The Enterococcus: a Model of Adaptability to Its Environment

Abstract

SUMMARYThe genusEnterococcuscomprises a ubiquitous group of Gram-positive bacteria that are of great relevance to human health for their role as major causative agents of health care-associated infections. The enterococci are resilient and versatile species able to survive under harsh conditions, making them well adapted to the health care environment. Two species cause the majority of enterococcal infections:Enterococcus faecalisandEnterococcus faecium. Both species demonstrate intrinsic resistance to common antibiotics, such as virtually all cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, clindamycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Additionally, a remarkably plastic genome allows these two species to readily acquire resistance to further antibiotics, such as high-level aminoglycoside resistance, high-level ampicillin resistance, and vancomycin resistance, either through mutation or by horizontal transfer of genetic elements conferring resistance determinants.

Enterococcus faecalis MalR acts as a repressor of the maltose operons and additionally mediates their catabolite repression via direct interaction with seryl‐phosphorylated‐HPr

“…These common commensal microorganisms inhabit the digestive tract of humans and animals. Two species of these normally harmless bacteria, E. faecalis and E. faecium , have been recognised to be the leading causes of hospital‐acquired infections like urinary tract infection, endocarditis, bacteraemia or septicaemia (Agudelo Higuita & Huycke, ; Ceci et al, ; Edmond et al, ; García‐Solache & Rice, ; Moellering, ; Wisplinghoff et al, ). Resistance to antibiotics and environmental stresses including desiccation are likely responsible for enterococcal persistence in hospital environments (Bale, Bennett, Beringer, & Hinton, ; Fisher & Phillips, ; Kristich, Rice, & Arias, ).…”

Analysis of the Bacterial Diversity of Paipa Cheese (a Traditional Raw Cow’s Milk Cheese from Colombia) by High-Throughput Sequencing

“…Enterococci may also have a negative impact in foods (including cheeses) through the production of biogenic amines [36,37]. There is a concern about the presence of enterococci in foods, since these bacteria may also behave as opportunistic pathogens and cause different infections in humans [36,38]. Enterococci are also worrisome because of their ability to acquire and transfer antibiotic resistance traits [38][39][40][41].…”

“…There is a concern about the presence of enterococci in foods, since these bacteria may also behave as opportunistic pathogens and cause different infections in humans [36,38]. Enterococci are also worrisome because of their ability to acquire and transfer antibiotic resistance traits [38][39][40][41]. Therefore, further studies should be carried out to determine the safety of enterococci from Paipa cheeses, specially the potential for production of biogenic amines and the presence of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance traits.…”

Emergence ofoptrA-mediated linezolid resistance in multiple lineages and plasmids ofEnterococcus faecalisrevealed by long read sequencing

“…Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are carried in the intestinal tract and are important opportunistic pathogens in humans. 1 Treatment of enterococcal infections is challenging due to intrinsic or acquired resistance to multiple antimicrobials including aminoglycosides, benzylpenicillin, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, and trimethoprim. Among the remaining treatment options, clinical E. faecium isolates are usually resistant to amoxicillin and resistance to vancomycin is increasingly common.…”