Fitness costs associated with carriage of a large staphylococcal plasmid are reduced by subinhibitory concentrations of antiseptics
Abstract Staphylococcus aureus carries a collection of mobile genetic elements that often harbor virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes. Since the introduction of antibiotics, plasmids have become a major genetic element responsible for the distribution of antimicrobial resistance. Under antim...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-04-01
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| Series: | MicrobiologyOpen |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.1005 |
| _version_ | 1818409994823925760 |
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| author | Patrick T. LaBreck D. Scott Merrell |
| author_facet | Patrick T. LaBreck D. Scott Merrell |
| author_sort | Patrick T. LaBreck |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Staphylococcus aureus carries a collection of mobile genetic elements that often harbor virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes. Since the introduction of antibiotics, plasmids have become a major genetic element responsible for the distribution of antimicrobial resistance. Under antimicrobial selection, resistance plasmids are maintained within bacterial populations as a means to ensure survival. However, in the absence of selection, large plasmids can be lost due to the fitness costs associated with harboring these genetic elements. pC02 is a previously identified multidrug resistance, conjugative plasmid that is found in S. aureus. In addition to antibiotic resistance, pC02 also carries genes known to be associated with antiseptic resistance. Among these, we previously characterized the contribution of qacA to pC02 mediated reduced chlorhexidine susceptibility. Herein, we demonstrate that pC02 also mediates triclosan resistance, likely due to the presence of fabI, a known triclosan resistance gene. Moreover, we demonstrate that conjugative transfer of pC02 increases triclosan resistance in recipient cells. Competition assays demonstrated a fitness cost associated with carriage of the large pC02 plasmid. However, subinhibitory concentrations of either chlorhexidine or triclosan abrogated this fitness cost. Given the widespread use of these antiseptics, both of which accumulate in wastewater and other environmental reservoirs, indiscriminate use of antiseptics likely imposes a constant selective pressure that promotes maintenance of antimicrobial resistance factors within S. aureus. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T10:08:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-588efca682e64206a40fbe91b86c5a8f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-8827 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T10:08:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MicrobiologyOpen |
| spelling | doaj.art-588efca682e64206a40fbe91b86c5a8f2022-12-21T23:07:04ZengWileyMicrobiologyOpen2045-88272020-04-0194n/an/a10.1002/mbo3.1005Fitness costs associated with carriage of a large staphylococcal plasmid are reduced by subinhibitory concentrations of antisepticsPatrick T. LaBreck0D. Scott Merrell1Department of Microbiology and Immunology Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Bethesda MarylandDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Bethesda MarylandAbstract Staphylococcus aureus carries a collection of mobile genetic elements that often harbor virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes. Since the introduction of antibiotics, plasmids have become a major genetic element responsible for the distribution of antimicrobial resistance. Under antimicrobial selection, resistance plasmids are maintained within bacterial populations as a means to ensure survival. However, in the absence of selection, large plasmids can be lost due to the fitness costs associated with harboring these genetic elements. pC02 is a previously identified multidrug resistance, conjugative plasmid that is found in S. aureus. In addition to antibiotic resistance, pC02 also carries genes known to be associated with antiseptic resistance. Among these, we previously characterized the contribution of qacA to pC02 mediated reduced chlorhexidine susceptibility. Herein, we demonstrate that pC02 also mediates triclosan resistance, likely due to the presence of fabI, a known triclosan resistance gene. Moreover, we demonstrate that conjugative transfer of pC02 increases triclosan resistance in recipient cells. Competition assays demonstrated a fitness cost associated with carriage of the large pC02 plasmid. However, subinhibitory concentrations of either chlorhexidine or triclosan abrogated this fitness cost. Given the widespread use of these antiseptics, both of which accumulate in wastewater and other environmental reservoirs, indiscriminate use of antiseptics likely imposes a constant selective pressure that promotes maintenance of antimicrobial resistance factors within S. aureus.https://doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.1005antibiotic resistancebacterial plasmidsmobile genetic elementsStaphylococcus |
| spellingShingle | Patrick T. LaBreck D. Scott Merrell Fitness costs associated with carriage of a large staphylococcal plasmid are reduced by subinhibitory concentrations of antiseptics MicrobiologyOpen antibiotic resistance bacterial plasmids mobile genetic elements Staphylococcus |
| title | Fitness costs associated with carriage of a large staphylococcal plasmid are reduced by subinhibitory concentrations of antiseptics |
| title_full | Fitness costs associated with carriage of a large staphylococcal plasmid are reduced by subinhibitory concentrations of antiseptics |
| title_fullStr | Fitness costs associated with carriage of a large staphylococcal plasmid are reduced by subinhibitory concentrations of antiseptics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fitness costs associated with carriage of a large staphylococcal plasmid are reduced by subinhibitory concentrations of antiseptics |
| title_short | Fitness costs associated with carriage of a large staphylococcal plasmid are reduced by subinhibitory concentrations of antiseptics |
| title_sort | fitness costs associated with carriage of a large staphylococcal plasmid are reduced by subinhibitory concentrations of antiseptics |
| topic | antibiotic resistance bacterial plasmids mobile genetic elements Staphylococcus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.1005 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT patricktlabreck fitnesscostsassociatedwithcarriageofalargestaphylococcalplasmidarereducedbysubinhibitoryconcentrationsofantiseptics AT dscottmerrell fitnesscostsassociatedwithcarriageofalargestaphylococcalplasmidarereducedbysubinhibitoryconcentrationsofantiseptics |