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Comprehensive analysis of phospholipids and glycolipids in the opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus faecalis

Rafi Rashid1,2, Amaury Cazenave-Gassiot3,4, Iris H Gao1,2

  • 1Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.

Plos One
|April 20, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic resistance in Enterococcus faecalis is linked to altered lipid composition. This study reveals lower phosphatidylglycerol (PG) levels in daptomycin-resistant strains, suggesting PG reduction contributes to resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Enterococcus faecalis is a significant cause of hospital-associated infections, often exhibiting antibiotic resistance.
  • Lipid composition in Gram-positive pathogens like E. faecalis is correlated with antibiotic resistance.
  • Daptomycin resistance is associated with decreased phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and altered lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol (LPG) levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively analyze the lipidome of Enterococcus faecalis, focusing on phospholipids and glycolipids.
  • To investigate the relationship between lipid composition, particularly PG and LPG, and daptomycin resistance in E. faecalis.
  • To establish a lipidome map for E. faecalis using advanced mass spectrometry techniques.

Main Methods:

  • Lipids were extracted from E. faecalis strains.
  • Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed for lipid identification and quantification.
  • Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used to quantify phospholipids, including PG and LPG.

Main Results:

  • A comprehensive lipidome map of E. faecalis was generated, identifying numerous PG, LPG, cardiolipin, and other lipid species.
  • Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) levels were quantified and shown to vary during in vitro growth.
  • Daptomycin-resistant (DapR) E. faecalis strains exhibited substantially lower levels of both PG and LPG.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced levels of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) are strongly implicated in daptomycin resistance in E. faecalis.
  • This study provides the first detailed lipidome analysis of E. faecalis, linking lipid homeostasis to antimicrobial resistance.
  • The findings highlight the potential of targeting lipid metabolism for combating antibiotic-resistant E. faecalis infections.

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