Phasevarions mediate epigenetic regulation of antimicrobial susceptibility in Neisseria meningitidis

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2014 Jul;58(7):4219-21. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00004-14. Epub 2014 Apr 28.

Authors

Freda E-C Jen¹, Kate L Seib¹, Michael P Jennings²

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
² Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia m.jennings@griffith.edu.au.

Abstract

Phase variation is a common feature of host-adapted bacterial pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis. Recently, we reported that this rapid on/off switching of gene expression occurs in DNA methyltransferases, altering expression in multiple genes via changes in global methylation. In the current study, we compared MIC values of strains with ModA11, ModA12, and ModD1 phasevarions, revealing MIC differences due to ModA11 and ModA12 switching, with a ModA11_OFF strain showing 4-fold reduced susceptibilities to ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
Ceftazidime / pharmacology
Ciprofloxacin / pharmacology
DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / genetics*
DNA Methylation / genetics
DNA, Bacterial / genetics
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics*
Epigenesis, Genetic
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / genetics
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Neisseria meningitidis / drug effects*
Neisseria meningitidis / genetics*
Neisseria meningitidis / metabolism

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
DNA, Bacterial
Ciprofloxacin
Ceftazidime
DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases