Hfq mutation confers increased cephalosporin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae
Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), is an opportunistic pathogen raising significant public health concerns owing to its multi-drug resistance. Hfq, one of the main RNA-binding proteins, is a key post-transcriptional regulator. This protein is closely related to virulence and resistance...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
University of Belgrade, University of Novi Sad
2017-01-01
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Series: | Archives of Biological Sciences |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-4664/2017/0354-46641600078L.pdf |
Summary: | Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), is an opportunistic pathogen raising
significant public health concerns owing to its multi-drug resistance. Hfq,
one of the main RNA-binding proteins, is a key post-transcriptional
regulator. This protein is closely related to virulence and resistance in
various pathogenic bacteria. Although the role of hfq in K pneumoniae
virulence has been explored, its influence on resistance remains largely
unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of hfq in the
resistance of K. pneumoniae to cephalosporins. An hfq mutant was constructed,
and its resistance to cephalosporins was investigated. The hfq mutant
exhibited over 16-fold higher cephalosporin resistance than that exhibited by
the wild type. Time-kill curve analysis showed that the hfq mutant could
survive under higher concentrations of cephalosporins than the wild-type
strain could. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that expression levels for 8 out of
the 9 penicillin-binding proteins, which are the targets of cephalosporins,
were downregulated in the hfq mutant. Taken together, contrary to its role in
many other bacteria, hfq is involved in a negative regulation of K.
pneumoniae resistance to cephalosporins by downregulating the expression of
penicillin-binding proteins. |
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ISSN: | 0354-4664 1821-4339 |