scholarly journals Heat Resistance and Salt Hypersensitivity in Lactococcus lactis Due to Spontaneous Mutation ofllmg_1816(gdpP) Induced by High-Temperature Growth

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (21) ◽  
pp. 7753-7759 ◽  
Author(s):  
William M. Smith ◽  
Thi Huong Pham ◽  
Lin Lei ◽  
Junchao Dou ◽  
Aijaz H. Soomro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Heat Resistance ◽  
Lactococcus Lactis ◽  
Spontaneous Mutation ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Spontaneous Mutations ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Temperature Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Heat Resistant

ABSTRACTDuring construction of several gene deletion mutants inLactococcus lactisMG1363 which involved a high-temperature (37.5°C) incubation step, additional spontaneous mutations were observed which resulted in stable heat resistance and in some cases salt-hypersensitive phenotypes. Whole-genome sequencing of one strain which was both heat resistant and salt hypersensitive, followed by PCR and sequencing of four other mutants which shared these phenotypes, revealed independent mutations inllmg_1816in all cases. This gene encodes a membrane-bound stress signaling protein of the GdpP family, members of which exhibit cyclic dimeric AMP (c-di-AMP)-specific phosphodiesterase activity. Mutations were predicted to lead to single amino acid substitutions or protein truncations. An independentllmg_1816mutant (Δ1816), created using a suicide vector, also displayed heat resistance and salt hypersensitivity phenotypes which could be restored to wild-type levels following plasmid excision.L. lactisΔ1816 also displayed improved growth in response to sublethal concentrations of penicillin G. High-temperature incubation of a wild-type industrialL. lactisstrain also resulted in spontaneous mutation ofllmg_1816and heat-resistant and salt-hypersensitive phenotypes, suggesting that this is not a strain-specific phenomenon and that it is independent of a plasmid integration event. Acidification of milk by thellmg_1816-altered strain was inhibited by lower salt concentrations than the parent strain. This study demonstrates that spontaneous mutations can occur during high-temperature growth ofL. lactisand that inactivation ofllmg_1816leads to temperature resistance and salt hypersensitivity.

Phthalonitrile-etherified cardanol-phenol-formaldehyde resin: synthesis, characterization and properties

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dayong Zhang ◽  
Xiaohui Liu ◽  
Xuefeng Bai ◽  
Gang Wang ◽  
Liping Rong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Heat Resistance ◽  
Phenol Formaldehyde ◽  
Mechanical Analysis ◽  
Phenol Formaldehyde Resin ◽  
Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Formaldehyde Resin ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Heat Resistant

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the heat resistance and heat-resistant oxygen aging of 4-nitrophthalonitrile-etherified cardanol-phenol-formaldehyde (PPCF) to further use and develop the resin as the matrix resin of high-temperature resistant adhesives and coatings. Design/methodology/approach PPCF resin was synthesized by 4-nitrophthalonitrile and cardanol-phenol-formaldehyde (PCF). The structures of PPCF and PCF were investigated by Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance. In addition, the heat resistance and processability of PPCF and PCF resins were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques and rheological studies. Findings The results reveal that PPCF forms a cross-linked network at a lower temperature. PPCF resin has excellent resistance under thermal aging in an air atmosphere and that it still had a certain residual weight after aging at 500°C for 2 h, whereas the PCF resin is completely decomposed. Originality/value 4-Nitrophthalonitrile was introduced into PCF resin, and XRD and SEM were used to investigate the high temperature residual carbon rate and heat-resistant oxygen aging properties of PPCF and PCF resins.

scholarly journals Single Amino Acid Substitutions in HXT2.4 from Scheffersomyces stipitis Lead to Improved Cellobiose Fermentation by Engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae

2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 1500-1507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suk-Jin Ha ◽  
Heejin Kim ◽  
Yuping Lin ◽  
Myoung-Uoon Jang ◽  
Jonathan M. Galazka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Kinetic Properties ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Scheffersomyces Stipitis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Charged Amino Acids ◽  
Cellodextrin Transporter ◽  
Engineered Strain

ABSTRACTSaccharomyces cerevisiaecannot utilize cellobiose, but this yeast can be engineered to ferment cellobiose by introducing both cellodextrin transporter (cdt-1) and intracellular β-glucosidase (gh1-1) genes fromNeurospora crassa. Here, we report that an engineeredS. cerevisiaestrain expressing the putative hexose transporter geneHXT2.4fromScheffersomyces stipitisandgh1-1can also ferment cellobiose. This result suggests that HXT2.4p may function as a cellobiose transporter whenHXT2.4is overexpressed inS. cerevisiae. However, cellobiose fermentation by the engineered strain expressingHXT2.4andgh1-1was much slower and less efficient than that by an engineered strain that initially expressedcdt-1andgh1-1. The rate of cellobiose fermentation by theHXT2.4-expressing strain increased drastically after serial subcultures on cellobiose. Sequencing and retransformation of the isolated plasmids from a single colony of the fast cellobiose-fermenting culture led to the identification of a mutation (A291D) in HXT2.4 that is responsible for improved cellobiose fermentation by the evolvedS. cerevisiaestrain. Substitutions for alanine (A291) of negatively charged amino acids (A291E and A291D) or positively charged amino acids (A291K and A291R) significantly improved cellobiose fermentation. The mutant HXT2.4(A291D) exhibited 1.5-fold higherKmand 4-fold higherVmaxvalues than those from wild-type HXT2.4, whereas the expression levels were the same. These results suggest that the kinetic properties of wild-type HXT2.4 expressed inS. cerevisiaeare suboptimal, and mutations of A291 into bulky charged amino acids might transform HXT2.4p into an efficient transporter, enabling rapid cellobiose fermentation by engineeredS. cerevisiaestrains.

scholarly journals Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of Clostridium perfringens Isolates from Darmbrand Cases in Post-World War II Germany

2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (12) ◽  
pp. 4354-4363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Menglin Ma ◽  
Jihong Li ◽  
Bruce A. McClane
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Heat Resistance ◽  
Clostridium Perfringens ◽  
Type A ◽  
World War ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Post World War Ii ◽  
Heat Resistant ◽  
Type C ◽  
Beta Toxin

ABSTRACTClostridium perfringenstype C strains are the only non-type-A isolates that cause human disease. They are responsible for enteritis necroticans, which was termed Darmbrand when occurring in post-World War II Germany. Darmbrand strains were initially classified as type F because of their exceptional heat resistance but later identified as type C strains. Since only limited information exists regarding Darmbrand strains, this study genetically and phenotypically characterized seven 1940s era Darmbrand-associated strains. Results obtained indicated the following. (i) Five of these Darmbrand isolates belong to type C, carry beta-toxin (cpb) and enterotoxin (cpe) genes on large plasmids, and express both beta-toxin and enterotoxin. The other two isolates arecpe-negative type A. (ii) All seven isolates produce highly heat-resistant spores withD100values (the time that a culture must be kept at 100°C to reduce its viability by 90%) of 7 to 40 min. (iii) All of the isolates surveyed produce the same variant small acid-soluble protein 4 (Ssp4) made by type A food poisoning isolates with a chromosomalcpegene that also produce extremely heat-resistant spores. (iv) The Darmbrand isolates share a genetic background with type A chromosomal-cpe-bearing isolates. Finally, it was shown that both thecpeandcpbgenes can be mobilized in Darmbrand isolates. These results suggest thatC. perfringenstype A and C strains that cause human food-borne illness share a spore heat resistance mechanism that likely favors their survival in temperature-abused food. They also suggest possible evolutionary relationships between Darmbrand strains and type A strains carrying a chromosomalcpegene.

