and Bp190, which are ΔpurM derivatives of B. pseudomallei strains 1026b and K96243 that are deficient in adenine and thiamine biosynthesis but replication competent in vitro in rich medium. A series of animal challenge studies was conducted to ensure that these strains were fully attenuated. Whereas the parental strains 1026b and K96243 and the complemented mutants Bp410 and Bp454 were virulent in BALB/c mice following intranasal inoculation, the ΔpurM mutants Bp82 and Bp190 were avirulent even when they were administered at doses 4 logs higher than the doses used for the parental strains. Animals challenged with high doses of the ΔpurM mutants rapidly cleared the bacterium from tissues (lung, liver, and spleen) and remained free of culturable bacteria for the duration of the experiments (up to 60 days postinfection). Moreover, highly susceptible 129/SvEv mice and immune incompetent mice (IFN-γ−/−, SCID) were resistant to challenges with ΔpurM mutant Bp82. This strain was also avirulent in the Syrian hamster challenge model. We concluded that ΔpurM mutant Bp82 is fully attenuated and safe for use under BSL-2 laboratory conditions and thus is a candidate for exclusion from the select-agent list.

Gene Cloning and Properties of the RND-Type Multidrug Efflux Pumps MexPQ-OpmE and MexMN-OprM from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

We cloned two operons for putative RND‐type multidrug efflux pumps from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a PCR method. We designated the genes in one operon mexPQ(‐opmE) and in another operon mexMN. Introduction of the mexPQ‐opmE into drug hypersensitive cells resulted in elevated MICs of macrolides, fluoroquinolones and some other drugs. Introduction of the mexMN into the hypersensitive cells possessing oprM, but not into cells not possessing oprM, resulted in elevated MICs of chloramphenicol and thiamphenicol. Thus, we conclude that MexPQ‐OpmE and MexMN‐OprM are functional multidrug efflux pumps when expressed in P. aeruginosa.

In vitro activity of BAL30072 against Burkholderia pseudomallei

Burkholderia pseudomallei is an intrinsically antibiotic-resistant Category B priority pathogen and the aetiological agent of melioidosis. Treatment of B. pseudomallei infection is biphasic and lengthy in order to combat the acute and chronic phases of the disease. Acute-phase treatment preferably involves an intravenous cephalosporin (ceftazidime) or a carbapenem (imipenem or meropenem). In this study, the anti-B. pseudomallei efficacy of a new monosulfactam, BAL30072, was tested against laboratory strains 1026b and 1710b and several isogenic mutant derivatives as well as a collection of clinical and environmental B. pseudomallei strains from Thailand. More than 93% of the isolates had minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the range 0.004-0.016 μg/mL. For the laboratory strain 1026b, the MIC of BAL30072 was 0.008 μg/mL, comparable with the MICs of 1.5 μg/mL for ceftazidime, 0.5 μg/mL for imipenem and 1 μg/mL for meropenem. Time-kill curves revealed that BAL30072 was rapidly bactericidal, killing >99% of bacteria in 2 h. BAL30072 activity was not significantly affected by efflux, it was only a marginal substrate of PenA β-lactamase, and activity was independent of malleobactin production and transport and the ability to transport pyochelin. In summary, BAL30072 has superior in vitro activity against B. pseudomallei compared with ceftazidime, meropenem or imipenem and it is rapidly bactericidal.

Gene cloning and characteristics of the RND-type multidrug efflux pump MuxABC-OpmB possessing two RND components in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

muxA-muxB-muxC-opmB (formerly PA2528-PA2527-PA2526-opmB), encoding a putative resistance nodulation cell division (RND)-type multidrug efflux pump system, was cloned from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Introduction of muxABC-opmB into P. aeruginosa YM64, a drug-hypersusceptible strain, led to elevated MICs of aztreonam, macrolides, novobiocin and tetracycline. Since muxB and muxC, both of which encode RND components, were essential for function, MuxABC-OpmB is thought to be a drug efflux pump with four components. One novobiocin-resistant mutant, PMX725, isolated from P. aeruginosa PMX7 showed elevated resistance not only to novobiocin but also to aztreonam, macrolides and tetracycline. Increased mRNA expression of muxABC-opmB was observed in the mutant PMX725 compared with the parental strain. Sequencing analysis revealed that a single-nucleotide insertion had occurred in the deduced promoter region for muxABC-opmB in PMX725. In this study, we have characterized the last RND-type multidrug efflux pump predicted from the genome sequence in P. aeruginosa.

Acceleration of periosteal bone formation by human basic fibroblast growth factor containing a collagen‐binding domain from Clostridium histolyticum collagenase

Basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (bFGF) is a potent mitogen for mesenchymal cells, and the local application of recombinant bFGF accelerates bone union and defect repair. However, repeated dosing is required for sustained therapeutic effect as the efficacy of bFGF decreases rapidly following its diffusion from bone defect sites. Here, we attempted to develop a collagen-based bone formation system using a fusion protein (collagen binding-bFGF, CB-bFGF) consisting of bFGF and the collagen-binding domain (CBD) of Clostridium histolyticum collagenase. The addition of the CBD to bFGF did not modify its native biological activity, as shown by the capacity of the fusion protein to promote the in vitro proliferation of periosteal mesenchymal cells. The affinity of the fusion protein towards collagen and demineralized bone matrix (DBM) was also confirmed by collagen-binding assays. Moreover, in vivo periosteal bone formation assays showed that the combination of CB-bFGF with a collagen sheet induced periosteal bone formation at protein concentrations lower than those required for bFGF alone. In addition, grafts of DBM loaded with CB-bFGF accelerated new bone formation in rat femurs compared to the same concentration of bFGF administered alone. Taken together, these properties suggest that the CB-bFGF/collagen composite is a promising material for bone repair in the clinical setting.

In vitro activity of cethromycin against Burkholderia pseudomallei and investigation of mechanism of resistance

OBJECTIVES most Burkholderia pseudomallei strains are intrinsically resistant to macrolides, mainly due to AmrAB-OprA- and/or BpeAB-OprB-mediated efflux. We assessed the in vitro anti-B. pseudomallei efficacy of cethromycin, a novel ketolide with broad-spectrum activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. METHODS the 2-fold broth microdilution technique was used to assess the in vitro cethromycin susceptibility of a prototype strain, efflux mutants, and a panel of 60 clinical and environmental strains. Time-kill curves were used to assess the mode of action. Spontaneous resistant mutants were isolated and AmrAB-OprA efflux pump expression assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Deletion and complementation analyses were performed to demonstrate AmrAB-OprA efflux pump mutant involvement in high-level cethromycin resistance. RESULTS in contrast to macrolides, cethromycin was a weak substrate of AmrAB-OprA and BpeAB-OprB. Cethromycin was bactericidal at high concentrations and bacteriostatic at MIC levels. The ketolide showed efficacy against clinical and environmental strains of B. pseudomallei, with MIC values ranging from 4 to 64 mg/L. Environmental isolates were consistently more susceptible than clinical isolates. High-level cethromycin resistance (MIC 128 mg/L) was due to constitutive AmrAB-OprA efflux pump overexpression, but other mechanisms also seem to contribute. CONCLUSIONS in contrast to macrolides, which are readily effluxed, cethromycin is weakly extruded in wild-type strains and thus demonstrates significant in vitro anti-B. pseudomallei activity against diverse strains. Acquired high-level cethromycin resistance is caused by constitutive AmrAB-OprA efflux pump overexpression and other, probably non-efflux, mechanisms may also contribute to lower-level acquired resistance.