Amoxicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae can be resensitized by targeting the mevalonate pathway as indicated by sCRilecs-seq.

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Version: Final published version
License: CC BY 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_93696BAFA5F6
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Amoxicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae can be resensitized by targeting the mevalonate pathway as indicated by sCRilecs-seq.
Journal
eLife
Author(s)
Dewachter L., Dénéréaz J., Liu X., de Bakker V., Costa C., Baldry M., Sirard J.C., Veening J.W.
ISSN
2050-084X (Electronic)
ISSN-L
2050-084X
Publication state
Published
Issued date
24/06/2022
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
11
Pages
e75607
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance in the important opportunistic human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae is on the rise. This is particularly problematic in the case of the β-lactam antibiotic amoxicillin, which is the first-line therapy. It is therefore crucial to uncover targets that would kill or resensitize amoxicillin-resistant pneumococci. To do so, we developed a genome-wide, single-cell based, gene silencing screen using CRISPR interference called sCRilecs-seq (subsets of CRISPR interference libraries extracted by fluorescence activated cell sorting coupled to next generation sequencing). Since amoxicillin affects growth and division, sCRilecs-seq was used to identify targets that are responsible for maintaining proper cell size. Our screen revealed that downregulation of the mevalonate pathway leads to extensive cell elongation. Further investigation into this phenotype indicates that it is caused by a reduced availability of cell wall precursors at the site of cell wall synthesis due to a limitation in the production of undecaprenyl phosphate (Und-P), the lipid carrier that is responsible for transporting these precursors across the cell membrane. The data suggest that, whereas peptidoglycan synthesis continues even with reduced Und-P levels, cell constriction is specifically halted. We successfully exploited this knowledge to create a combination treatment strategy where the FDA-approved drug clomiphene, an inhibitor of Und-P synthesis, is paired up with amoxicillin. Our results show that clomiphene potentiates the antimicrobial activity of amoxicillin and that combination therapy resensitizes amoxicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae. These findings could provide a starting point to develop a solution for the increasing amount of hard-to-treat amoxicillin-resistant pneumococcal infections.
Keywords
Amoxicillin/pharmacology, Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology, Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use, Drug Resistance, Microbial, Humans, Mevalonic Acid, Pneumococcal Infections/drug therapy, Streptococcus pneumoniae/genetics, Streptococcus pneumoniae, amoxicillin resistance, cell division, genetics, genomics, infectious disease, mevalonate pathway, microbiology, peptidoglycan synthesis, sCRilecs-seq
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
04/07/2022 14:29
Last modification date
09/03/2023 7:50
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