title: Molecular characteristics of penicillin-binding protein genes of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in the Netherlands.
abstract: Recently, a nation-wide molecular epidemiologic survey of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae has been performed in the Netherlands. In the current study, we analyzed the genes pbp1a, pbp2b, and pbp2x from these clinical isolates at the molecular level, and identified the genetic composition of the penicillin-binding domains. The pneumococcal strains were selected on the basis of differences in restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of the genes pbp1a, pbp2b, and pbp2x, and represented 8, 7, and 10 distinct patterns, respectively. The genetic heterogeneity observed by sequence analysis of the pbp gene parts was comparable with the heterogeneity of the entire pbp genes as deduced from RFLP analysis. Furthermore, the mutations in the pbp sequences of the Dutch isolates invariably matched with the mutations described in pbp sequences of penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococci isolated in other countries. Finally, novel mosaic structures were identified indicating horizontal exchange of pbp gene parts among penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococci.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital/Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Overweg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bogaert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sluijter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Hermans
mesh_terms: D019881:Aminoacyltransferases; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003470:Culture Media; D017931:DNA Primers; D005838:Genotype; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000235:genetics*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010403:Penicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D017931:DNA Primers; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins; D019881:Aminoacyltransferases; C478701:penicillin-binding protein 2b, Streptococcus; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase