Next Article in Journal
Bi/mZVI Combined with Citric Acid and Sodium Citrate to Mineralize Multiple Sulfa Antibiotics: Performance and Mechanism
Next Article in Special Issue
From Pathophysiological Hypotheses to Case–Control Study Design: Resistance from Antibiotic Exposure in Community-Onset Infections
Previous Article in Journal
Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria on Healthcare Workers’ Uniforms in Hospitals and Long-Term Care Facilities in Cyprus
Previous Article in Special Issue
Genotypic Diversity of Ciprofloxacin Nonsusceptibility and Its Relationship with Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations in Nontyphoidal Salmonella Clinical Isolates in Taiwan
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Co-Lateral Effect of Octenidine, Chlorhexidine and Colistin Selective Pressures on Four Enterobacterial Species: A Comparative Genomic Analysis

1
Emerging Antibiotic Resistance Unit, Medical and Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
2
INSERM European Unit (LEA, IAME), 75870 Paris, France
3
Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93000 Bobigny, France
4
AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Seine Saint-Denis, 93000 Bobigny, France
5
Swiss National Reference Center for Emerging Antibiotic Resistance (NARA), University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
6
Medical and Molecular Microbiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Science, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 18, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Antibiotics 2022, 11(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11010050
Submission received: 20 October 2021 / Revised: 22 December 2021 / Accepted: 28 December 2021 / Published: 31 December 2021

Abstract

:
Bacterial adaptation to antiseptic selective pressure might be associated with decreased susceptibility to antibiotics. In Gram-negative bacteria, some correlations between reduced susceptibility to chlorhexidine (CHX) and polymyxins have been recently evidenced in Klebsiella pneumoniae. In the present study, four isolates belonging to distinct enterobacterial species, namely K. pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca and Enterobacter cloacae, were submitted to in-vitro selective adaptation to two antiseptics, namely CHX and octenidine (OCT), and to the antibiotic colistin (COL). Using COL as selective agent, mutants showing high MICs for that molecule were recovered for E. cloacae, K. pneumoniae and K. oxytoca, exhibiting a moderate decreased susceptibility to CHX, whereas OCT susceptibility remained unchanged. Using CHX as selective agent, mutants with high MICs for that molecule were recovered for all four species, with a cross-resistance observed for COL, while OCT susceptibility remained unaffected. Finally, selection of mutants using OCT as selective molecule allowed recovery of K. pneumoniae, K. oxytoca and E. cloacae strains showing only slightly increased MICs for that molecule, without any cross-elevated MICs for the two other molecules tested. No E. coli mutant with reduced susceptibility to OCT could be obtained. It was therefore demonstrated that in-vitro mutants with decreased susceptibility to CHX and COL may be selected in E. coli, K. pneumoniae, K. oxytoca and E. cloacae, showing cross-decreased susceptibility to COL and CHX, but no significant impact on OCT efficacy. On the other hand, mutants were difficult to obtain with OCT, being obtained for K. pneumoniae and E. cloacae only, showing only very limited decreased susceptibility in those cases, and with no cross effect on other molecules. Whole genome sequencing enabled deciphering of the molecular basis of adaptation of these isolates under the respective selective pressures, with efflux pumps or lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis being the main mechanisms of adaptation.

1. Introduction

Colistin (COL) is a last-resort antibiotic for treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negatives, and particularly carbapenemase-producing isolates [1]. Indeed, while all other clinically-available therapeutic drugs might be inefficient against these MDR bacteria, COL still shows a high rate of efficiency, with a limited number of resistant isolates identified, except in some outbreak contexts (e.g., COL-resistant carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Italy or Serbia [2,3]). Nevertheless, due to an increasing use of COL in recent years, an emergence of COL-resistant isolates has been observed, particularly in K. pneumoniae, but also in other enterobacterial species. This phenomenon is mainly observed in hospital settings, with a very low rate of COL-resistant isolates being observed in the community [4].
In general, prevention strategies within the hospital are a key element in infection control. Use of antiseptic molecules contributes significantly to the control of dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but also to control of (multidrug resistant) Gram-negative bacteria on skin, wounds and mucous membranes [5]. In that context, use of chlorhexidine (CHX) is recommended and CHX is being heavily used for prevention and for decolonization strategies [6]. Likewise, octenidine (OCT) is another antiseptic molecule that shows excellent efficacy in eradicating MDR bacteria [7,8,9,10]. We recently performed a study evaluating the efficacy of OCT against MDR Gram negatives (including E. coli, K. pneumoniae, E. cloacae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) [11]. These clinically-relevant Gram-negative pathogens were chosen for their multidrug resistance phenotype, including resistance to ß-lactams, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones. OCT activity was proven to be extremely efficient against these MDR bacteria at clinically-relevant concentrations [11].
A recent study showed that in-vitro selective adaptation of K. pneumoniae clinical isolates to CHX may select cross-resistance to COL [12]. Acquired resistance to CHX occurred through mutations in the phoPQ two-component regulatory genes (mainly in the pmrK gene), and in the smvR repressor gene adjacent to the major facilitator superfamily efflux pump gene smvA. Such mutations had significant co-lateral effects on susceptibility to COL, with MICs increasing from 2 to 4 µg/mL (original strain) to >64 µg/mL for most of the mutant strains. By contrast, no significant change was observed for OCT susceptibility, highlighting the very limited impact of those mutations selected on CHX on the efficacy of that other antiseptic. In that same study, it was shown that the opposite strategy—to select COL-resistant mutants—had no significant impact on CHX susceptibility, despite similar mutations in the phoPQ two-component regulatory genes being identified. The study thus showed that the latter mutations were necessary but not sufficient to confer resistance to CHX [12]. Of note, the latter study only focused on the K. pneumoniae species, and only adaptation on CHX was considered in the design of the study.
Using strains belonging to four Enterobacterales species, namely K. pneumoniae, K. oxytoca, E. coli, and E. cloacae, the adaptation to CHX, COL, and OCT was examined. Our working hypothesis was that use of the antibiotic colistin that acts on the outer membrane of Gram-negative cells might have some impact on susceptibility to antiseptics, and vice versa. The objectives of our study were therefore the following: (i) to evaluate whether mutants could be selected in-vitro with CHX, COL, and OCT for the aforementioned enterobacterial species, (ii) to further evaluate the extent of the inter-relation between reduced susceptibility to these three molecules (co-lateral effects), and (iii) to analyze the genetic basis underlying adaptation to all these molecules.

2. Materials and Methods

Bacterial strains. Three wild-type clinical isolates (R192, R1435 and R1437) from the collection of the Swiss National Center for Emerging Antibiotic Resistance (NARA) and one (SB4021) from the Institut Pasteur collection were used for this study. These isolates belong to the four enterobacterial species of clinical interest, namely K. oxytoca (R192), E. cloacae (R1435), E. coli (R1437), and K. pneumoniae (SB4021). These wild-type phenotype isolates had been recovered from clinical samples (infections), and have been used rather than ATCC reference strains in order to investigate strains being as close as possible to clinical concerns.
In-vitro experimental evolution of bacterial isolates of four species. Evolution experiments were conducted separately for each isolate, in a duplicate manner (labeled a and b, respectively) in Mueller-Hinton (MH) liquid medium supplemented with increasing concentrations of OCT, CHX or COL used as selective agents, respectively. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) had been first determined for COL, OCT, and CHX for each wild-type strain, the latter being named ancestors thereafter. Then, for each lineage and each selective medium, 2 × 108 colony forming units (CFU) obtained from an overnight culture of the ancestor were inoculated in two separate tubes in 2 mL of MH, one containing a concentration (c) equal to half the MIC value (MIC/2) and the other c equal to the MIC of the corresponding selective molecule. The latter inoculated tubes were then placed under agitation at 37 °C for 48 h. After 48 h, considered as time 1 (T1), the tubes were visually inspected and for those tubes with the higher antibiotic/antiseptic c for which a positive culture was observed, 2 × 108 CFU were sampled and labeled cT1. Subsequent steps consisted of inoculating these 2 × 108 CFU in 2 mL of MH containing respective antibiotic/antiseptic concentrations c, corresponding to half the MIC value (T1/2) or the MIC value (T1) of the corresponding selective molecule for the previously selected strain. For each lineage, these steps were repeated every 48 h until 10 passages were obtained, by increasing concentrations of the COL, OCT or CHX.

2.1. Sequencing and Analysis

2.1.1. High Throughput Sequencing

Strains selected for sequencing were plated on Uriselect 4 media (Bio-Rad). One colony per Uriselect plate was then randomly picked and inoculated in LB overnight. Total bacterial DNA from that culture was extracted using QIAamp® DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen, Garstligweg, Switzerland). Overall, a total of 18 lineages and 4 ancestor genomes were sequenced using the Illumina platform MiniSeq® (Illumina, Cambridge, UK).

2.1.2. Read Mapping and Mutations Identification

The whole genome sequences of each ancestor strain were used as respective references. Breseq 0.23 software [13] was used to identify differences between sequenced evolved genomes from the respective ancestors’ reference genomes. The pipeline breseq 0.23 uses bowtie2 [14] to map read to a reference genome. It then identifies mutations that can take the form of either read alignment (RA) evidence, corresponding to single nucleotide polymorphisms and short indels, to missing coverage, or to new junction evidence. The latter actually correspond to reads mapping to one part of the reference on one side, and to another part on the other side, indicating a possible re-arrangement. The program then uses this evidence to make mutation predictions. The RA are subsequently transformed into predictions as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or short indels when they are supported by at least 85% of the read. The breseq 0.23 pipeline can also identify a large deletion and chromosomal re-arrangement by possibly correlating a missing coverage in a region with a new junction evidenced on both sides of this region.
The identified mutations were filtered by breseq 0.23 [13]. When filtering the outputs of breseq 0.23, we first looked at the predicted SNPs and short indels. Mutations that seemed to appear in each sample were actually removed, considering them likely originated from a sequencing error in the reference genome and hence not informative on the dynamics of the diversification during this experiment. Mutations that were too close from one another were also removed, by discarding variations being less than 51 base pairs (bp) apart. Indeed, these clustered mutations are usually caused by reads erroneously mapped, and previous analyses showed that they are typically found in prophagic regions [15]. These mobile regions are repeated in the genome but do not have 100% identity, generating difficulties with respect to the mapping process, as they are still close enough from one another to be erroneously mapped. For instance, phage-mediated exchanges of DNA sequences among bacteria is known to occur with high frequency, resulting in constant modifications of specific regions of the genome. Finally, all mutations for which the frequency of the mutated reads was less than 0.95 were also removed, being considered as not reliable.

2.2. Susceptibility Testing

2.2.1. Reference Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of the End Point Isolates

For each lineage, a single individual colony was sampled at the end of the experiment (T10), for which antimicrobial susceptibilities to a series of antibiotics were evaluated and interpreted according to the EUCAST guidelines [16]. Determination of the MICs of COL was also performed by the broth microdilution method (BMD) and interpreted according to the EUCAST/CLSI joined guidelines (http://www.eucast.org/fileadmin/src/media/PDFs/EUCAST_files/General_documents/Recommendations_for_MIC_determination_of_colistin_March_2016.pdf, accessed on 20 December 2021). Finally, the BMD method was also used to determine MICs of OCT and CHX using concentrations of each antiseptic ranging from 0.15 µg/mL to 160 µg/mL. No interpretation (categorization into susceptible/resistant) of the MIC values could be performed since no breakpoint exists for those antiseptics.
All determinations of antimicrobial susceptibilities and MICs were performed in triplicate.

2.2.2. Analysis of the Results

For each lineage, the logarithm of the ratio between antibiotic (ATB) or antiseptic (ATS) MIC at the end point compared to that of the ancestor was calculated for simplification of data representation. Consequently, high/low values mean respectively that a strong/weak increase in MIC of ATB or ATS was observed between the evolved line and the ancestor.

3. Results and Discussion

A total of 18 lineages could be obtained for all selective agents (OCT, CHX or COL) and for the four enterobacterial species (Table 1 and Figure 1). For four lineages, we were not able to obtain mutants adapted with selective molecules (Figure 1). Whole genome sequencing was then used in order to perform a thorough comparison between genotypes and phenotypes for all adaptive processes performed on three selective media. Mutations were actually observed in 18 lineages (Table 1), and mutants obtained at the final point of the lineage were retained for subsequent molecular analysis.

3.1. Adaptation on COL

Selection of mutants using COL as selective molecule enabled selection of mutants with high MIC values for K. pneumoniae, K. oxytoca and E. cloacae, but surprisingly not for E. coli. Two evolution lineages could be obtained for both K. pneumoniae and K. oxytoca, and a single one for E. cloacae. Out of the identified mutations, eight corresponded to non-synonymous point mutations within specific genes and one mutant possessed a mutation in an intergenic region (Table 1).
In K. pneumoniae and K. oxytoca, mutations were identified in the lptD gene encoding an assembly protein of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS), allowing connection between the LPS transporter to the outer membrane [17]. In those two species, mutations in two component system genes, namely phoQ or rstB, were also identified. The PhoQ protein is a sensor belonging to the two-component system regulating the biosynthesis level of LPS in many Gram-negative bacteria, and previously found to be involved in acquired resistance to polymyxins [18,19,20]. The identification of mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in LPS biosynthesis was somehow expected, considering that LPS is the main target of colistin COL action [1]. The rstB gene also encodes a sensor protein being part of a two-component system, the latter regulating both motility and pathogenesis of Gram-negative bacteria [21,22]. Even though the corresponding protein had never been precisely identified as being involved in resistance to polymyxins, the overexpression of the rstB gene was recently evidenced in a polymyxin-heteroresistant K. pneumoniae population [23]. Notably, two of those COL-resistant mutants showed a moderate decreased susceptibility to CHX, although OCT susceptibility remained unchanged (Figure 2, Table 2 and Table S1). This suggests that LPS modification induced by selective pressure with COL might have a collateral effect on CHX antibacterial activity, while OCT activity might be preserved in those latter cases.
In K. oxytoca, a single amino acid mutation was identified in the tkt gene encoding a putative transketolase protein of a lineage. That enzyme interacts with RamR, a key regulator involved in many regulatory processes in E. coli.
In E. cloacae, the only mutation was identified within an intergenic region, upstream of a gene encoding a YebO-like protein, belonging to a family of proteins of unknown functions being widely but exclusively distributed in Enterobacterales [24].

3.2. Adaptation on CHX

Selection of mutants using CHX as selective molecule permitted recovery of eight mutants with high MICs for all species and for each duplicate (Figure 1). Out of the identified mutations, ten corresponded to non-synonymous mutations within specific genes and four mutants possessed a mutation in an intergenic region (Table 1). In K. pneumoniae, the smvA gene encoding an efflux pump protein was found to be a target of adaptation under CHX selective pressures. This SmvA protein was previously identified as an important efflux pump for cationic biocides, belonging to the major facilitator family (MFS) and known to be involved in methyl viologen efflux [25]. Here we identified a single bp substitution in the intergenic region separating the smvR regulatory gene and the smvA gene, likely enhancing the expression of the latter by interfering with the negative regulation process.
In addition, mutations or deletions in the malT2 gene encoding the HTH-type transcriptional activator of the K. pneumoniae maltose operon were identified [26]. Notably, the K. pneumoniae maltose operon and its MalT regulator significantly resemble those of E. coli [26], but no link with the regulation of these operons and adaptation to selective molecules (such as antiseptics or others) had been reported so far.
In E. cloacae, a convergence of mutations within lineages exclusively obtained with CHX was observed in membrane biogenesis encoding genes (bamE or mipA). The bamE encodes a putative outer membrane lipoprotein, being part of the ß-barrel assembly machine complex. Interestingly, a BamE homologous protein in E. coli was found to be involved in resistance to the antiparasitic drug nitazoxanide [27]. Moreover, several mutations were localized in other tetR-like regulatory genes, namely in bm3R1-1 and betI. Interestingly, and in line with these features, all the lineages presenting mutations in the tetR-like regulatory genes showed concomitant decreased susceptibilities to β-lactams, quinolones, and sulfamethoxazole. By contrast, no significant modification was observed in term of susceptibility to COL, with MIC values remaining identical (Figure 2, Table 2 and Table S1). Notably, the mutants selected on CHX and exhibiting substitutions in the bamE and mipA genes showed a cross resistance to COL obtained on CHX media whereas OCT susceptibility remained unchanged (Figure 2, Table 2 and Table S1).

3.3. Adaptation on OCT

Selection of mutants using OCT as selective molecule permitted recovery of K. pneumoniae, K. oxytoca (only a single lineage), and E. cloacae mutants, showing for all of these species only a very slight increase (1-fold) in term of MICs. No mutant could be obtained for E. coli. Accordingly, an extinction was observed for three out of the eight conducted lineages with OCT as selector for the non-E. coli species. It was thus hypothesized that adaptation to OCT selective pressure was costly in term of fitness for those different lineages.
Nevertheless, ten mutations were observed in the five lineages showing increased MIC of OCT, of which seven actually corresponded to non-synonymous point mutations (2 stop codons), two to insertions and one to a deletion within some specific genes. The last mutant possessed an intergenic mutation (Table 1).
Of interest, in K. pneumoniae, several mutations were localized in tetR regulatory genes (bm3R1-1, betI and ramR) or efflux pumps genes (smvA), as observed under CHX selection. Specifically, the ramR gene encodes a protein involved in the expression of the acrAB-tolC efflux system, which is well known as being involved in antimicrobial resistance in different enterobacterial species when overexpressed [28,29,30]. Indeed, all the lineages with these mutations presented decreased susceptibilities to β-lactams, quinolones, and sulfamethoxazole, whereas no significant cross-increased MICs of COL was observed (Figure 2, Table 2 and Table S1). Interestingly, Garrat et al. [31] observed similar convergence of mutations in smvA and ramR in different Gram-negative species exposed to OCT, leading to decreased susceptibility to antibiotics.
Interestingly, one of the E. cloacae lineages adapted to OCT showed a mutation in the ompX gene encoding an outer membrane protein. Most of these mutants concomitantly developed decreased susceptibilities to other antibiotics such as cefotaxime, which is in line with previous findings showing that mutations in OmpX in E. cloacae were basically involved in resistance to β-lactams [32]. In addition, a co-lateral effect was also noticed for ciprofloxacin for this OmpX mutant. This observation also correlates previous findings showing that OmpX is involved in the penetration not only of ß-lactams but also of fluoroquinolones in E. cloacae [33].

4. Conclusions

Selection of mutants showing decreased susceptibility to CHX and COL may occur for all E. coli, K. pneumoniae, K. oxytoca and E. cloacae species, leading to cross-decreased susceptibility to COL and CHX, respectively. Notably, no effect on OCT efficacy was observed for these mutants, highlighting a lack of collateral effect on that molecule. Attempts to select mutants with OCT remained difficult, and only a very limited decreased susceptibility (only one-fold) to it could be obtained for K. pneumoniae, K. oxytoca and E. cloacae—with cross-decreased susceptibilities to other antibiotics especially in K. pneumoniae (β-lactams, quinolones and sulfamethoxazole)—but no cross-effect on CHX and COL being observed. Altogether, those observations suggest that the mechanisms leading to decreased susceptibility to either of these antiseptic do not affect the other one.
Different targets of adaptation could be observed in membrane-associated genes according to the molecule used for selection. CHX adaptation lineages presented mutations in membrane biogenesis genes such as bamE or mipA, whereas OCT induced mutations in the TetR regulatory genes controlling efflux pump genes. Finally, COL adaptation was mainly related to mutations in LPS assembly associated genes or sensor proteins that did not significantly affect the susceptibility to other antibiotics such as CTX or CIP.
Analysis of the identified mutations showed a significant convergence within lineages obtained from one or both antiseptic-containing media. Overall, we have observed that mutants were very difficult to obtain with E. coli compared to other species. Moreover, selection of mutants with reduced susceptibility to OCT was very difficult to obtain, being infrequent and never obtained at concentrations corresponding to the ones used in clinical settings. In contrast, selection of mutants was frequent for the two other drugs tested, with numerous and worrying co-lateral effects with regard to the susceptibility to other drugs.
One limitation of our study is that the involvement of all mutations identified remains to be further confirmed by performing knock-out experiments on wild-type strains, which was beyond the primary objectives of our work.
Future work will be performed with the same approach, on other clinically-relevant bacterial species including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, since on the one hand these species are often involved in nosocomial outbreaks against which antiseptics are critical tools, and on the other hand, they are species against which colistin may be considered as a last-resort antibiotic treatment (when dealing with multidrug-resistant isolates).

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/antibiotics11010050/s1, Table S1: Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of the mutants obtained after adaptation on OCT, chlorhexidine or colistin of four enterobacterial species (Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), K. oxytoca (KO), Enterobacter cloacae and Escherichia coli) and their ancestors.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization L.P. and M.L.; methodology M.L., L.P. and M.M.; software, M.M.; validation, M.L., M.M., L.P. and S.K.; formal analysis, L.P., M.L. and S.K.; investigation, M.L., M.M. and S.K.; resources, L.P. and P.N.; data curation, L.P., M.L., M.M. and S.K.; writing -original draft preparation, M.L.; writing—review and editing, L.P. and P.N.; vizualization, L.P.; supervision, L.P. and P.N.; project administration, L.P.; funding acquisition, L.P. and P.N. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work has been funded by the University of Fribourg, by the Swiss National Science Foundation (project FNS-407240_177381), by the Laboratoire Européen Associé INSERM «Emerging Antibiotic Resistance in Gram-negative bacteria», and by the Schülke & Mayr GmbH company.

Data Availability Statement

Data can be obtained upon request to [email protected].

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Sylvain Brisse for providing us K. pneumoniae isolate SB4021.

Conflicts of Interest

This work was partially funded by a grant from the Schülke & Mayr GmbH company.

References

  1. Poirel, L.; Jayol, A.; Nordmann, P. Polymyxins: Antibacterial activity, susceptibility testing, and resistance mechanisms encoded by plasmids or chromosomes. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 2017, 30, 557–596. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  2. Palmieri, M.; D’Andrea, M.M.; Pelegrin, A.C.; Mirande, C.; Brkic, S.; Cirkovic, I.; Goossens, H.; Rossolini, G.M.; van Belkum, A. Genomic epidemiology of carbapenem- and colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from Serbia: Predominance of ST101 strains carrying a novel OXA-48 plasmid. Front. Microbiol. 2020, 11, 294. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Capone, A.; Giannella, M.; Fortini, D.; Giordano, A.; Meledandri, M.; Ballardini, M.; Venditti, M.; Bordi, E.; Capozzi, D.; Balice, M.P.; et al. High rate of colistin resistance among patients with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection accounts for an excess of mortality. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. 2013, 19, E23–E30. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  4. Petrosillo, N.; Taglietti, F.; Granata, G. Treatment options for colistin resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: Present and future. J. Clin. Med. 2019, 8, 934. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  5. Williamson, D.A.; Carter, G.P.; Howden, B.P. Current and emerging topical antibacterials and antiseptics: Agents, action, and resistance patterns. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 2017, 30, 827–860. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  6. Huang, S.S. Chlorhexidine-based decolonization to reduce healthcare-associated infections and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs): Who, what, where, when, and why? J. Hosp. Infect. 2019, 103, 235–243. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Assadian, O. Octenidine dihydrochloride: Chemical characteristics and antimicrobial properties. J. Wound Care 2016, 25, S3–S6. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  8. Gastmeier, P.; Kämpf, K.-P.; Behnke, M.; Geffers, C.; Schwab, F. An observational study of the universal use of octenidine to decrease nosocomial bloodstream infections and MDR organisms. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2016, 71, 2569–2576. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  9. Conceição, T.; de Lencastre, H.; Aires-de-Sousa, M. Efficacy of octenidine against antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus epidemic clones. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2016, 71, 2991–2994. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  10. Pichler, G.; Pux, C.; Babeluk, R.; Hermann, B.; Stoiser, E.; De Campo, A.; Grisold, A.; Zollner-Schwetz, I.; Krause, R.; Schippinger, W. MRSA prevalence rates detected in a tertiary care hospital in Austria and successful treatment of MRSA positive patients applying a decontamination regime with octenidine. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 2018, 37, 21–27. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Alvarez-Marin, R.; Aires-de-Sousa, M.; Nordmann, P.; Kieffer, N.; Poirel, L. Antimicrobial activity of octenidine against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 2017, 36, 2379–2383. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  12. Wand, M.E.; Bock, L.J.; Bonney, L.C.; Sutton, J.M. Mechanisms of increased resistance to chlorhexidine and cross-resistance to colistin following exposure of Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates to chlorhexidine. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2016, 61, e01162-16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  13. Deatherage, D.E.; Barrick, J.E. Identification of mutations in laboratory-evolved microbes from next-generation sequencing data using breseq. Methods Mol. Biol. 2014, 1151, 165–188. [Google Scholar] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  14. Langmead, B.; Salzberg, S.L. Fast gapped-read alignment with Bowtie 2. Nat. Methods 2012, 9, 357–359. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  15. Ghalayini, M.; Launay, A.; Bridier-Nahmias, A.; Clermont, O.; Denamur, E.; Lescat, M.; Tenaillon, O. Evolution of a dominant natural isolate of Escherichia coli in the human gut over a year suggests a neutral evolution with reduced effective population size. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2018, 84, e02377-17. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  16. EUCAST Committee. EUCAST. Breakpoints Tables for Interpretation of MICs and Zone Diameters, Version 9.0. 2019. Available online: https://www.eucast.org/clinical_breakpoints/ (accessed on 20 December 2021).
  17. Okuda, S.; Sherman, D.J.; Silhavy, T.J.; Ruiz, N.; Kahne, D. Lipopolysaccharide transport and assembly at the outer membrane: The PEZ model. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 2016, 14, 337–345. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  18. Oyston, P.C.F.; Dorrell, N.; Williams, K.; Li, S.-R.; Green, M.; Titball, R.W.; Wren, B.W. The response regulator PhoP is important for survival under conditions of macrophage-induced stress and virulence in Yersinia pestis. Infect. Immun. 2000, 68, 3419–3425. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  19. Gooderham, W.J.; Gellatly, S.L.; Sanschagrin, F.; McPhee, J.B.; Bains, M.; Cosseau, C.; Levesque, R.C.; Hancock, R.E.W. The sensor kinase PhoQ mediates virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiology 2009, 155, 699–711. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  20. Kato, A.; Groisman, E.A. The PhoQ/PhoP regulatory network of Salmonella enterica. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 2008, 631, 7–21. [Google Scholar]
  21. Huang, L.; Xu, W.; Su, Y.; Zhao, L.; Yan, Q. Regulatory role of the RstB-RstA system in adhesion, biofilm production, motility, and hemolysis. Microbiologyopen 2018, 7, e00599. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Tran, T.-K.; Han, Q.-Q.; Shi, Y.; Guo, L. A comparative proteomic analysis of Salmonella typhimurium under the regulation of the RstA/RstB and PhoP/PhoQ systems. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2016, 1864, 1686–1695. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Zavascki, A.P.; Girardello, R.; Magagnin, C.M.; Antochevis, L.C.; Maciel, R.A.; Palmeiro, J.K.; Gales, A.C. Emergence of polymyxin B resistance in a polymyxin B-susceptible KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae causing bloodstream infection in a neutropenic patient during polymyxin B therapy. Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 2018, 90, 134–138. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  24. Cumby, N.; Edwards, A.M.; Davidson, A.R.; Maxwell, K.L. The bacteriophage HK97 gp15 moron element encodes a novel superinfection exclusion protein. J. Bacteriol. 2012, 194, 5012–5019. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  25. Wand, M.E.; Jamshidi, S.; Bock, L.J.; Rahman, K.M.; Sutton, J.M. SmvA is an important efflux pump for cationic biocides in Klebsiella pneumoniae and other Enterobacteriaceae. Sci. Rep. 2019, 9, 1344. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Bloch, M.A.; Raibaud, O. Comparison of the malA regions of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. J. Bacteriol. 1986, 168, 1220–1227. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  27. Psonis, J.J.; Chahales, P.; Henderson, N.S.; Rigel, N.W.; Hoffman, P.S.; Thanassi, D.G. The small molecule nitazoxanide selectively disrupts BAM-mediated folding of the outer membrane usher protein. J. Biol. Chem. 2019, 294, 14357–14369. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Bailey, A.M.; Paulsen, I.T.; Piddock, L.J.V. RamA confers multidrug resistance in Salmonella enterica via increased expression of acrB, which is inhibited by chlorpromazine. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2008, 52, 3604–3611. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  29. Chollet, R.; Chevalier, J.; Bollet, C.; Pagès, J.-M.; Davin-Regli, A. RamA is an alternate activator of the multidrug resistance cascade in Enterobacter aerogenes. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2004, 48, 2518–2523. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  30. Schneiders, T.; Amyes, S.G.B.; Levy, S.B. Role of AcrR and ramA in fluoroquinolone resistance in clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from Singapore. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2003, 47, 2831–2837. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  31. Garratt, I.; Bou, P.A.; Sutton, J.M.; Moore, G.; Wand, M.E. Long-term exposure to octenidine in a simulated sink-trap environment results in selection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter and Enterobacter isolates with mutations in efflux pump regulators. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2021, 87, e00210-21. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. De Kort, G.; van der Bent-Klootwijk, P.; van Boxtel, R.A.; van de Klundert, J.A. Effects of mutations and deletions on expression of the Enterobacter cloacae ompX gene. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 1995, 130, 63–68. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  33. Dupont, M.; James, C.E.; Chevalier, J.; Pagès, J.M. An early response to environmental stress involves regulation of OmpX and OmpF, two enterobacterial outer membrane pore-forming proteins. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2007, 51, 3190–3198. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
Figure 1. Description of the method used in the present study to obtain mutation and susceptibility data of the different lineages obtained after adaptation of 4 enterobacterial species in 3 selective media (OCT, CHX or COL). The arrows show how a selective process was conducted overtime, with some lineages ending up prematurely due to lack of selection of resistant mutants, and other lineages reaching elevated concentrations.
Figure 1. Description of the method used in the present study to obtain mutation and susceptibility data of the different lineages obtained after adaptation of 4 enterobacterial species in 3 selective media (OCT, CHX or COL). The arrows show how a selective process was conducted overtime, with some lineages ending up prematurely due to lack of selection of resistant mutants, and other lineages reaching elevated concentrations.
Antibiotics 11 00050 g001
Figure 2. Representation of ratios of each antimicrobial MIC of each lineage divided by the corresponding MIC of the ancestor. The Ratios are represented in logarithmic scale. The mean of the ratios of the MICs of different lineages compared to the ancestor was calculated when these MICs were not significantly different and for lineages in the same media and issued from the same ancestor.
Figure 2. Representation of ratios of each antimicrobial MIC of each lineage divided by the corresponding MIC of the ancestor. The Ratios are represented in logarithmic scale. The mean of the ratios of the MICs of different lineages compared to the ancestor was calculated when these MICs were not significantly different and for lineages in the same media and issued from the same ancestor.
Antibiotics 11 00050 g002
Table 1. Characteristics of the 18 mutants of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), K. oxytoca (KO), Enterobacter cloacae and Escherichia coli selected in COL, CHX or OCT media. The mutations in the lineages could be identified after whole ge-nome sequencing that could be obtained and comparison of each lineage genomic sequence with its ancestor using breseq (30). Proteins targeted by the mutation, and associated function are indicated. In brackets correspond the range of MIC in-creased, expressed in fold, by comparison to the parental strain.
Table 1. Characteristics of the 18 mutants of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), K. oxytoca (KO), Enterobacter cloacae and Escherichia coli selected in COL, CHX or OCT media. The mutations in the lineages could be identified after whole ge-nome sequencing that could be obtained and comparison of each lineage genomic sequence with its ancestor using breseq (30). Proteins targeted by the mutation, and associated function are indicated. In brackets correspond the range of MIC in-creased, expressed in fold, by comparison to the parental strain.
Mutant NameBacterial SpeciesSelective MoleculeLineage *Target Mutation ProteinsMutation TypeFunction of the Corresponding Protein
COL-M1Enterobacter cloacaeColistinaHypothetical proteinsintergenicNA /Hypothetical protein 85% homologous to YebO
COL-M2Klebsiella oxytocaColistinaPhoQM293RSensor protein
TktD174HTransketolase
COL-M3K. oxytocaColistinbLptDT672PLPS-assembly protein
PhoQK354NSensor protein
PhoQK46QSensor protein
COL-M4Klebsiella pneumoniaeColistinaRstBD122ESensor protein
COL-M5K. pneumoniaeColistinbRstBP151LSensor protein
LptDT491PLPS-assembly protein
/Escherichia coliColistinNone///
CHX-M1E. cloacaeChlorhexidineaBamEΔ1 bp deletionOuter membrane protein assembly factor
MipAY219NMltA interacting protein
CHX-M2E. cloacaeChlorhexidinebBamEE84Outer membrane protein assembly factor
BetIP66LTetR/AcrR family transcriptionnal regulator family
Asd/GlgBintergenicAspartate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase/1.4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme
CHX-M3E. coliChlorhexidineaClose dowstream region of MipA encoding geneintergenicMltA interacting protein
CHX-M4E. coliChlorhexidinebYycBK123TPutative transporter
CHX-M5K. oxytocaChlorhexidineaLonG383DLon protease
CHX-M6K. oxytocaChlorhexidinebMoeAK340MMolybdopterin molybdenumtransferase
Hypothetical proteinsintergenicStress induced protein with GsiB superfamily domain /NA
CHX-M7K. pneumoniaeChlorhexidineaClose uptream region of SmvA encoding geneintergenicMethyl viologen resistance protein
MalTE359KHTH-type transcritionnal regulator
CHX-M8K. pneumoniaeChlorhexidinebMalTΔ12bp deletionHTH-type transcritionnal regulator
WcaJΔ30 bp insertionUDP-glucose: undecaprenyl-phosphate glucose-1-phosphate transferase
OCT-M1E. cloacaeOctenidineaBetIG187RTetR/AcrR family transcriptionnal regulator family
Hypothetical proteinG1114RPutative membrane protein with AsmA- like domain (Hypothetical protein with 56% identity with YdhP from Escherichia coli K-12)
NasD / TsgA intergenicNitrite reductase [NAD(P)H]/ Transmembrane transporter
OCT-M2E. cloacaeOctenidinebOmpXL14POuter membrane Protein X precursor
/E. coliOctenidineNone///
OCT-M3K. oxytocaOctenidineaBm3R1Δ1 bp insertionTetR/AcrR family transcriptionnal regulator family
OCT-M4K. pneumoniaeOctenidineaSmvAA368TMethyl viologen resistance protein
RamRQ122TetR/AcrR family transcriptionnal regulateor family
Hypothetical proteinW495Putative membrane protein with AsmA- like domain (Protein with 72% identity with YdhP from Escherichia coli K-12)
OCT_M5K. pneumoniaeOctenidinebSmvAA474VMethyl viologen resistance protein
RamRΔ1 bp deletionTetR/AcrR family transcriptionnal regulateor family
* a and b correspond to distinct lineages of the evolutionary pathways as indicated in Mat and Met section.
Table 2. Susceptibilities to main antiseptics and antibiotics of the lineage compared to the ancestors. The colistin, chlorhexidine, octenidine, cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin minimal concentration inhibition of each lineage are presented in this table. Each MIC corresponded to the mean of 3 MICs determined for each couple of antiseptic or antibiotic/ lineage. In bracket are indicated the ratio of the MIC of the lineage divided by the corresponding MIC of the ancestor. T The mean of the ratios of the MICs of different lineages compared to the ancestor was calculated when these MICs were not significantly different and for lineages in the same media and issued from the same ancestor.
Table 2. Susceptibilities to main antiseptics and antibiotics of the lineage compared to the ancestors. The colistin, chlorhexidine, octenidine, cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin minimal concentration inhibition of each lineage are presented in this table. Each MIC corresponded to the mean of 3 MICs determined for each couple of antiseptic or antibiotic/ lineage. In bracket are indicated the ratio of the MIC of the lineage divided by the corresponding MIC of the ancestor. T The mean of the ratios of the MICs of different lineages compared to the ancestor was calculated when these MICs were not significantly different and for lineages in the same media and issued from the same ancestor.
IsolateBacterial SpeciesColistin MICChlorhexidine MICOctenidine MICCefotaxime MICCiprofloxacin MIC
COL-M1E. cloacae32 (256)40 (4)2.5 (1)0.023 (2)0.012 (0.75)
CHX-M1E. cloacae8 (64)160 (16)2.5 (1)0.5 (40)0.064 (4)
CHX-M2E. cloacae8 (64)160 (16)2.5 (1)0.5 (40)0.125 (8)
OCT-M1E. cloacae0.125 (1)20 (2)5 (2)0.25 (20)0.047 (3)
OCT-M2E. cloacae0.125 (1)20 (2)2.5 (1)0.25 (20)0.047 (3)
CHX-M3E. coli0.125 (1)2.5 (4)1.25 (0.5)0.032 (1)0.008 (1)
CHX-M4E. coli0.125 (1)1.25 (2)1.25 (0.5)0.032 (1)0.008 (1)
COL-M2K. oxytoca96 (770)20 (2)2.5 (2)0.016 (1)0.012 (0.75)
COL-M3K. oxytoca128 (1024)20 (2)2.5 (2)0.032 (2)0.012 (0.75)
CHX-M5K. oxytoca0.125 (1)20 (2)2.5 (2)0.016 (1)0.016 (1)
CHX-M6K. oxytoca16 (128)40 (4)2.5 (2)0.094 (6)0.094 (6)
OCT-M3K. oxytoca0.125 (1)20 (2)5 (4)0.094 (6)0.094 (6)
COL-M4K. pneumoniae256 (1024)10 (1)1.25 (1)0.032 (1)0.016 (0.5)
COL-M5K. pneumoniae256 (1024)10 (1)1.25 (1)0.032 (1)0.016 (0.5)
CHX-M7K. pneumoniae0.25 (1)40 (4)1.25 (1)0.032 (1)0.016 (0.5)
CHX-M8K. pneumoniae0.25 (1)20 (2)1.25 (1)0.032 (1)0.016 (0.5)
OCT-M4K. pneumoniae0.25 (1)10 (1)2.5 (2)0.25 (8)0.125 (4)
OCT-M5K. pneumoniae0.25 (1)20 (2)2.5 (2)0.38 (12)0.125 (4)
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Lescat, M.; Magnan, M.; Kenmoe, S.; Nordmann, P.; Poirel, L. Co-Lateral Effect of Octenidine, Chlorhexidine and Colistin Selective Pressures on Four Enterobacterial Species: A Comparative Genomic Analysis. Antibiotics 2022, 11, 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11010050

AMA Style

Lescat M, Magnan M, Kenmoe S, Nordmann P, Poirel L. Co-Lateral Effect of Octenidine, Chlorhexidine and Colistin Selective Pressures on Four Enterobacterial Species: A Comparative Genomic Analysis. Antibiotics. 2022; 11(1):50. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11010050

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lescat, Mathilde, Mélanie Magnan, Sonia Kenmoe, Patrice Nordmann, and Laurent Poirel. 2022. "Co-Lateral Effect of Octenidine, Chlorhexidine and Colistin Selective Pressures on Four Enterobacterial Species: A Comparative Genomic Analysis" Antibiotics 11, no. 1: 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11010050

APA Style

Lescat, M., Magnan, M., Kenmoe, S., Nordmann, P., & Poirel, L. (2022). Co-Lateral Effect of Octenidine, Chlorhexidine and Colistin Selective Pressures on Four Enterobacterial Species: A Comparative Genomic Analysis. Antibiotics, 11(1), 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11010050

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop