Analysis of a novel class A β-lactamase OKP-B-6 of Klebsiella quasipneumoniae: structural characterisation and interaction with commercially available drugs

BACKGROUND Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria produce beta-lactamase as factors to overcome beta-lactam antibiotics, causing their hydrolysis and impaired antimicrobial action. Class A beta-lactamase contains the chromosomal sulfhydryl reagent variable (SHV, point mutation variants of SHV-1), LEN (Klebsiella pneumoniae strain LEN-1), and other K. pneumoniae beta-lactamase (OKP) found mostly in Klebsiella's phylogroups. The SHV known as extended-spectrum β-lactamase can inactivate most beta-lactam antibiotics. Class A also includes the worrisome plasmid-encoded Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC-2), a carbapenemase that can inactivate most beta-lactam antibiotics, carbapenems, and some beta-lactamase inhibitors. OBJECTIVES So far, there is no 3D crystal structure for OKP-B, so our goal was to perform structural characterisation and molecular docking studies of this new enzyme. METHODS We applied a homology modelling method to build the OKP-B-6 structure, which was compared with SHV-1 and KPC-2 according to their electrostatic potentials at the active site. Using the DockThor-VS, we performed molecular docking of the SHV-1 inhibitors commercially available as sulbactam, tazobactam, and avibactam against the constructed model of OKP-B-6. FINDINGS From the point of view of enzyme inhibition, our results indicate that OKP-B-6 should be an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) susceptible to the same drugs as SHV-1. MAIN CONCLUSIONS This conclusion advantageously impacts the clinical control of the bacterial pathogens encoding OKP-B in their genome by using any effective, broad-spectrum, and multitarget inhibitor against SHV-containing bacteria.

Comparative metagenome of a stream impacted by the urbanization phenomenon

Abstract Rivers and streams are important reservoirs of freshwater for human consumption. These ecosystems are threatened by increasing urbanization, because raw sewage discharged into them alters their nutrient content and may affect the composition of their microbial community. In the present study, we investigate the taxonomic and functional profile of the microbial community in an urban lotic environment. Samples of running water were collected at two points in the São Pedro stream: an upstream preserved and non-urbanized area, and a polluted urbanized area with discharged sewage. The metagenomic DNA was sequenced by pyrosequencing. Differences were observed in the community composition at the two sites. The non-urbanized area was overrepresented by genera of ubiquitous microbes that act in the maintenance of environments. In contrast, the urbanized metagenome was rich in genera pathogenic to humans. The functional profile indicated that the microbes act on the metabolism of methane, nitrogen and sulfur, especially in the urbanized area. It was also found that virulence/defense (antibiotic resistance and metal resistance) and stress response-related genes were disseminated in the urbanized environment. The structure of the microbial community was altered by uncontrolled anthropic interference, highlighting the selective pressure imposed by high loads of urban sewage discharged into freshwater environments.

ABC transporters in Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Mycoplasma synoviae: insights into evolution and pathogenicity

ABC transporters represent one of the largest superfamilies of active membrane transport proteins (MTPs) with a highly conserved ATPase domain that binds and hydrolyzes ATP, supplying energy for the uptake of a variety of nutrients and for the extrusion of drugs and metabolic wastes. The complete genomes of a non-pathogenic (J) and pathogenic (7448) strain of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, as well as of a pathogenic (53) strain of Mycoplasma synoviae have been recently sequenced. A detailed study revealed a high percentage of CDSs encoding MTPs in M. hyopneumoniae strains J (13.4 percent), 7448 (13.8 percent), and in M. synoviae 53 (11.2 percent), and the ABC systems represented from 85.0 to 88.6 percent of those CDSs. Uptake systems are mainly involved in cell nutrition and some might be associated with virulence. Exporter systems include both drug and multidrug resistant systems (MDR), which may represent mechanisms of resistance to toxic molecules. No relation was found between the phylogeny of the ATPase domains and the lifestyle or pathogenicity of Mycoplasma, but several proteins, potentially useful as targets for the control of infections, were identified.