Interspecies recombination, not de novo mutation, maintains virulence after β-lactam resistance acquisition in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

ABSTRACT: As opposed to de novo mutation, β-lactam resistance in S. pneumoniae is often conferred via homologous recombination during horizontal gene transfer. We hypothesize that β-lactam resistance in pathogenic streptococci is restricted to naturally competent species via intra-/interspecies recombination due to in vivo fitness trade-offs of de novo penicillin-binding protein (PBP) mutations. We show that de novo mutant populations have abrogated invasive disease capacity and are difficult to evolve in vivo. Conversely, serially transformed recombinant strains efficiently integrate resistant oral streptococcal DNA, gain penicillin resistance and tolerance, and retain virulence in mice. Large-scale changes in pbp2X, pbp2B, and non-PBP-related genes occur in recombinant isolates. Our results indica

SUBMITTER: Nishimoto AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9850807 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature