Antibiotic stress induces genetic transformability in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Natural transformation is a widespread mechanism for genetic exchange in bacteria. Aminoglycoside and fluoroquinolone antibiotics, as well as mitomycin C, a DNA-damaging agent, induced transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae. This induction required an intact competence regulatory cascade. Furthermore, mitomycin C induction of recA was strictly dependent on the development of competence. In response to antibiotic stress, S. pneumoniae, which lacks an SOS-like system, exhibited genetic transformation. The design of antibiotherapy should take into consideration this potential of a major human pathogen to increase its rate of genetic exchange in response to antibiotics.
Prudhomme
Marc
M
Laboratoire de Microbiologie et Génétique Moléculaires, UMR 5100 CNRS-Université Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
Attaiech
Laetitia
L
Sanchez
Guillaume
G
Martin
Bernard
B
Claverys
Jean-Pierre
JP
D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000494:pharmacology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011938:Rec A Recombinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018085:Regulon / Q000187:drug effects; D013014:SOS Response, Genetics; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C423628:competence factor, Streptococcus; D016685:Mitomycin; D011938:Rec A Recombinases