Role of epaQ , a Previously Uncharacterized Enterococcus faecalis Gene, in Biofilm Development and Antimicrobial Resistance
- Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
- Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States); Minnesota Dept. of Health, St. Paul, MN (United Staets)
- Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH (United States)
Enterococcus faecalis is a commensal of the human gastrointestinal tract; it is also an opportunistic pathogen and one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections. E. faecalis produces biofilms that are highly resistant to antibiotics, and it has been previously reported that certain genes of the epa operon contribute to biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance. Despite several studies examining the epa operon, many gene products of this operon remain annotated as hypothetical proteins. Here, we further explore the epa operon; we identified epaQ, currently annotated as encoding a hypothetical membrane protein, as being important for biofilm formation in the presence of the antibiotic daptomycin. Mutants with disruptions of epaQ were more susceptible to daptomycin relative to the wild type, suggesting its importance in biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, the ΔepaQ mutant exhibited an altered biofilm architectural arrangement and formed small aggregates in liquid cultures. Our cumulative data show that epa mutations result in altered polysaccharide content, increased cell surface hydrophobicity, and decreased membrane potential. Surprisingly, several epa mutations significantly increased resistance to the antibiotic ceftriaxone, indicating that the way in which the epa operon impacts antibiotic resistance is antibiotic dependent. Finally, these results further define the key role of epa in antibiotic resistance in biofilms and in biofilm architecture.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States); Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States). Complex Carbohydrate Research Center
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division; National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0015662; AI122742; TL1R002493; UL1TR002494
- OSTI ID:
- 1612318
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1964094
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Bacteriology, Vol. 201, Issue 18; ISSN 0021-9193
- Publisher:
- American Society for MicrobiologyCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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