beta-lactam antibiotics induce the SOS response and horizontal transfer of virulence factors in Staphylococcus aureus.
Antibiotics that interfere with DNA replication and cell viability activate the SOS response. In Staphylococcus aureus, the antibiotic-induced SOS response promotes replication and high-frequency horizontal transfer of pathogenicity island-encoded virulence factors. Here we report that beta-lactams induce a bona fide SOS response in S. aureus, characterized by the activation of the RecA and LexA proteins, the two master regulators of the SOS response. Moreover, we show that beta-lactams are capable of triggering staphylococcal prophage induction in S. aureus lysogens. Consequently, and as previously described for SOS induction by commonly used fluoroquinolone antibiotics, beta-lactam-mediated phage induction also resulted in replication and high-frequency transfer of the staphylococcal pathogenicity islands, showing that such antibiotics may have the unintended consequence of promoting the spread of bacterial virulence factors.
Departamento de Química, Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46113 Moncada, Valencia, Spain.
Elisa
E
Maiques
Carles
C
Ubeda
Susana
S
Campoy
Noelia
N
Salvador
Iñigo
I
Lasa
Richard P
RP
Novick
Jordi
J
Barbé
José R
JR
Penadés
D000667:Ampicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal / Q000187:drug effects*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011938:Rec A Recombinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013014:SOS Response, Genetics / Q000187:drug effects*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000099160:LexA Repressor Protein
D000667:Ampicillin; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010406:Penicillins; D011938:Rec A Recombinases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D037521:Virulence Factors; D047090:beta-Lactams; D000099160:LexA Repressor Protein