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Author Spotlight: Advancing Antibiotic Resistance Research Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System
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Published on: January 5, 2024

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The Association between Transformation Ability and Antimicrobial Resistant Potential in Haemophilus influenzae

Emi Tanaka1, Takeaki Wajima1, Ruri Ota1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University.

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin
|October 25, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Horizontal gene transfer in Haemophilus influenzae increases resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents, including quinolones and beta-lactams. This enhanced transformation ability raises concerns about the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Increasing prevalence of quinolone low-susceptible Haemophilus influenzae in Japan.
  • Low quinolone susceptibility arises from target gene mutations or horizontal gene transfer via natural transformation.
  • Need to investigate the link between horizontal gene transfer and resistance to other antimicrobial agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between horizontal gene transfer ability and resistance to quinolones and beta-lactams in Haemophilus influenzae.
  • To quantify horizontal transfer ability using experimental transfer assays.
  • To investigate the role of the com operon in DNA uptake.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental transfer assay to quantify horizontal transfer ability in 50 clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae.
  • Investigation of the association between transformation efficiency and resistance to beta-lactams.
  • Analysis of comA transcript levels in strains with high transformation efficiency.

Main Results:

  • Transformation efficiency varied widely (10^2 to 10^6 CFU) among isolates.
  • High horizontal transfer ability was associated with beta-lactam resistance due to ftsI mutations.
  • Strains with high transformation efficiency showed increased comA transcript levels, suggesting enhanced DNA uptake.
  • Horizontal transfer ability correlated with multiple antimicrobial resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Transformation ability of Haemophilus influenzae is linked to multiple antimicrobial resistance.
  • Increased prevalence of strains with high horizontal transfer ability facilitates the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
  • Enhanced com operon activity contributes to high DNA uptake ability.
Keywords:
Haemophilus influenzaeantimicrobial resistancehorizontal gene transfer

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