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[Lysogenic conversion as a factor influencing tolerance to vancomycin in Staphylococcus aureus]
G Młynarczyk1, A Młynarczyk, D Zabicka
1Zakład Bakteriologii Klinicznej AM w Warszawie.
Medycyna Doswiadczalna I Mikrobiologia
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Lysogenizing Staphylococcus aureus with staphylokinase-converting bacteriophages induced vancomycin tolerance in eight strains. This suggests bacteriophage conversion influences antibiotic resistance in S. aureus.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Molecular Biology
Context:
- Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen.
- Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria.
- Lysogenization is a process where bacteriophages integrate into the bacterial genome.
- Vancomycin is a critical antibiotic for treating S. aureus infections.
Purpose:
- To investigate the effect of lysogenization with staphylokinase-converting bacteriophages on vancomycin susceptibility in S. aureus NCTC 8325-4.
- To determine if bacteriophage serological groups (A, B, F) influence vancomycin tolerance.
Summary:
- Fifteen bacteriophage-free S. aureus NCTC 8325-4 strains were lysogenized with 15 different staphylokinase-converting bacteriophages from serological groups A, B, and F.
- Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of vancomycin were assessed for all lysogenic derivatives.
- Eight lysogenic derivatives exhibited vancomycin tolerance, defined as a MBC/MIC ratio ≥ 32.
- Vancomycin tolerance was observed in four strains lysogenized with group A phages, two with group B, and two with group F.
Impact:
- This study demonstrates that bacteriophage conversion can induce or enhance vancomycin tolerance in S. aureus.
- Findings highlight the potential for bacteriophages to modulate antibiotic resistance mechanisms in bacteria.
- Results have implications for understanding bacterial evolution and developing novel therapeutic strategies against antibiotic-resistant S. aureus.