Biology subjects

Nordmann, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Nordmann, P..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Inter-phylum circulation of a beta-lactamase - encoding gene: a rare but observable event

Beta-lactam degradation by beta-lactamases is the most common mechanism of beta-lactam resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. Beta-lactamase encoding genes can be transferred between closely-related bacteria, but spontaneous inter-phylum transfers (between distantly related bacteria) has never been reported. Here, we describe an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-encoding gene (blaMUN-1) shared between the Peudomonadota and Bacteroidota phyla. An Escherichia coli strain was isolated from a patient in Munster (Germany). Its genome was sequenced (Illumina and Nanopore). The ESBL encoding gene was cloned and the corresponding enzyme was characterised. Distribution of the gene among bacteria was studied with BLASTN using RefSeq Genomes databases. Frequency of its closest homolog in the Global Microbial Gene Catalog (GMGC) was also analysed. The blaMUN-1 gene found in the E. coli strain, encoded for an Ambler subclass A2 beta-lactamase with 82.2% amino acid identity to TLA-1 and it was found to confer an ESBL phenotype. blaMUN-1 was found in four copies, two chromosomal copies and two located on a phage-plasmid p0111. Each copy was found on a 7.6kb genomic island associated with mobility. blaMUN-1 was found distributed among the Bacteroidales order and in Sutterella wardsworthensis (Pseudomonadota). Its closest homolog in the GMGC was found predominantly and frequently in the Human gut sub-catalog (found in 26.8% of the samples). This is the first reported case of inter-phylum transfer of an ESBL-encoding gene, between the Bacteroidota and Pseudomonadota phyla. While the gene was frequently found in the human gut, inter-phylum transfer was rare, suggesting that inter-phylum barriers are strong but not impassable.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Chlorhexidine reduced susceptibility associated to tetracycline resistance in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli

Chlorhexidine is a widely used antiseptic in hospital and community healthcare. Decreased susceptibility to this compound has been recently described in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, together with cross-resistance to colistin. Surprisingly, few data are available for Escherichia coli, the main species responsible for community and healthcare-associated infections. In order to decipher chlorhexidine resistance mechanisms in E. coli, we studied both in vitro derived and clinical isolates through whole-genome sequence analysis. Comparison of strains grown in vitro under chlorhexidine pressure identified mutations in the gene mlaA coding for a phospholipid transport system. Phenotypic analyses of single-gene mutant from the Keio collection confirmed the role of this mutation in the decreased susceptibility to chlorhexidine. However, mutations in mlaA were not found in isolates from large clinical collections. In contrast, genome wide association studies (GWAS) showed that, in clinical strains, chlorhexidine reduced susceptibility was associated with the presence of tetA genes of class B coding for efflux pumps and located in a Tn10 transposon. Construction of recombinant strains in E. coli K-12 confirmed the role of tetA determinant in acquired resistance to both chlorhexidine and tetracycline. Our results reveal two different evolutionary paths leading to chlorhexidine decreased susceptibility: one restricted to in vitro evolution conditions and involving a retrograde phospholipid transport system; the other observed in clinical isolates associated with efflux pump TetA. None of these mechanisms provides cross-resistance to colistin or to the cationic surfactant octenidine. This work demonstrates the GWAS power to identify new resistance mechanisms in bacterial species.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2018

In vitro and In vivo characterization of NOSO-502, a novel inhibitor of bacterial translation

Antibacterial activity screening of a collection of Xenorhabdus strains led to the discovery of the Odilorhabdins, a novel antibiotic class with broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Odilorhabdins inhibit bacterial translation by a novel mechanism of action on ribosomes. A lead-optimization program identified NOSO-502 as a promising candidate. NOSO-502 has MIC values ranging from 0.5 to 4 g/ml against standard Enterobacteriaceae strains and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) isolates that produce KPC, AmpC, or OXA enzymes and metallo-{beta}-lactamases. In addition, this compound overcomes multiple chromosome-encoded or plasmid-mediated resistance mechanisms of acquired resistance to colistin. It is effective in mouse systemic infection models against E. coli EN122 (ESBL) or E. coli ATCC BAA-2469 (NDM-1), achieving an ED50 of 3.5 mg/kg and 1-, 2- and 3-log reductions in blood burden at 2.6, 3.8, and 5.9 mg/kg, respectively, in the first model and 100% survival in the second, starting with a dose as low as 4 mg/kg. In a UTI model of E. coli UTI89, urine, bladder and kidney burdens were reduced by 2.39, 1.96, and 1.36 log10 CFU/ml, respectively, after injecting 24 mg/kg. There was no cytotoxicity against HepG2, HK-2, or HRPT cells, no inhibition of hERG-CHO or Nav 1.5 -HEK current, and no increase of micronuclei at 512 M. NOSO-502, a compound with a novel mechanism of action, is active against Enterobacteriaceae, including all classes of CRE, has a low potential for resistance development, shows efficacy in several mouse models, and has a favorable in vitro safety profile.

microbiology↗