National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH)

Topics in Animal Health Research 2006

31. Role of CmeDEF in conferring antimicrobial resistance and maintaining cell viability in Campylobacter jejuni

Japanese

  The objectives of this study were to determine the role of CmeDEF in conferring antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter jejuni and to examine the interaction of CmeABC and CmeDEF in mediating antimicrobial resistance and maintaining cell viability. Single and double mutants of cmeF and cmeB were generated in multiple strains using insertional mutagenesis. The mutants compared with wild type strains for antimicrobial susceptibility and growth characteristics. Transcriptional fusion was used to quantify the expression of cmeDEF and cmeABC. Compared with the cmeB mutant, the cmeF/cmeB double mutants showed a further decrease in their resistance to various antimicrobials and toxic compounds. A transcriptional fusion assay indicated that the expression level of cmeF was substantially lower than that of cmeB. Notably, the cmeB/cmeF double mutation, not the single mutations, impaired cell viability in Campylobacter. In conclusion, CmeDEF interacts with CmeABC in conferring antimicrobial resistance and maintaining cell viability in C. jejuni. CmeABC is the predominant efflux pump in C. jejuni, whereas CmeDEF plays a secondary role in conferring intrinsic resistance to antimicrobials.
(Safety Research Team, TEL +81-29-838-7819)

Reference:

Akiba et al. (2006) J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 57 : 52-60.

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