Enolase Is Implicated in the Emergence of Gonococcal Tolerance to Ceftriaxone

Abstract

Antibiotic tolerance is associated with antibiotic treatment failure, and molecular mechanisms underlying tolerance are poorly understood. We recently succeeded in inducing tolerance to ceftriaxone (CRO) in an N. gonorrhoeae reference isolate. In a prior in vitro study, six biological replicates of WHO P strains were exposed to CRO (10× the MIC) followed by overnight growth, and tolerance was assessed using a modified Tolerance Disc (T.D.) test. In the current study, we characterized the mutation profile of these CRO-tolerant phenotypes. The whole genome was sequenced from isolates from different replicates and time points. We identified mutations in four genes that may contribute to ceftriaxone tolerance in N. gonorrhoeae, including a mutation in the enolase (eno) gene that arose independently in three lineages.

Isolation and Identification of Culturable Bacteria from South China Seawater and Preliminary Screening of Marine Biocontrol Bacteria

“…In the tolerance test of the strains in this study, there was an important influence on fungal growth [53]. The medium and fermentation conditions we used did not reach the optimal growth conditions of the strains; thus, the antagonistic effects of these two strains on the tested pathogenic strains may not be optimal.…”