HIGHLY HEAT-RESISTANT SILICONE RUBBER COMPOSITIONS (review)

2020 ◽  
pp. 31-37
Author(s):  
S.N. Semenova ◽  
◽  
A.M. Chaykun ◽  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Heat Resistance ◽  
Flame Retardant ◽  
Fire Resistance ◽  
Silicone Rubber ◽  
Technical Literature ◽  
Temperature Resistance ◽  
Heat Resistant ◽  
High Temperature Resistance ◽  
Scientific Technical

A review of the scientific technical literature in the field of modern research on silicone rubber compositions with high temperature resistance, including those with fire-resistant properties, is presented. The polymer bases and heat-stabilizing and flame-retardant additives used in the developments, as well as methods for preparing rubber mixes and rubbers are shown. Features of compounding materials with a combination of heat resistance and fire-resistance are noted. The relevance of research for the needs of aviation equipment is shown.

scholarly journals Facultative Sterol Uptake in an Ergosterol-Deficient Clinical Isolate of Candida glabrata Harboring a Missense Mutation inERG11and Exhibiting Cross-Resistance to Azoles and Amphotericin B

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 4223-4232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire M. Hull ◽  
Josie E. Parker ◽  
Oliver Bader ◽  
Michael Weig ◽  
Uwe Gross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Clinical Isolate ◽  
Candida Glabrata ◽  
Sterol Composition ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Cross Resistance ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sterol Uptake

ABSTRACTWe identified a clinical isolate ofCandida glabrata(CG156) exhibiting flocculent growth and cross-resistance to fluconazole (FLC), voriconazole (VRC), and amphotericin B (AMB), with MICs of >256, >256, and 32 μg ml−1, respectively. Sterol analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that CG156 was a sterol 14α-demethylase (Erg11p) mutant, wherein 14α-methylated intermediates (lanosterol was >80% of the total) were the only detectable sterols.ERG11sequencing indicated that CG156 harbored a single-amino-acid substitution (G315D) which nullified the function of native Erg11p. In heterologous expression studies using a doxycycline-regulatableSaccharomyces cerevisiae erg11strain, wild-typeC. glabrataErg11p fully complemented the function ofS. cerevisiaesterol 14α-demethylase, restoring growth and ergosterol synthesis in recombinant yeast; mutated CG156 Erg11p did not. CG156 was culturable using sterol-free, glucose-containing yeast minimal medium (glcYM). However, when grown on sterol-supplementedglcYM (with ergosta 7,22-dienol, ergosterol, cholestanol, cholesterol, Δ7-cholestenol, or desmosterol), CG156 cultures exhibited shorter lag phases, reached higher cell densities, and showed alterations in cellular sterol composition. Unlike comparator isolates (harboring wild-typeERG11) that became less sensitive to FLC and VRC when cultured on sterol-supplementedglcYM, facultative sterol uptake by CG156 did not affect its azole-resistant phenotype. Conversely, CG156 grown usingglcYM with ergosterol (or with ergosta 7,22-dienol) showed increased sensitivity to AMB; CG156 grown usingglcYM with cholesterol (or with cholestanol) became more resistant (MICs of 2 and >64 μg AMB ml−1, respectively). Our results provide insights into the consequences of sterol uptake and metabolism on growth and antifungal resistance inC. glabrata.

scholarly journals Spore Heat Activation Requirements and Germination Responses Correlate with Sequences of Germinant Receptors and with the Presence of a Specific spoVA2mob Operon in Foodborne Strains of Bacillus subtilis

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonina O. Krawczyk ◽  
Anne de Jong ◽  
Jimmy Omony ◽  
Siger Holsappel ◽  
Marjon H. J. Wells-Bennik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Heat Resistance ◽  
Spore Germination ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Heat Treatments ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Heat Resistant ◽  
Heat Activation ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACT Spore heat resistance, germination, and outgrowth are problematic bacterial properties compromising food safety and quality. Large interstrain variation in these properties makes prediction and control of spore behavior challenging. High-level heat resistance and slow germination of spores of some natural Bacillus subtilis isolates, encountered in foods, have been attributed to the occurrence of the spoVA 2mob operon carried on the Tn1546 transposon. In this study, we further investigate the correlation between the presence of this operon in high-level-heat-resistant spores and their germination efficiencies before and after exposure to various sublethal heat treatments (heat activation, or HA), which are known to significantly improve spore responses to nutrient germinants. We show that high-level-heat-resistant spores harboring spoVA 2mob required higher HA temperatures for efficient germination than spores lacking spoVA 2mob. The optimal spore HA requirements additionally depended on the nutrients used to trigger germination, l-alanine (l-Ala), or a mixture of l-asparagine, d-glucose, d-fructose, and K+ (AGFK). The distinct HA requirements of these two spore germination pathways are likely related to differences in properties of specific germinant receptors. Moreover, spores that germinated inefficiently in AGFK contained specific changes in sequences of the GerB and GerK germinant receptors, which are involved in this germination response. In contrast, no relation was found between transcription levels of main germination genes and spore germination phenotypes. The findings presented in this study have great implications for practices in the food industry, where heat treatments are commonly used to inactivate pathogenic and spoilage microbes, including bacterial spore formers. IMPORTANCE This study describes a strong variation in spore germination capacities and requirements for a heat activation treatment, i.e., an exposure to sublethal heat that increases spore responsiveness to nutrient germination triggers, among 17 strains of B. subtilis, including 9 isolates from spoiled food products. Spores of industrial foodborne isolates exhibited, on average, less efficient and slower germination responses and required more severe heat activation than spores from other sources. High heat activation requirements and inefficient, slow germination correlated with elevated resistance of spores to heat and with specific genetic features, indicating a common genetic basis of these three phenotypic traits. Clearly, interstrain variation and numerous factors that shape spore germination behavior challenge standardization of methods to recover highly heat-resistant spores from the environment and have an impact on the efficacy of preservation techniques used by the food industry to control spores.

scholarly journals Heat Resistance Mediated by pLM58 Plasmid-Borne ClpL in Listeria monocytogenes

mSphere ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Pöntinen ◽  
Mariella Aalto-Araneda ◽  
Miia Lindström ◽  
Hannu Korkeala
Keyword(s):  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Heat Resistance ◽  
High Temperatures ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Potential Predictor ◽  
Heat Resistant ◽  
Genetic Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Listeria monocytogenes is a dangerous food pathogen causing the severe illness listeriosis that has a high mortality rate in immunocompromised individuals. Although destroyed by pasteurization, L. monocytogenes is among the most heat-resistant non-spore-forming bacteria. This poses a risk to food safety, as listeriosis is commonly associated with ready-to-eat foods that are consumed without thorough heating. However, L. monocytogenes strains differ in their ability to survive high temperatures, and comprehensive understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying these differences is still limited. Whole-genome-sequence analysis and phenotypic characterization allowed us to identify a novel plasmid, designated pLM58, and a plasmid-borne ATP-dependent protease (ClpL), which mediated heat resistance in L. monocytogenes. As the first report on plasmid-mediated heat resistance in L. monocytogenes, our study sheds light on the accessory genetic mechanisms rendering certain L. monocytogenes strains particularly capable of surviving high temperatures—with plasmid-borne ClpL being a potential predictor of elevated heat resistance. Listeria monocytogenes is one of the most heat-resistant non-spore-forming food-borne pathogens and poses a notable risk to food safety, particularly when mild heat treatments are used in food processing and preparation. While general heat stress properties and response mechanisms of L. monocytogenes have been described, accessory mechanisms providing particular L. monocytogenes strains with the advantage of enhanced heat resistance are unknown. Here, we report plasmid-mediated heat resistance of L. monocytogenes for the first time. This resistance is mediated by the ATP-dependent protease ClpL. We tested the survival of two wild-type L. monocytogenes strains—both of serotype 1/2c, sequence type ST9, and high sequence identity—at high temperatures and compared their genome composition in order to identify genetic mechanisms involved in their heat survival phenotype. L. monocytogenes AT3E was more heat resistant (0.0 CFU/ml log10 reduction) than strain AL4E (1.4 CFU/ml log10 reduction) after heating at 55°C for 40 min. A prominent difference in the genome compositions of the two strains was a 58-kb plasmid (pLM58) harbored by the heat-resistant AT3E strain, suggesting plasmid-mediated heat resistance. Indeed, plasmid curing resulted in significantly decreased heat resistance (1.1 CFU/ml log10 reduction) at 55°C. pLM58 harbored a 2,115-bp open reading frame annotated as an ATP-dependent protease (ClpL)-encoding clpL gene. Introducing the clpL gene into a natively heat-sensitive L. monocytogenes strain (1.2 CFU/ml log10 reduction) significantly increased the heat resistance of the recipient strain (0.4 CFU/ml log10 reduction) at 55°C. Plasmid-borne ClpL is thus a potential predictor of elevated heat resistance in L. monocytogenes. IMPORTANCE Listeria monocytogenes is a dangerous food pathogen causing the severe illness listeriosis that has a high mortality rate in immunocompromised individuals. Although destroyed by pasteurization, L. monocytogenes is among the most heat-resistant non-spore-forming bacteria. This poses a risk to food safety, as listeriosis is commonly associated with ready-to-eat foods that are consumed without thorough heating. However, L. monocytogenes strains differ in their ability to survive high temperatures, and comprehensive understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying these differences is still limited. Whole-genome-sequence analysis and phenotypic characterization allowed us to identify a novel plasmid, designated pLM58, and a plasmid-borne ATP-dependent protease (ClpL), which mediated heat resistance in L. monocytogenes. As the first report on plasmid-mediated heat resistance in L. monocytogenes, our study sheds light on the accessory genetic mechanisms rendering certain L. monocytogenes strains particularly capable of surviving high temperatures—with plasmid-borne ClpL being a potential predictor of elevated heat resistance.

scholarly journals Daqu Fermentation Selects for Heat-ResistantEnterobacteriaceaeand Bacilli

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiying Wang ◽  
Pan Li ◽  
Lixin Luo ◽  
David J. Simpson ◽  
Michael G. Gänzle
Keyword(s):  
Solid State ◽  
Heat Resistance ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Starter Culture ◽  
Genomic Islands ◽  
16S Rrna Genes ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Genetic Elements ◽  
Heat Resistant

ABSTRACTDaqu is a spontaneous solid-state cereal fermentation used as saccharification and starter culture in Chinese vinegar and liquor production. The evolution of microbiota in this spontaneous fermentation is controlled by the temperature profile, which reaches temperatures from 50 to 65°C for several days. Despite these high temperatures, mesophilicEnterobacteriaceae(includingCronobacter) and bacilli are present throughout Daqu fermentation. This study aimed to determine whether Daqu spontaneous solid-state fermentation selects for heat-resistant variants of these organisms. Heat resistance inEnterobacteriaceaeis mediated by the locus of heat resistance (LHR). One LHR-positive strain ofKosakonia cowaniiwas identified in Daqu, and it exhibited higher heat resistance than the LHR-negativeK. cowaniiisolated from malted oats. Heat resistance inBacillusendospores is mediated by thespoVA2moboperon. Out of 10 Daqu isolates of the speciesBacillus licheniformis,Brevibacillus parabrevis,Bacillus subtilis,Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, andBacillus velezensis, 5 did not containspoVA2mob, 3 contained one copy, and 2 contained two copies. The presence and copy number of thespoVA2moboperon increased the resistance of spores to treatment with 110°C. To confirm the selection of LHR- andspoVA2mob-positive strains during Daqu fermentation, the copy numbers of these genetic elements in Daqu samples were quantified by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The abundance of LHR and thespoVA2moboperon in community DNA relative to that of total bacterial 16S rRNA genes increased 3-fold and 5-fold, respectively, during processing. In conclusion, culture-dependent and culture-independent analyses suggest that Daqu fermentation selects for heat-resistantEnterobacteriaceaeand bacilli.IMPORTANCEDaqu fermentations select for mobile genetic elements conferring heat resistance inEnterobacteriaceaeand bacilli. The locus of heat resistance (LHR), a genomic island conferring heat resistance inEnterobacteriaceae, and thespoVA2moboperon, conferring heat resistance on bacterial endospores, were enriched 3- to 5-fold during Daqu fermentation and maturation. It is therefore remarkable that the LHR and thespoVA2moboperon are accumulated in the same food fermentation. The presence of heat-resistantKosakoniaspp. andBacillusspp. in Daqu is not of concern for food safety; however, both genomic islands are mobile and transferable to pathogenic bacteria or toxin-producing bacteria by horizontal gene transfer. The identification of the LHR and thespoVA2moboperon as indicators of fitness ofEnterobacteriaceaeand bacilli in Daqu fermentation provides insights into environmental sources of heat-resistant organisms that may contaminate the food supply.

scholarly journals Impact of Protein Palmitoylation on the Virulence Potential of Cryptococcus neoformans

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 626-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Connie B. Nichols ◽  
Kyla S. Ost ◽  
Dayton P. Grogan ◽  
Kaila Pianalto ◽  
Shirin Hasan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
Genome Database ◽  
Temperature Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Virulence Potential ◽  
Protein Palmitoylation ◽  
And Function

ABSTRACT The localization and specialized function of Ras-like proteins are largely determined by posttranslational processing events. In a highly regulated process, palmitoyl groups may be added to C-terminal cysteine residues, targeting these proteins to specific membranes. In the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans , Ras1 protein palmitoylation is essential for growth at high temperature but is dispensable for sexual differentiation. Ras1 palmitoylation is also required for localization of this protein on the plasma membrane. Together, these results support a model in which specific Ras functions are mediated from different subcellular locations. We therefore hypothesize that proteins that activate Ras1 or mediate Ras1 localization to the plasma membrane will be important for C. neoformans pathogenesis. To further characterize the Ras1 signaling cascade mediating high-temperature growth, we have identified a family of protein S -acyltransferases (PATs), enzymes that mediate palmitoylation, in the C. neoformans genome database. Deletion strains for each candidate gene were generated by homogenous recombination, and each mutant strain was assessed for Ras1-mediated phenotypes, including high-temperature growth, morphogenesis, and sexual development. We found that full Ras1 palmitoylation and function required one particular PAT, Pfa4, and deletion of the PFA4 gene in C. neoformans resulted in altered Ras1 localization to membranes, impaired growth at 37°C, and reduced virulence.

scholarly journals Variants of β-Lactamase KPC-2 That Are Resistant to Inhibition by Avibactam

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 3710-3717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krisztina M. Papp-Wallace ◽  
Marisa L. Winkler ◽  
Magdalena A. Taracila ◽  
Robert A. Bonomo
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Molecular Modeling ◽  
Clavulanic Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Position ◽  
Proton Donor ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mechanistic Basis ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

ABSTRACTKPC-2 is the most prevalent class A carbapenemase in the world. Previously, KPC-2 was shown to hydrolyze the β-lactamase inhibitors clavulanic acid, sulbactam, and tazobactam. In addition, substitutions at amino acid position R220 in the KPC-2 β-lactamase increased resistance to clavulanic acid. A novel bridged diazabicyclooctane (DBO) non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor, avibactam, was shown to inactivate the KPC-2 β-lactamase. To better understand the mechanistic basis for inhibition of KPC-2 by avibactam, we tested the potency of ampicillin-avibactam and ceftazidime-avibactam against engineered variants of the KPC-2 β-lactamase that possessed single amino acid substitutions at important sites (i.e., Ambler positions 69, 130, 234, 220, and 276) that were previously shown to confer inhibitor resistance in TEM and SHV β-lactamases. To this end, we performed susceptibility testing, biochemical assays, and molecular modeling.Escherichia coliDH10B carrying KPC-2 β-lactamase variants with the substitutions S130G, K234R, and R220M demonstrated elevated MICs for only the ampicillin-avibactam combinations (e.g., 512, 64, and 32 mg/liter, respectively, versus the MICs for wild-type KPC-2 at 2 to 8 mg/liter). Steady-state kinetics revealed that the S130G variant of KPC-2 resisted inactivation by avibactam; thek2/Kratio was significantly lowered 4 logs for the S130G variant from the ratio for the wild-type enzyme (21,580 M−1s−1to 1.2 M−1s−1). Molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the mobility of K73 and its ability to activate S70 (i.e., function as a general base) may be impaired in the S130G variant of KPC-2, thereby explaining the slowed acylation. Moreover, we also advance the idea that the protonation of the sulfate nitrogen of avibactam may be slowed in the S130G variant, as S130 is the likely proton donor and another residue, possibly K234, must compensate. Our findings show that residues S130 as well as K234 and R220 contribute significantly to the mechanism of avibactam inactivation of KPC-2. Fortunately, the emergence of S130G, K234R, and R220M variants of KPC in the clinic should not result in failure of ceftazidime-avibactam, as the ceftazidime partner is potent againstE. coliDH10B strains possessing all of these variants.

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