# | Rank | Similarity | Title + Abs. | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6013 | 0 | 0.8505 | Multidrug resistance in hydrocarbon-tolerant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. New Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from Poeni oily sludge, using enrichment procedures. The six Gram-positive strains belong to Bacillus, Lysinibacillus and Rhodococcus genera. The eight Gram-negative strains belong to Shewanella, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella genera. Isolated bacterial strains were tolerant to saturated (i.e., n-hexane, n-heptane, n-decane, n-pentadecane, n-hexadecane, cyclohexane), monoaromatic (i.e., benzene, toluene, styrene, xylene isomers, ethylbenzene, propylbenzene) and polyaromatic (i.e., naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, fluorene) hydrocarbons, and also resistant to different antimicrobial agents (i.e., ampicillin, kanamycin, rhodamine 6G, crystal violet, malachite green, sodium dodecyl sulfate). The presence of hydrophilic antibiotics like ampicillin or kanamycin in liquid LB-Mg medium has no effects on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria resistance to toxic compounds. The results indicated that Gram-negative bacteria are less sensitive to toxic compounds than Gram-positive bacteria, except one bacteria belonging to Lysinibacillus genus. There were observed cellular and molecular modifications induced by ampicillin or kanamycin to isolated bacterial strains. Gram-negative bacteria possessed between two and four catabolic genes (alkB, alkM, alkB/alkB1, todC1, xylM, PAH dioxygenase, catechol 2,3-dioxygenase), compared with Gram-positive bacteria (except one bacteria belonging to Bacillus genus) which possessed one catabolic gene (alkB/alkB1). Transporter genes (HAE1, acrAB) were detected only in Gram-negative bacteria. | 2011 | 21478643 |
| 328 | 1 | 0.8174 | Multiresistance genes of Rhizobium etli CFN42. Multidrug efflux pumps of bacteria are involved in the resistance to various antibiotics and toxic compounds. In Rhizobium etli, a mutualistic symbiont of Phaseolus vulgaris (bean), genes resembling multidrug efflux pump genes were identified and designated rmrA and rmrB. rmrA was obtained after the screening of transposon-generated fusions that are inducible by bean-root released flavonoids. The predicted gene products of rmrAB shared significant homology to membrane fusion and major facilitator proteins, respectively. Mutants of rmrA formed on average 40% less nodules in bean, while mutants of rmrA and rmrB had enhanced sensitivity to phytoalexins, flavonoids, and salicylic acid, compared with the wild-type strain. Multidrug resistance genes emrAB from Escherichia coli complemented an rmrA mutant from R. etli for resistance to high concentrations of naringenin. | 2000 | 10796024 |
| 9988 | 2 | 0.8169 | Genome-wide fitness profiling reveals molecular mechanisms that bacteria use to interact with Trichoderma atroviride exometabolites. Trichoderma spp. are ubiquitous rhizosphere fungi capable of producing several classes of secondary metabolites that can modify the dynamics of the plant-associated microbiome. However, the bacterial-fungal mechanisms that mediate these interactions have not been fully characterized. Here, a random barcode transposon-site sequencing (RB-TnSeq) approach was employed to identify bacterial genes important for fitness in the presence of Trichoderma atroviride exudates. We selected three rhizosphere bacteria with RB-TnSeq mutant libraries that can promote plant growth: the nitrogen fixers Klebsiella michiganensis M5aI and Herbaspirillum seropedicae SmR1, and Pseudomonas simiae WCS417. As a non-rhizosphere species, Pseudomonas putida KT2440 was also included. From the RB-TnSeq data, nitrogen-fixing bacteria competed mainly for iron and required the siderophore transport system TonB/ExbB for optimal fitness in the presence of T. atroviride exudates. In contrast, P. simiae and P. putida were highly dependent on mechanisms associated with membrane lipid modification that are required for resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs). A mutant in the Hog1-MAP kinase (Δtmk3) gene of T. atroviride showed altered expression patterns of many nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) biosynthetic gene clusters with potential antibiotic activity. In contrast to exudates from wild-type T. atroviride, bacterial mutants containing lesions in genes associated with resistance to antibiotics did