Outer-membrane permeability to beta-lactam antibiotics in Yersinia enterocolitica

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Bacterial Pathogenesis

Background:

• Yersinia enterocolitica is a significant human pathogen.
• Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) play crucial roles in bacterial physiology and interaction with the environment.
• Porins are OMPs that form channels facilitating the passage of small molecules across the outer membrane.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the function of Yersinia enterocolitica outer-membrane proteins YOMP-C and YOMP-F.
• To determine the role of YOMP-C and YOMP-F in nutrient uptake and antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

• Construction and characterization of Yersinia enterocolitica mutants lacking YOMP-C and YOMP-F.
• Measurement of cephaloridine and [3H]glucose uptake in wild-type and mutant strains.
• Assessment of antibiotic resistance profiles, particularly against beta-lactam and tetracycline antibiotics.

Main Results:

• Mutants lacking YOMP-C and YOMP-F showed altered cephaloridine and [3H]glucose uptake.
• These mutants exhibited increased resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, especially cephalosporins.
• Enhanced resistance to tetracycline was also observed in the YOMP-C and YOMP-F deficient strains.

Conclusions:

• YOMP-C and YOMP-F likely function as porins in Yersinia enterocolitica.
• Alterations in outer membrane permeability due to changes in these porins may contribute to antibiotic resistance.
• Targeting these porins could be a strategy to overcome antibiotic resistance in Yersinia infections.