Metallo-β-lactamase-producing bacteroides species can shield other members of the gut microbiota from antibiotics

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015 Jan;59(1):650-3. doi: 10.1128/AAC.03719-14. Epub 2014 Oct 6.

Abstract

Antibiotics disrupt the intestinal microbiota, rendering patients vulnerable to colonization by exogenous pathogens. Intermicrobial interactions may attenuate this effect. Incubation with ceftriaxone-resistant, ccrA-positive, β-lactamase-producing Bacteroides strains raised the minimum bactericidal concentration of ceftriaxone required to kill a susceptible Escherichia coli strain (mean change, <0.25 to 29 mg/liter; P = 0.009); incubation with ceftriaxone-resistant but non-β-lactamase-producing Bacteroides strains had no effect. The production of β-lactamase by common members of the intestinal microbiota (Bacteroides) can protect susceptible fellow commensals from β-lactams.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Bacteroides / drug effects*
  • Bacteroides / physiology*
  • Bacteroides fragilis / drug effects
  • Ceftriaxone / pharmacology
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microbiota / drug effects*
  • beta-Lactam Resistance / drug effects*
  • beta-Lactamases / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Ceftriaxone
  • beta-Lactamases
  • carbapenemase