Macrolide resistance gene erm(TR) and erm(TR)-carrying genetic elements in Streptococcus agalactiae: characterization of ICESagTR7, a new composite element containing IMESp2907.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate macrolide-resistant Streptococcus agalactiae isolates harbouring erm(TR), an erm(A) gene subclass, with emphasis on their erm(TR)-carrying genetic elements. Four erm(TR)-carrying elements have been described to date: three closely related (ICE10750-RD.2, Tn1806 and ICESp1108) in Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae and S. pyogenes, respectively; and one completely different (IMESp2907, embedded in ICESp2906 to form ICESp2905) in S. pyogenes. METHODS: Seventeen macrolide-resistant erm(TR)-positive S. agalactiae isolates were phenotypically and genotypically characterized. Their erm(TR)-carrying elements were explored by analysing the distinctive recombination genes of known erm(TR)-carrying integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) and by PCR mapping. The new genetic context and organization of IMESp2907 in S. agalactiae were explored using several experimental procedures and in silico analyses. RESULTS: Five isolates harboured ICE10750-RD.2/Tn1806, five isolates harboured ICESp1108 and five isolates bore unknown erm(TR)-carrying elements. The remaining two isolates, exhibiting identical serotypes and pulsotypes, harboured IMESp2907 in a new genetic environment, which was further investigated in one of the two isolates, SagTR7. IMESp2907 was circularizable in S. agalactiae, as described in S. pyogenes. The new IMESp2907 junctions were identified based on its site-specific integration; the att sites were almost identical to those in S. pyogenes. In strain SagTR7, erm(TR)-carrying IMESp2907 was embedded in an erm(TR)-less internal element related to ICE10750-RD.2/Tn1806, which, in turn, was embedded in an ICESde3396-like element. The resulting whole ICE, ICESagTR7 (∼129 kb), was integrated into the chromosome downstream of the rplL gene, and was excisable in circular form and transferable by conjugation. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study exploring erm(TR)-carrying genetic elements in S. agalactiae.

Inhibitory activity by barley coffee components towards Streptococcus mutans biofilm.

It was shown that barley coffee (BC) interferes with Streptococcus mutans adsorption to hydroxyapatite. After BC component fractionation by dialysis and gel filtration chromatography (GFC), it was found that the low molecular mass (<1,000 Da) fraction (LMM fraction) containing polyphenols, zinc and fluoride ions and, above all, a high molecular mass (HMM > 1,000 kDa) melanoidin fraction display strong anti-adhesive properties towards S. mutans. In this study, we have further examined the potential of BC, BC LMM fraction and BC HMM melanoidin fraction as caries controlling agents by evaluating their anti-biofilm activity.The effects of BC and BC fractions on biofilm formation by S. mutans ATCC 25175 and its detachment from pre-developed biofilms were evaluated by microtiter plate assay. It was found that BC and its fractions, at concentrations ranging from 60 to 15 mg ml(-1) that are devoid of antimicrobial activity, inhibited S. mutans biofilm formation. An increase of S. mutans ATCC 25175 detachment from 24 h developed biofilm was observed at the highest tested concentrations. Interestingly, BC and BC fractions also showed anti-biofilm activity towards a variety of S. mutans clinical strains isolated from saliva, plaque and caries lesions of adult donors. In general, the HMM melanoidin fraction was more active than the LMM fraction. These findings, classifying BC LMM fraction and BC HMM melanoidin fractions as natural anti-biofilm agents, represent the basis for studying their possible use as anti-caries agents.

Persistence of erythromycin-resistant group a streptococci in cultured respiratory cells.

BACKGROUND: A significant association between erythromycin resistance and ability of bacteria to enter human respiratory cells has been documented in group A streptococci (GAS) isolated in Italy from children with pharyngitis. The occurrence of strains combining cell invasiveness with erythromycin resistance raised serious concern because they could escape penicillin by virtue of intracellular location and macrolides by virtue of resistance, resulting in difficulty in eradication. METHODS: Thirty-one pharyngeal cell-invasive, erythromycin-resistant (ER) GAS, representing that many clones recently identified among Italian GAS carrying the internalization-related gene prtF1, were investigated for intracellular persistence inside cultured respiratory cells (A549) by means of a survival assay and by staining and polymerase chain reaction assays on infected cells. RESULTS: All tested ER GAS could be recovered in culture from infected cells 24 hours from infection with logarithms exceeding 4.0 (4 strains). The highest survival rate (>5.0) was exhibited by strain SP1900 [erm(A)/iMLS-B; high-level erythromycin resistance [minimum inhibitory concentration, > or =128 microg/mL)], the most widespread clone, which was cultivable from infected cells up to day 5. As long as SP1900-infected cells could be maintained in culture, the presence of multiple cocci inside cells was consistently revealed by microscopy. During the same time, DNA sequences internal to both genes prtF1 and erm(A) continued to be amplified by polymerase chain reaction. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the ER GAS are capable of persisting in human respiratory cells. This might contribute to clinical problems such as relapsing infection and persistent carriage despite antibiotic treatment and might have facilitated the widespread diffusion of ER GAS in Italy.

Analysis of the beta-lactamase plasmid of borderline methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus: focus on bla complex genes and cadmium resistance determinants cadD and cadX.

Borderline methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains are a rather homogeneous group, characterized by MICs of penicillinase-resistant penicillins (PRPs) at or just below the susceptibility breakpoint. Other features unique to this group include the presence of a pBW15-like beta-lactamase plasmid, the association with phage complex 94/96, and the production of a PRP-hydrolyzing beta-lactamase activity in addition to the classical penicillinase activity. The four HindIII fragments of pBORa53, a pBW15-like plasmid from the well-studied borderline S. aureus strain a53, were cloned in Escherichia coli, sequenced and analyzed. The plasmid (17,334 bp in size) contains 14 open reading frames (ORFs) and a complete copy of transposon Tn552, which harbors the three genes of the bla complex (blaZ, blaR1, and blaI) necessary for penicillinase production. Among the other 11 ORFs identified, two were homologous to cadmium resistance determinants of Staphylococcus lugdunensis and to the cadD and cadX genes recently detected in S. aureus. Consistent with this, strain a53 was found to be cadmium resistant. From a collection of 30 S. aureus isolates with borderline PRP MIC levels, 27 matched strain a53 in the positive amplification reactions with all of the four primer pairs targeting the cadD-cadX region, the presence of the 17.3-kb plasmid, and the level of cadmium resistance. The well-established S. aureus laboratory strain ATCC 29213 was also found to express cadD-cadX-mediated cadmium resistance. pBORa53 could be re-isolated from transformants obtained by transferring it into a PRP-susceptible recipient. However, while the transformants demonstrated levels of cadmium and penicillin resistance similar to those of strain a53, they remained fully susceptible to PRPs.

Cross-reactive pseudovirus-neutralizing anti-envelope antibodies coexist with antibodies devoid of such activity in persistent hepatitis C virus infection.

Most RNA viruses have evolved mechanisms to avoid neutralizing antibody responses, and it is generally believed that variability of envelope-encoding regions is the major molecular basis of this phenomenon. However, it has been hypothesized that other mechanisms can be involved. Recent experimental data indicate that in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the anti-envelope humoral response includes cross-reactive antibody clones able to neutralize vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotypes containing HCV E1 and E2 glycoproteins (HCV/VSV pseudotype) as well as other clones devoid of such activity. In this work, we demonstrate that natural infection with a large variety of HCV isolates belonging to different genotypes elicits HCV/VSV pseudotype-neutralizing cross-reactive anti-envelope antibodies together with clones unable to neutralize this pseudovirus. This was shown by designing a novel strategy for quantitation of serum antibodies binding selectively to single viral cross-reactive conformational epitopes. These data can be useful not only for a better understanding of the virus-host interplay in important viral diseases, but also for the development of an effective anti-HCV vaccine.

Diverging effects of human recombinant anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody fragments derived from a single patient on the infectivity of a vesicular stomatitis virus/HCV pseudotype.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major causative agent of blood-borne non-A, non-B hepatitis. Although a strong humoral response is detectable within a few weeks of primary infection and during viral persistence, the role played by antibodies against HCV envelope glycoproteins in controlling viral replication is still unclear. We describe how human monoclonal anti-HCV E2 antibody fragments isolated from a chronically HCV-infected patient differ sharply in their abilities to neutralize infection of HepG2 cells by a vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotype bearing HCV envelope glycoproteins. Two clones were able to neutralize the pseudotype virus at a concentration of 10 micro g/ml, while three other clones completely lacked this activity. These data can explain the lack of protection and the possibility of reinfection that occur even in the presence of a strong antiviral antibody response.