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parC mutations in fluoroquinolone-resistant Borrelia burgdorferi

Kendal M Galbraith1, Amanda C Ng, Betsy J Eggers

  • 1Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, 59812-4824, USA.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|September 29, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified fluoroquinolone-resistant mutants of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease bacterium. Mutations in parC were linked to resistance against certain fluoroquinolones, marking the first report in spirochetes.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme disease.
  • Fluoroquinolones are a class of antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance in Borrelia burgdorferi.
  • To identify specific genetic mutations associated with resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of in vitro fluoroquinolone-resistant mutants of Borrelia burgdorferi.
  • Analysis of mutations in the parC gene, which encodes a subunit of topoisomerase IV.

Main Results:

  • Mutations in parC were associated with reduced susceptibility to sparfloxacin, moxifloxacin, and Bay-Y3118.
  • Ciprofloxacin efficacy was not affected by the identified parC mutations.

Conclusions:

  • This study reports the first instance of fluoroquinolone resistance in the spirochete phylum.
  • parC mutations are implicated in fluoroquinolone resistance in Borrelia burgdorferi.

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