Effect of Variants of Penicillin-Binding Protein 2 on Cephalosporin and Carbapenem Susceptibilities in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015 Aug;59(8):5003-6. doi: 10.1128/AAC.05143-14. Epub 2015 May 18.

Abstract

To characterize the relationship between penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2/penA) and susceptibility to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) and carbapenem antibiotics, we compared 17 PBP2 variants in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Nonmosaic and mosaic variants of PBP2 caused decreased susceptibility to ESCs and, to a lesser extent, to carbapenems. An A501P substitution in mosaic XXXIV_A501P conferred decreased susceptibility to ESCs but restored carbapenem susceptibility to wild-type levels. These results could aid the molecular surveillance of antimicrobial resistance to these agents.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Carbapenems / pharmacology*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Cephalosporins / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics
  • Genetic Variation
  • Gonorrhea / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / drug effects*
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / genetics*
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / isolation & purification
  • Serine-Type D-Ala-D-Ala Carboxypeptidase

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Carbapenems
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cephalosporins
  • Serine-Type D-Ala-D-Ala Carboxypeptidase
  • penicillin-binding protein 2, Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KP721215
  • GENBANK/KP721216
  • GENBANK/KP721217
  • GENBANK/KP721218
  • GENBANK/KP721219