Altered PBP 2A and its role in the development of penicillin, cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone resistance in a clinical isolate of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

ABSTRACT: We report the unusual involvement of altered PBP 2A in the development of beta-lactam resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae. This was investigated amid three identical serotype 14 isolates (designated isolates 1, 2, and 3, respectively) of pneumococci cultured successfully from the blood of a human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive child with recurrent pneumonia. The passage of this strain through its human host induced several changes in the bacterium, which is typical of the adaptive and evolving nature of the pneumococcus. An efflux resistance mechanism, which conferred increased ciprofloxacin resistance, was induced in isolates 2 and 3. In addition, faster growth rates and larger capsules were also observed for these isolates, with respect to isolate 1. Notably, compared to isolates

SUBMITTER: Smith AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1087663 | biostudies-literature | 2005 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature