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

ABSTRACT:

Aims

To investigate the molecular events associated with acquiring macrolide resistance genes [mefE/mel (Mega) or ermB] in Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) during nasopharyngeal colonization.

Methods and results

Genomic analysis of 128 macrolide-resistant Spn isolates revealed recombination events in genes of the conjugation apparatus, or the competence system, in strains carrying Tn916-related elements. Studies using confocal and electron microscopy demonstrated that during the transfer of Tn916-related elements in nasopharyngeal cell biofilms, pneumococcal strains formed clusters facilitating their acquisition of resistance determinants at a high recombination frequency (rF). Remarkably, these aggregates comprise both encapsulated and nonencapsulated pneumococci that span ex

SUBMITTER: Wu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11560628 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature