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β-lactam resistance in Staphylococcus aureus cells that do not require a cell wall for integrity

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Peter Cook

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Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 9144 cells with defective cell walls were generated on a medium with elevated osmolality in the presence of sublethal levels of penicillin G. On removal of antibiotic pressure, the cells exhibited stable penicillin and methicillin resistance. The resistance was homogeneous and its acquisition was enhanced following transient cell wall-defective growth. The resistant cells were mecA negative, β-lactamase negative and did not contain any mutations in the coding regions of pbp genes. When penicillin was added back to resistant cells, they continued to grow and produced a diffuse cell wall that was resistant to the action by lysostaphin but was very sensitive to lysis with Triton X-100. These data indicate that the resistant cells are not dependent upon an intact cell wall for osmotic stability and they are able to switch readily to this mode of growth in the presence of penicillin G. Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Fuller E, Elmer C, Nattress F, Ellis R, Horne G, Cook P, Fawcett T

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy

Year: 2005

Volume: 49

Issue: 12

Pages: 5075-5080

Print publication date: 01/12/2005

ISSN (print): 0066-4804

ISSN (electronic): 1098-6596

Publisher: American Society for Microbiology

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AAC.49.12.5075-5080.2005

DOI: 10.1128/AAC.49.12.5075-5080.2005

PubMed id: 16304175

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