Abstract
The chromosomal locus mtr, which encodes low-level resistance to multiple antibacterial agents in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is subject to phenotypic suppression by env mutations that increase the permeability of the envelope. We have identified a new locus, mom (for modifier of Mtr), which is located on the chromosome very close to penB and nmp, loci known to be linked to each other and to spc. Phenotypic suppression of Mtr was recognized by reductions of resistance to benzylpenicillin and also to oxacillin and the hydrophobic agents novobiocin and erythromycin. The resistance to each of these antibiotics returned to the Mtr levels in mom+ transformants isolated by selection for increased resistance to either novobiocin or erythromycin; the accompanying change of the outer membrane protein I seroreactions confirmed the proximity of nmp and mom. Thus, some mutant gonococci display wild-type antibiotic susceptibilities but can express multiple resistance following a mom+ mutation that releases the suppressed Mtr phenotype.
Full text
PDF






Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bygdeman S., Bäckman M., Danielsson D., Norgren M. Genetic linkage between serogroup specificity and antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand B. 1982 Jun;90(3):243–250. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1982.tb00112.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cannon J. G., Klapper D. G., Blackman E. Y., Sparling P. F. Genetic locus (nmp-1) affecting the principal outer membrane protein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Bacteriol. 1980 Aug;143(2):847–851. doi: 10.1128/jb.143.2.847-851.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cannon J. G., Sparling P. F. The genetics of the gonococcus. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1984;38:111–133. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.38.100184.000551. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Catlin B. W., Reyn A. Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from disseminated and localised infections in pre-penicillin era. Auxotypes and antibacterial drug resistances. Br J Vener Dis. 1982 Jun;58(3):158–165. doi: 10.1136/sti.58.3.158. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Danielsson D., Faruki H., Dyer D., Sparling P. F. Recombination near the antibiotic resistance locus penB results in antigenic variation of gonococcal outer membrane protein I. Infect Immun. 1986 May;52(2):529–533. doi: 10.1128/iai.52.2.529-533.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dougherty T. J. Genetic analysis and penicillin-binding protein alterations in Neisseria gonorrhoeae with chromosomally mediated resistance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986 Nov;30(5):649–652. doi: 10.1128/aac.30.5.649. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Eisenstein B. I., Sparling P. F. Mutations to increased antibiotic sensitivity in naturally-occurring gonococci. Nature. 1978 Jan 19;271(5642):242–244. doi: 10.1038/271242a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Faruki H., Sparling P. F. Genetics of resistance in a non-beta-lactamase-producing gonococcus with relatively high-level penicillin resistance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986 Dec;30(6):856–860. doi: 10.1128/aac.30.6.856. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Guymon L. F., Walstad D. L., Sparling P. F. Cell envelope alterations in antibiotic-sensitive and-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Bacteriol. 1978 Oct;136(1):391–401. doi: 10.1128/jb.136.1.391-401.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Knapp J. S., Tam M. R., Nowinski R. C., Holmes K. K., Sandström E. G. Serological classification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with use of monoclonal antibodies to gonococcal outer membrane protein I. J Infect Dis. 1984 Jul;150(1):44–48. doi: 10.1093/infdis/150.1.44. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Koelbl J. A., Catlin B. W. Vancomycin hypersusceptibility in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from patients involves diverse mutations. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986 Apr;29(4):687–695. doi: 10.1128/aac.29.4.687. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lysko P. G., Morse S. A. Neisseria gonorrhoeae cell envelope: permeability to hydrophobic molecules. J Bacteriol. 1981 Feb;145(2):946–952. doi: 10.1128/jb.145.2.946-952.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Maier T. W., Zubrzycki L., Coyle M. B., Chila M., Warner P. Genetic analysis of drug resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: production of increased resistance by the combination of two antibiotic resistance loci. J Bacteriol. 1975 Nov;124(2):834–842. doi: 10.1128/jb.124.2.834-842.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Morse S. A., Lysko P. G., McFarland L., Knapp J. S., Sandstrom E., Critchlow C., Holmes K. K. Gonococcal strains from homosexual men have outer membranes with reduced permeability to hydrophobic molecules. Infect Immun. 1982 Aug;37(2):432–438. doi: 10.1128/iai.37.2.432-438.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nikaido H., Vaara M. Molecular basis of bacterial outer membrane permeability. Microbiol Rev. 1985 Mar;49(1):1–32. doi: 10.1128/mr.49.1.1-32.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sarubbi F. A., Jr, Sparling P. F., Blackman E., Lewis E. Loss of low-level antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae due to env mutations. J Bacteriol. 1975 Nov;124(2):750–756. doi: 10.1128/jb.124.2.750-756.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Shafer W. M., Guymon L. F., Lind I., Sparling P. F. Identification of an envelope mutation (env-10) resulting in increased antibiotic susceptibility and pyocin resistance in a clinical isolate of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1984 Jun;25(6):767–769. doi: 10.1128/aac.25.6.767. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sparling P. F., Sarubbi F. A., Jr, Blackman E. Inheritance of low-level resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Bacteriol. 1975 Nov;124(2):740–749. doi: 10.1128/jb.124.2.740-749.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tam M. R., Buchanan T. M., Sandström E. G., Holmes K. K., Knapp J. S., Siadak A. W., Nowinski R. C. Serological classification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with monoclonal antibodies. Infect Immun. 1982 Jun;36(3):1042–1053. doi: 10.1128/iai.36.3.1042-1053.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Warner P. F., Zubrzycki L. J., Chila M. Polygenes and modifier genes for tetracycline and penicillin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Gen Microbiol. 1980 Mar;117(1):103–110. doi: 10.1099/00221287-117-1-103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]