not show fitness defects when RB-TnSeq libraries were exposed to exudates from the Δtmk3 mutant. Unexpectedly, exudates from wild-type T. atroviride and the Δtmk3 mutant rescued purine auxotrophic mutants of H. seropedicae, K. michiganensis and P. simiae. Metabolomic analysis on exudates from wild-type T. atroviride and the Δtmk3 mutant showed that both strains excrete purines and complex metabolites; functional Tmk3 is required to produce some of these metabolites. This study highlights the complex interplay between Trichoderma-metabolites and soil bacteria, revealing both beneficial and antagonistic effects, and underscoring the intricate and multifaceted nature of this relationship. | 2023 | 37651474 |
| 507 | 3 | 0.8168 | Tellurite resistance and reduction by obligately aerobic photosynthetic bacteria. Seven species of obligately aerobic photosynthetic bacteria of the genera Erythromicrobium, Erythrobacter, and Roseococcus demonstrated high-level resistance to tellurite and accumulation of metallic tellurium crystals. High-level resistance without tellurite reduction was observed for Roseococcus thiosulfatophilus and Erythromicrobium ezovicum grown with certain organic carbon sources, implying that tellurite reduction is not essential to confer tellurite resistance. | 1996 | 16535446 |
| 6078 | 4 | 0.8156 | Genomic Insights into Cyanide Biodegradation in the Pseudomonas Genus. Molecular studies about cyanide biodegradation have been mainly focused on the hydrolytic pathways catalyzed by the cyanide dihydratase CynD or the nitrilase NitC. In some Pseudomonas strains, the assimilation of cyanide has been linked to NitC, such as the cyanotrophic model strain Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344, which has been recently reclassified as Pseudomonas oleovorans CECT 5344. In this work, a phylogenomic approach established a more precise taxonomic position of the strain CECT 5344 within the species P. oleovorans. Furthermore, a pan-genomic analysis of P. oleovorans and other species with cyanotrophic strains, such as P. fluorescens and P. monteilii, allowed for the comparison and identification of the cioAB and mqoAB genes involved in cyanide resistance, and the nitC and cynS genes required for the assimilation of cyanide or cyanate, respectively. While cyanide resistance genes presented a high frequency among the analyzed genomes, genes responsible for cyanide or cyanate assimilation were identified in a considerably lower proportion. According to the results obtained in this work, an in silico approach based on a comparative genomic approach can be considered as an agile strategy for the bioprospection of putative cyanotrophic bacteria and for the identification of new genes putatively involved in cyanide biodegradation. | 2024 | 38674043 |
| 6143 | 5 | 0.8151 | Paleomicrobiology to investigate copper resistance in bacteria: isolation and description of Cupriavidus necator B9 in the soil of a medieval foundry. Remains of a medieval foundry were excavated by archaeologists in 2013 in Verdun (France). Ancient workshops specialized in brass and copper alloys were found with an activity between 13th to 16th c. Levels of Cu, Zn and Pb reached 20000, 7000 and 6000 mg kg(-1) (dw), respectively, in several soil horizons. The objective of the present work was to examine the microbial community in this contaminated site. A total of 8-22 10(6) reads were obtained by shotgun metagenomics in four soil horizons. Bioinformatic analyses suggest the presence of complex bacterial communities dominated by Proteobacteria. The structure of the community was not affected by metals, contrary to the set of metal-resistance genes. Using selective media, a novel strain of Cupriavidus necator (eutrophus), strain B9, was isolated. Its genome was sequenced and a novel metal resistance gene cluster with Hg resistance genes (merRTPCA) followed by 24 copper-resistance genes (actP, cusCBAF, silP, copK1, copH4QLOFGJH3IDCBARS, copH2H1, copK2) was found. This cluster is partly homologous to the cop genes of Cupriavidus gilardii CR3 and C. metallidurans CH34. Proteomics indicated that the four copH genes were differentially expressed: CopH1 and CopH2 were mostly induced by Cd while CopH4 was highly expressed by Cu. | 2017 | 27943589 |
| 536 | 6 | 0.8149 | Thymidylate synthase gene from Lactococcus lactis as a genetic marker: an alternative to antibiotic resistance genes. The potential of the thymidylate synthase thyA gene cloned from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis as a possible alternative selectable marker gene to antibiotic resistance markers has been examined. The thyA mutation is a recessive lethal one; thyA mutants cannot survive in environments containing low amounts of thymidine or thymine (such as Luria-Bertani medium) unless complemented by the thyA gene. The cloned thyA gene was strongly expressed in L. lactis subsp. lactis, Escherichia coli, Rhizobium meliloti, and a fluorescent Pseudomonas strain. In addition, when fused to a promoterless enteric lac operon, the thyA gene drove expression of the lac genes in a number of gram-negative bacteria. In transformation experiments with thyA mutants of E. coli and conjugation experiments with thyA mutants of R. meliloti, the lactococcal thyA gene permitted selection of transformants and transconjugants with the same efficiency as did genes for resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, or tetracycline. Starting from the broad-host-range plasmid pGD500, a plasmid, designated pPR602, was constructed which is completely free of antibiotic resistance genes and has the lactococcal thyA gene fused to a promoterless lac operon. This plasmid will permit growth of thyA mutant strains in the absence of thymidine or thymine and has a number of unique restriction sites which can be used for cloning. | 1990 | 2117883 |
| 528 | 7 | 0.8148 | Effect of dimethyl sulphoxide on the expression of nitrogen fixation in bacteria. Storage in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) of Escherichia coli K12 hybrids carrying nif+ genes from Klebsiella pneumoniae can result in selection of a defective nitrogen-fixing phenotype. Similar results are obtained with E. coli K12 hybrids containing the nitrogen-fixing capacity from Rhizobium trifolii. DMSO appears to affect particular inner membrane proteins associated with energy metabolism in E. coli K12 and four chromosomal regions (chlD, chlG, his and unc) are associated with resistance to DMSO. | 1977 | 332135 |
| 337 | 8 | 0.8147 | Effect of nifA product on suppression of Nif- phenotype of gln mutation and constitutive synthesis of nitrogenase in Klebsiella pneumoniae. This paper describes the role of nifA product on the ammonia regulation of nitrogen fixation in K. pneumoniae. A plasmid carrying nifA gene under the promoter of tetracycline resistance gene was constructed. When this nifA carrying plasmid was introduced into a glnAG mutant, the Nif- phenotype of this gln mutant was suppressed. Furthermore, when the plasmid was introduced into the wild type and glnAG mutant, derepression of nitrogenase synthesis in ammonia occurred in both strains and the products of nif genes can be detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in the extracts of these ammonia-grown bacterial cells. The constitutive synthesis of nitrogenase in NH4+ was also demonstrated in free living nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Enterobacter cloacae, when the bacteria received the plasmid carrying nifA gene from K. pneumoniae. | 1983 | 6143398 |
| 3752 | 9 | 0.8146 | Aeromonas allosaccharophila Strain AE59-TE2 Is Highly Antagonistic towards Multidrug-Resistant Human Pathogens, What Does Its Genome Tell Us? Multidrug-resistant bacteria are of critical importance and a problem for human health and food preservation; the discovery of new antimicrobial substances to control their proliferation is part of the solution. This work reports on 57 antagonistic Aeromonas strains, of which 38 strains were antagonistic towards problematic human pathogens. The genome of the most antagonistic strain was sequenced and identified as Aeromonas allosaccharophila. Its genome was fully annotated and mined for genes that might explain that activity. Strain AE59-TE was antagonistic toward clinically relevant gram-negative and gram-positive multidrug-resistant bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae KPC, Escherichia coli ESBL, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus MRSA. Strain AE59-TE2 was identified by multilocus sequence analysis. Genome mining identified four genes homologous to the bacteriocin, zoocin A from Streptococcus equi and a gene 98% similar to cvpA linked to colicin V production. A. allosaccharophila strain AE59-TE2 produced antimicrobial activity against a broad range of bacteria, including important gram-negative bacteria, not typically targeted by bacteriocins. Herewere described novel zoocin genes that are promising for industrial applications in the food and health sectors. Interesting and important antagonistic activity is described combined with the first detailed genomic analysis of the species Aeromonas allosaccharophila. | 2022 | 36294926 |
| 3608 | 10 | 0.8145 | Natural antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from larvae of the oil fly, Helaeomyia petrolei. Helaeomyia petrolei (oil fly) larvae inhabit the asphalt seeps of Rancho La Brea in Los Angeles, Calif. The culturable microbial gut contents of larvae collected from the viscous oil were recently examined, and the majority (9 of 14) of the strains were identified as Providencia spp. Subsequently, 12 of the bacterial strains isolated were tested for their resistance or sensitivity to 23 commonly used antibiotics. All nine strains classified as Providencia rettgeri exhibited dramatic resistance to tetracycline, vancomycin, bacitracin, erythromycin, novobiocin, polymyxin, colistin, and nitrofurantoin. Eight of nine Providencia strains showed resistance to spectinomycin, six of nine showed resistance to chloramphenicol, and five of nine showed resistance to neomycin. All 12 isolates were sensitive to nalidixic acid, streptomycin, norfloxacin, aztreonam, cipericillin, pipericillin, and cefotaxime, and all but OF008 (Morganella morganii) were sensitive to ampicillin and cefoxitin. The oil fly bacteria were not resistant to multiple antibiotics due to an elevated mutation rate. For each bacterium, the number of resistant mutants per 10(8) cells was determined separately on rifampin, nalidixic acid, and spectinomycin. In each case, the average frequencies of resistant colonies were at least 50-fold lower than those established for known mutator strain ECOR 48. In addition, the oil fly bacteria do not appear to excrete antimicrobial agents. When tested, none of the oil fly bacteria produced detectable zones of inhibition on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, or Candida albicans cultures. Furthermore, the resistance properties of oil fly bacteria extended to organic solvents as well as antibiotics. When pre-exposed to 20 microg of tetracycline per ml, seven of nine oil fly bacteria tolerated overlays of 100% cyclohexane, six of nine tolerated 10% xylene, benzene, or toluene (10:90 in cyclohexane), and three of nine (OF007, OF010, and OF011) tolerated overlays of 50% xylene-50% cyclohexane. The observed correlation between antibiotic resistance and organic solvent tolerance is likely explained by an active efflux pump that is maintained in oil fly bacteria by the constant selective pressure of La Brea's solvent-rich environment. We suggest that the oil fly bacteria and their genes for solvent tolerance may provide a microbial reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes. | 2000 | 11055901 |
| 368 | 11 | 0.8145 | Construction and complementation of in-frame deletions of the essential Escherichia coli thymidylate kinase gene. This work reports the construction of Escherichia coli in-frame deletion strains of tmk, which encodes thymidylate kinase, Tmk. The tmk gene is located at the third position of a putative five-gene operon at 24.9 min on the E. coli chromosome, which comprises the genes pabC, yceG, tmk, holB, and ycfH. To avoid potential polar effects on downstream genes of the operon, as well as recombination with plasmid-encoded tmk, the tmk gene was replaced by the kanamycin resistance gene kka1, encoding amino glycoside 3'-phosphotransferase kanamycin kinase. The kanamycin resistance gene is expressed under the control of the natural promoter(s) of the putative operon. The E. coli tmk gene is essential under any conditions tested. To show functional complementation in bacteria, the E. coli tmk gene was replaced by thymidylate kinases of bacteriophage T4 gp1, E. coli tmk, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cdc8, or the Homo sapiens homologue, dTYMK. Growth of these transgenic E. coli strains is completely dependent on thymidylate kinase activities of various origin expressed from plasmids. The substitution constructs show no polar effects on the downstream genes holB and ycfH with respect to cell viability. The presented transgenic bacteria could be of interest for testing of thymidylate kinase-specific phosphorylation of nucleoside analogues that are used in therapies against cancer and infectious diseases. | 2006 | 16461678 |
| 108 | 12 | 0.8141 | RtcB2-PrfH Operon Protects E. coli ATCC25922 Strain from Colicin E3 Toxin. In the bid to survive and thrive in an environmental setting, bacterial species constantly interact and compete for resources and space in the microbial ecosystem. Thus, they have adapted to use various antibiotics and toxins to fight their rivals. Simultaneously, they have evolved an ability to withstand weapons that are directed against them. Several bacteria harbor colicinogenic plasmids which encode toxins that impair the translational apparatus. One of them, colicin E3 ribotoxin, mediates cleavage of the 16S rRNA in the decoding center of the ribosome. In order to thrive upon deployment of such ribotoxins, competing bacteria may have evolved counter-conflict mechanisms to prevent their demise. A recent study demonstrated the role of PrfH and the RtcB2 module in rescuing a damaged ribosome and the subsequent re-ligation of the cleaved 16S rRNA by colicin E3 in vitro. The rtcB2-prfH genes coexist as gene neighbors in an operon that is sporadically spread among different bacteria. In the current study, we report that the RtcB2-PrfH module confers resistance to colicin E3 toxicity in E. coli ATCC25922 cells in vivo. We demonstrated that the viability of E. coli ATCC25922 strain that is devoid of rtcB2 and prfH genes is impaired upon action of colicin E3, in contrast to the parental strain which has intact rtcB2 and prfH genes. Complementation of the rtcB2 and prfH gene knockout with a high copy number-plasmid (encoding either rtcB2 alone or both rtcB2-prfH operon) restored resistance to colicin E3. These results highlight a counter-conflict system that may have evolved to thwart colicin E3 activity. | 2022 | 35742896 |
| 5380 | 13 | 0.8141 | In Vitro Screening of a 1280 FDA-Approved Drugs Library against Multidrug-Resistant and Extensively Drug-Resistant Bacteria. Alternative strategies against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections are suggested to clinicians, such as drug repurposing, which uses rapidly available and marketed drugs. We gathered a collection of MDR bacteria from our hospital and performed a phenotypic high-throughput screening with a 1280 FDA-approved drug library. We used two Gram positive (Enterococcus faecium P5014 and Staphylococcus aureus P1943) and six Gram negative (Acinetobacter baumannii P1887, Klebsiella pneumoniae P9495, Pseudomonas aeruginosa P6540, Burkholderia multivorans P6539, Pandoraea nosoerga P8103, and Escherichia coli DSM105182 as the reference and control strain). The selected MDR strain panel carried resistance genes or displayed phenotypic resistance to last-line therapies such as carbapenems, vancomycin, or colistin. A total of 107 compounds from nine therapeutic classes inhibited >90% of the growth of the selected Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria at a drug concentration set at 10 µmol/L, and 7.5% were anticancer drugs. The common hit was the antiseptic chlorhexidine. The activity of niclosamide, carmofur, and auranofin was found against the selected methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Zidovudine was effective against colistin-resistant E. coli and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae. Trifluridine, an antiviral, was effective against E. faecium. Deferoxamine mesylate inhibited the growth of XDR P. nosoerga. Drug repurposing by an in vitro screening of a drug library is a promising approach to identify effective drugs for specific bacteria. | 2022 | 35326755 |
| 6083 | 14 | 0.8140 | Bioactivity and genome analysis of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GL18 isolated from the rhizosphere of Kobresia myosuroides in an alpine meadow. The unique eco-environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau breeds abundant microbial resources. In this research, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GL18, isolated from the rhizosphere of Kobresia myosuroides from an alpine meadow, and the antagonistic activity, bacteriostatic hydrolase activity, and low temperature, salt, and drought resistance of it were determined and analysed. The seedlings of Avena sativa were root-irrigated using bacteria suspensions (cell concentration 1 × 10(7) cfu/mL) of GL18, and the growth-promoting effect of GL18 on it was determined under cold, salt and drought stress, respectively. The whole genome of GL18 was sequenced, and its functional genes were analysed. GL18 presented significant antagonistic activity to Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium acuminatum, Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger (inhibition zone diameter > 17 mm). Transparent zones formed on four hydrolase detection media, indicating that GL18 secreted cellulase, protease, pectinase and β-1,3-glucanase. GL18 tolerated conditions of 10 °C, 11% NaCl and 15% PEG-6000, presenting cold, salt and drought resistance. GL18 improved the cold, salt and drought tolerance of A. sativa and it showed significant growth effects under different stress. The total length of the GL18 genome was 3,915,550 bp, and the number of coding DNA sequence was 3726. Compared with the clusters of orthologous groups of proteins, gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes databases, 3088, 2869 and 2357 functional genes were annotated, respectively. GL18 contained gene clusters related to antibacterial substances, functional genes related to the synthesis of plant growth-promoting substances, and encoding genes related to stress resistance. This study identified an excellent Bacillus strain and provided a theoretical basis for improving stress resistance and promoting the growth of herbages under abiotic stress. | 2024 | 38189906 |
| 504 | 15 | 0.8139 | Activation of Dithiolopyrrolone Antibiotics by Cellular Reductants. Dithiolopyrrolone (DTP) natural products are broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anticancer prodrugs. The DTP structure contains a unique bicyclic ene-disulfide that once reduced in the cell, chelates metal ions and disrupts metal homeostasis. In this work we investigate the intracellular activation of the DTPs and their resistance mechanisms in bacteria. We show that the prototypical DTP holomycin is reduced by several bacterial reductases and small-molecule thiols in vitro. To understand how bacteria develop resistance to the DTPs, we generate Staphylococcus aureus mutants that exhibit increased resistance to the hybrid DTP antibiotic thiomarinol. From these mutants we identify loss-of-function mutations in redox genes that are involved in DTP activation. This work advances the understanding of how DTPs are activated and informs development of bioreductive disulfide prodrugs. | 2025 | 39665630 |
| 109 | 16 | 0.8138 | Identification of two putative ATP-cassette genes in Encephalitozoon intestinalis. Currently existing chemotherapeutic compounds are limited and few are effective for treating microsporidiosis. It is possible that resistance of Encephalitozoon to some drugs occurs by efflux mechanisms similar to those previously described for mammalian tumour cells, bacteria or protozoal parasites such as Plasmodium, Leishmania and Entamoeba histolytica. The data in the present study suggest that Encephalitozoon intestinalis contains at least one multidrug resistance gene. We report here two complete sequences EiABC1 and EiABC2, encoding different ATP-binding cassette genes from E. intestinalis, including a P-gp. | 2001 | 11730796 |
| 2092 | 17 | 0.8138 | Antibacterial activities of multi drug resistant Myroides odoratimimus bacteria isolated from adult flesh flies (Diptera: sarcophagidae) are independent of metallo beta-lactamase gene. Sarcophagidae) are well known cause of myiasis and their gut bacteria have never been studied for antimicrobial activity against bacteria. Antimicrobial studies of Myroides spp. are restricted to nosocomial strains. A Gram-negative bacterium, Myroides sp., was isolated from the gut of adult flesh flies (Sarcophaga sp.) and submitted to evaluation of nutritional parameters using Biolog GN, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, susceptibility to various antimicrobials by disc diffusion method and detection of metallo β-lactamase genes (TUS/MUS). The antagonistic effects were tested on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria isolated from human clinical specimens, environmental samples and insect mid gut. Bacterial species included were Aeromonas hydrophila, A. culicicola, Morganella morganii subsp. sibonii, Ochrobactrum anthropi, Weissella confusa, Escherichia coli, Ochrobactrum sp., Serratia sp., Kestersia sp., Ignatzschineria sp., Bacillus sp. The Myroides sp. strain was resistant to penicillin-G, erythromycin, streptomycin, amikacin, kanamycin, gentamycin, ampicillin, trimethoprim and tobramycin. These strain showed antibacterial action against all bacterial strains except W. confusa, Ignatzschineria sp., A. hydrophila and M. morganii subsp. sibonii. The multidrug resistance of the strain was similar to the resistance of clinical isolates, inhibiting growth of bacteria from clinical, environmental and insect gut samples. The metallo β-lactamase (TUS/MUS) genes were absent, and resistance due to these genes was ruled out, indicating involvement of other secretion machinery. | 2008 | 24031236 |
| 8472 | 18 | 0.8134 | Genetic architecture of resistance to plant secondary metabolites in Photorhabdus entomopathogenic bacteria. BACKGROUND: Entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis establish a symbiotic association with Photorhabdus bacteria. Together, they colonize and rapidly kill insects, making them important biological control agents against agricultural pests. Improving their biocontrol traits by engineering resistance to plant secondary metabolites (benzoxazinoids) in Photorhabdus symbiotic bacteria through experimental evolution has been shown to increase their lethality towards benzoxazinoid-defended larvae of the western corn rootworm, a serious crop pest of maize, and it is therefore a promising approach to develop more efficient biocontrol agents to manage this pest. To enhance our understanding of the genetic bases of benzoxazinoid resistance in Photorhabdus bacteria, we conducted an experimental evolution experiment with a phylogenetically diverse collection of Photorhabdus strains from different geographic origins. We cultured 27 different strains in medium containing 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (MBOA), a highly active benzoxazinoid breakdown product, for 35 24 h-cycles to select for benzoxazinoid-resistant strains. Then, we carried out genome-wide sequence comparisons to uncover the genetic alterations associated with benzoxazinoid resistance. Lastly, we evaluated the resistance of the newly isolated resistant Photorhabdus strains to eight additional bioactive compounds, including 2-benzoxazolinone (BOA), nicotine, caffeine, 6-chloroacetyl-2-benzoxazolinone (CABOA), digitoxin, fenitrothion, ampicillin, and kanamycin. RESULTS: We found that benzoxazinoid resistance evolves rapidly in Photorhabdus in a strain-specific manner. Across the different Photorhabdus strains, a total of nineteen nonsynonymous point mutations, two stop codon gains, and one frameshift were associated with higher benzoxazinoid resistance. The different genetic alterations were polygenic and occurred in genes coding for the EnvZ/OmpR two-component regulatory system, the different subunits of the DNA-directed RNA polymerase, and the AcrABZ-TolC multidrug efflux pump. Apart from increasing MBOA resistance, the different mutations were also associated with cross-resistance to 2-benzoxazolinone (BOA), nicotine, caffeine, and 6-chloroacetyl-2-benzoxazolinone (CABOA) and with collateral sensitivity to fenitrothion, ampicillin, and kanamycin. Targeted mutagenesis will provide a deeper mechanistic understanding, including the relative contribution of the different mutation types. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals several genomic features that are associated with resistance to xenobiotics in this important group of biological control agents and enhances the availability of molecular tools to develop better biological control agents, which is essential for more sustainable and ecologically friendly agricultural practices. | 2025 | 41168779 |
| 617 | 19 | 0.8134 | Lytic action of cloned pneumococcal phage lysis genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae. The genes hbl3, cpl1 and cpl7 coding for the pneumococcal phage lytic enzymes HBL3, CPL1 and CPL7, respectively, have been cloned into shuttle plasmids that can replicate in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. All these genes were expressed in E. coli under the control of either the lytP promoter of the lytA gene, which codes for the major pneumococcal autolysin, or the promoter of the tetracycline-resistance gene (tetP). In contrast, cpl1 and cpl7 genes that code for lysozymes were expressed in pneumococcus only under the control of tetP, whereas the hbl3 gene that codes for an amidase can be expressed using either promoter. The phage lysozymes or amidase expressed in S. pneumoniae M31, a mutant deleted in the lytA gene coding for short chains, were placed under physiological control since these transformed bacteria grew as normal 'diplo' cells during the exponential phase and underwent autolysis only after long incubation at 37 degrees C. The lysis genes appear to be expressed constitutively in the transformed pneumococci, since sharply defined lysis of these cultures could be induced prematurely during the exponential phase of growth by addition of sodium deoxycholate. | 1993 | 8472929 |