An internationally spread clone of Streptococcus pneumoniae evolves from low-level to higher-level penicillin resistance by uptake of penicillin-binding protein gene fragments from nonencapsulated pneumococci.
Low-level penicillin resistance in an international Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19F clone emerging in Switzerland was characterized by mutations in the penicillin-binding protein PBP2x. Some isolates of this clone had evolved to higher resistance levels (penicillin MICs of 0.094 and 1 microg/ml), probably by acquisition of pbp2x fragments from local nonencapsulated pneumococci.
Hauser
Christoph
C
Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Berne, Friedbühlstrasse 51, CH-3010 Berne, Switzerland.
Aebi
Suzanne
S
Mühlemann
Kathrin
K
D000483:Alleles; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D006602:Hexosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D010403:Penicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases / Q000235:genetics*; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D013557:Switzerland
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase