Sublethal Antibiotic Exposure Induces Microevolution of Quinolone Resistance in Pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Publisher: MDPI Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 101092791 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1422-0067 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14220067 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Mol Sci Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Basel, Switzerland : MDPI, [2000-

Vibrio parahaemolyticus*/drug effects ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus*/genetics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents*/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial*/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial*/drug effects ; Quinolones*/pharmacology; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA Topoisomerase IV/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Levofloxacin/pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Evolution, Molecular ; Whole Genome Sequencing

The microevolutionary pathways and molecular mechanisms by which the important pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus acquires resistance in the aquatic environment under continuous selective pressure from quinolone antibiotic residues are still unknown. Here, the study successfully simulated the long-term pressure of antibiotic residues in aquaculture by susceptible V. parahaemolyticus (VPD14) which was isolated from seafood, to a 30-day in vitro induction with sublethal concentrations of levofloxacin, which yielded the mutants (VPD14M). A phenotypic analysis revealed that VPD14M exhibited resistance to ampicillin, levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, compared to VPD14. These changes were accompanied by adaptations, including a decreased growth rate and an enhanced biofilm formation capacity. Whole-Genome Sequencing identified that the acquired resistance was primarily attributable to key point mutations in three Quinolone Resistance-Determining Regions (QRDRs). Specifically, a G → T substitution at nucleotide position 248 in the gyrA gene, leading to a serine-to-isoleucine substitution at the 83rd amino acid position (Ser83Ile) of the DNA gyrase subunit A; a C → T substitution at position 254 in the parC gene, resulting in a serine-to-phenylalanine substitution at position 85 (Ser85Phe) of the topoisomerase IV subunit A; and a C → T substitution at position 2242 in the gyrB gene, causing a proline-to-serine substitution at position 748 (Pro748Ser) of the DNA gyrase subunit B. Collectively, the study demonstrated that sublethal antibiotic levels rapidly drive quinolone resistance in V. parahaemolyticus, and the specific mutations identified offer critical support for resistance monitoring and seafood safety alerts.

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2024YFD2402204 National Key Research and Development Program

Keywords: Vibrio parahaemolyticus; microevolution; quinolone resistance; sublethal concentration

0 (Anti-Bacterial Agents)
0 (Quinolones)
EC 5.99.1.3 (DNA Gyrase)
EC 5.99.1.- (DNA Topoisomerase IV)
0 (Bacterial Proteins)
6GNT3Y5LMF (Levofloxacin)

Date Created: 20260213 Date Completed: 20260213 Latest Revision: 20260216

20260216

PMC12898516

10.3390/ijms27031416

41683836