title: Virulence of non-beta-lactamase-mediated ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae.
abstract: We questioned whether strains of ampicillin-resistant, non-beta-lactamase-producing (AmpR NBLP) Haemophilus influenzae with lower affinity penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) might have altered virulence. The virulence of resistant transformant strains and the susceptible recipient was compared using infant rats. Following intraperitoneal inoculation, there was a significantly lower mortality rate and incidence and magnitude of bacteremia with two of three transformants compared to the recipient strain. Reduced virulence was not associated with greater bactericidal activity of serum or human neutrophils or faster clearance of the transformant following intravenous injection. Heated rat or human plasma supported exponential growth of the recipient, but not the transformant, suggesting deficient in vivo multiplication. We conclude that H. influenzae with altered PBPs are less virulent in an infant rat model which may be related to differences in in vivo growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY 11042.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mendelman
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rakita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D000668:Ampicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D006801:Humans; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000378:metabolism; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins / Q000378:metabolism; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial; D014774:Virulence; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase; D001618:beta-Lactamases