This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wolter, N.
Right arrow Articles by Klugman, K. P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wolter, N.
Right arrow Articles by Klugman, K. P.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, January 2006, p. 359-361, Vol. 50, No. 1
0066-4804/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.50.1.359-361.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Heterogeneous Macrolide Resistance and Gene Conversion in the Pneumococcus

Nicole Wolter,1* Anthony M. Smith,1 David J. Farrell,2 and Keith P. Klugman1,3

Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Medical Research Council and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,1 GR Micro Ltd., London, United Kingdom,2 Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, and Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia3

Received 15 August 2005/ Returned for modification 21 September 2005/ Accepted 28 September 2005

A macrolide-resistant clinical isolate of Streptococcus pneumoniae with 23S rRNA mutations showed a heterogeneous phenotype and genotype. The mutant 23S rRNA genes from this isolate transformed susceptible strain R6 to resistance. Culture of resistant strain R6 in the absence of antibiotic pressure showed gene conversion to occur between the four 23S rRNA alleles, resulting in reversion to susceptibility with the resistant phenotype showing a fitness cost. These data explain the disappearance on subculture of heterogeneous macrolide resistance in the pneumococcus.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, 2131, South Africa. Phone: 27-11-555-0352. Fax: 27-11-555-0437. E-mail: nicolew{at}nicd.ac.za.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, January 2006, p. 359-361, Vol. 50, No. 1
0066-4804/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.50.1.359-361.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Binet, R., Maurelli, A. T. (2007). Frequency of Development and Associated Physiological Cost of Azithromycin Resistance in Chlamydia psittaci 6BC and C. trachomatis L2. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 51: 4267-4275 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»