title: Biochemical basis of mupirocin resistance in strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Twenty one strains of Staphylococcus aureus, of varying resistance to mupirocin, were examined in order to determine the mechanism of resistance to this antibiotic; six of these strains were mupirocin sensitive (MIC 0.12-1.0 mg/L) nine moderately resistant strains (MIC 8-256 mg/L) and six highly resistant strains (MIC > 2048 mg/L). Mupirocin showed a time-dependent inhibition of the target enzyme, isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IRS); incubation of the antibiotic with this enzyme before adding the substrates markedly increased inhibition in sensitive strains. The IRS I50 values (the antibiotic concentrations which cause a 50% decrease in enzyme activity) correlated well with the MIC values for each strain (P < 0.01). The mean I50 value for sensitive strains was 3.3 x 10(-2) mg/L, in moderately resistant strains it was 1.3 x 10(-1) mg/L and in highly resistant strains it was 7.5 mg/L. No degradation of mupirocin could be detected during extended incubation of the antibiotic with cell free extracts from four resistant S. aureus strains. We conclude that the production of a modified IRS enzyme is the major cause of mupirocin resistance in the strains studied.
authors.affiliation: SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Betchworth, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilbart
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Elson
mesh_terms: D002474:Cell-Free System; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D007533:Isoleucine-tRNA Ligase / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016712:Mupirocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D016712:Mupirocin; D007533:Isoleucine-tRNA Ligase