Molecular genetic and structural modeling studies of Staphylococcus aureus RNA polymerase and the fitness of rifampin resistance genotypes in relation to clinical prevalence.

ABSTRACT: The adaptive and further evolutionary responses of Staphylococcus aureus to selection pressure with the antibiotic rifampin have not been explored in detail. We now present a detailed analysis of these systems. The use of rifampin for the chemotherapy of infections caused by S. aureus has resulted in the selection of mutants with alterations within the beta subunit of the target enzyme, RNA polymerase. Using a new collection of strains, we have identified numerous novel mutations in the beta subunits of both clinical and in vitro-derived resistant strains and established that additional, undefined mechanisms contribute to expression of rifampin resistance in clinical isolates of S. aureus. The fitness costs associated with rifampin resistance genotypes were found to have a significant infl

SUBMITTER: O'Neill AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1346782 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature