Ultrastructural, metabolic and genetic determinants of the acquisition of macrolide resistance by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) acquires genes for macrolide resistance, MEGA or ermB, in the human host. These genes are carried either in the chromosome, or on integrative conjugative elements (ICEs). Here, we investigated molecular determinants of the acquisition of macrolide resistance.

Methods and results

Whole genome analysis was conducted for 128 macrolide-resistant pneumococcal isolates to identify the presence of MEGA (44.5%, 57/128) or ermB (100%), and recombination events in Tn916-related elements or in the locus comCDE encoding competence genes. Confocal and electron microscopy studies demonstrated that, during the acquisition of macrolide resistance, pneumococcal strains formed clusters of varying size, with the largest aggr

SUBMITTER: Wu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10793443 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature