Capsule homology does not increase the frequency of transformation of linked penicillin binding proteins PBP 1a and PBP 2x in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Penicillin resistance is mainly confined to a limited number of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes. Given linkage between the capsular biosynthesis locus and two penicillin binding proteins, we tested whether capsule homology increases transformation rates of penicillin resistance. Transformation rates in homologous donor-recipient pairs were no higher than expected, falsifying this hypothesis.
Trzciński
Krzysztof
K
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Room 903, Building 1, 665 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. ktrzcins@hsph.harvard.edu
MacNeil
Adam
A
Klugman
Keith P
KP
Lipsitch
Marc
M
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases / Q000235:genetics*; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins; C072223:PBP 2x protein, Streptococcus; C480727:PBP1a protein, Streptococcus pneumoniae; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases