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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, November 2002, p. 3406-3411, Vol. 46, No. 11
0066-4804/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AAC.46.11.3406-3411.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Constitutive High Expression of Chromosomal ß-Lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Caused by a New Insertion Sequence (IS1669) Located in ampD

Niels Bagge,1* Oana Ciofu,1 Morten Hentzer,2 Joan I. A. Campbell,1 Michael Givskov,2 and Niels Høiby1,3

Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen,1 Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen,3 Molecular Microbiology, BioCentrum-DTU, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark2

Received 14 February 2002/ Returned for modification 6 June 2002/ Accepted 9 August 2002

The expression of chromosomal AmpC ß-lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is negatively regulated by the activity of an amidase, AmpD. In the present study we examined resistant clinical P. aeruginosa strains and several resistant variants isolated from in vivo and in vitro biofilms for mutations in ampD to find evidence for the genetic changes leading to high-level expression of chromosomal ß-lactamase. A new insertion sequence, IS1669, was found located in the ampD genes of two clinical P. aeruginosa isolates and several biofilm-isolated variants. The presence of IS1669 in ampD resulted in the expression of high levels of AmpC ß-lactamase. Complementation of these isolates with ampD from the reference P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 caused a dramatic decrease in the expression of AmpC ß-lactamase and a parallel decrease of the MIC of ceftazidime to a level comparable to that of PAO1. One highly resistant, constitutive ß-lactamase-producing variant contained no mutations in ampD, but a point mutation was observed in ampR, resulting in an Asp-135->Asn change. An identical mutation of AmpR in Enterobacter cloacae has been reported to cause a 450-fold higher AmpC expression. However, in many of the isolates expressing high levels of chromosomal ß-lactamase, no changes were found in either ampD, ampR, or in the promoter region of ampD, ampR, or ampC. Our results suggest that multiple pathways may exist leading to increased antimicrobial resistance due to chromosomal ß-lactamase.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: University of Copenhagen, Panum Institute, IMMI, 24.1, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. Phone: (45) 3532-7890. Fax: (45) 3532-7693. E-mail: niels_bagge{at}hotmail.com.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, November 2002, p. 3406-3411, Vol. 46, No. 11
0066-4804/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AAC.46.11.3406-3411.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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