Interspecies recombination in type II topoisomerase genes is not a major cause of fluoroquinolone resistance in invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in the United States.
Mutations in the topoisomerase type II enzymes account for fluoroquinolone resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae. These mutations can arise spontaneously or be transferred by intraspecies or interspecies recombination, primarily with viridans streptococci. We analyzed the nucleotide sequences of the quinolone resistance-determining regions of 49 invasive levofloxacin-resistant pneumococcal isolates and did not find any evidence for interspecies recombination.
Pletz
Mathias W R
MW
Department of International Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. mpletz@sph.emory.edu
McGee
Lesley
L
Beall
Bernard
B
Whitney
Cynthia G
CG
Klugman
Keith P
KP
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000235:genetics*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D014481:United States; D034363:Viridans Streptococci / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II