title: Aminoglycoside-inactivating enzymes in clinical isolates of Streptococcus faecalis. An explanation for resistance to antibiotic synergism.
abstract: Clinical isolates of enterococci (Streptococcus faecalis) with high-level resistance to both streptomycin and kanamycin (minimal inhibitory concentration >2,000 mug/ml), and resistant to synergism with penicillin and streptomycin or kanamycin were examined for aminoglycoside-inactivating enzymes. All of the 10 strains studied had streptomycin adenylyltransferase and neomycin phosphotransferase activities; the latter enzyme phosphorylated amikacin as well as its normal substrates, such as kanamycin. Substrate profiles of the neomycin phosphotransferase activity suggested that phosphorylation occurred at the 3'-hydroxyl position, i.e., aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase. A transconjugant strain, which acquired high-level aminoglycoside resistance and resistance to antibiotic synergism after mating with a resistant clinical isolate, also acquired both enzyme activities. Quantitative phosphorylation of amikacin in vitro by a sonicate of the transconjugant strain inactivated the antibiotic, as measured by bioassay, and the phosphorylated drug failed to produce synergism when combined with penicillin against a strain sensitive to penicillin-amikacin synergism.No differences were found in the sensitivity of ribosomes from a sensitive and resistant strain when examined in vitro using polyuridylic acid directed [(14)C]-phenylalanine incorporation in the presence of streptomycin, kanamycin, or amikacin. Therefore, we conclude that aminoglycoside-inactivating enzymes are responsible for the aminoglycoside resistance, and resistance to antibiotic synergism observed in these strains.
mesh_terms: D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins