Effect of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on intrachromosomal homologous recombination in Escherichia coli. 2009

Elena López, and Jesús Blázquez
Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-CSIC, Campus UAM-Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.

Subinhibitory concentrations of some antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones, have been reported to stimulate mutation and, consequently, bacterial adaptation to different stresses, including antibiotic pressure. In Escherichia coli, this stimulation is mediated by alternative DNA polymerases induced via the SOS response. Sublethal concentrations of the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin have been shown to stimulate recombination between divergent sequences in E. coli. However, the effect of ciprofloxacin on recombination between homologous sequences and its SOS dependence have not been studied. Moreover, the possible effects of other antibiotics on homologous recombination remain untested. The aim of this work was to study the effects of sublethal concentrations of ciprofloxacin and 10 additional antibiotics, including different molecular families with different molecular targets, on the rate of homologous recombination of DNA in E. coli. The antibiotics tested were ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, ceftazidime, imipenem, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, gentamicin, rifampin (rifampicin), trimethoprim, fosfomycin, and colistin. Our results indicate that only ciprofloxacin consistently stimulates the intrachromosomal recombinogenic capability of homologous sequences in E. coli. The ciprofloxacin-based stimulation occurs at concentrations and times that apparently do not dramatically compromise the viability of the whole population, and it is dependent on RecA and partially dependent on SOS induction. One of the main findings of this work is that, apart from quinolone antibiotics, none of the most used antibiotics, including trimethoprim (a known inducer of the SOS response), has a clear side effect on homologous recombination in E. coli. In addition to the already described effects of some antibiotics on mutagenicity, DNA transfer, and genetic transformability in naturally competent species, the effect of increasing intrachromosomal recombination of homologous DNA sequences can be uniquely ascribed to fluoroquinolones, at least for E. coli.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008826 Microbial Sensitivity Tests Any tests that demonstrate the relative efficacy of different chemotherapeutic agents against specific microorganisms (i.e., bacteria, fungi, viruses). Bacterial Sensitivity Tests,Drug Sensitivity Assay, Microbial,Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,Antibacterial Susceptibility Breakpoint Determination,Antibiogram,Antimicrobial Susceptibility Breakpoint Determination,Bacterial Sensitivity Test,Breakpoint Determination, Antibacterial Susceptibility,Breakpoint Determination, Antimicrobial Susceptibility,Fungal Drug Sensitivity Tests,Fungus Drug Sensitivity Tests,Sensitivity Test, Bacterial,Sensitivity Tests, Bacterial,Test, Bacterial Sensitivity,Tests, Bacterial Sensitivity,Viral Drug Sensitivity Tests,Virus Drug Sensitivity Tests,Antibiograms,Concentration, Minimum Inhibitory,Concentrations, Minimum Inhibitory,Inhibitory Concentration, Minimum,Inhibitory Concentrations, Minimum,Microbial Sensitivity Test,Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations,Sensitivity Test, Microbial,Sensitivity Tests, Microbial,Test, Microbial Sensitivity,Tests, Microbial Sensitivity
D011995 Recombination, Genetic Production of new arrangements of DNA by various mechanisms such as assortment and segregation, CROSSING OVER; GENE CONVERSION; GENETIC TRANSFORMATION; GENETIC CONJUGATION; GENETIC TRANSDUCTION; or mixed infection of viruses. Genetic Recombination,Recombination,Genetic Recombinations,Recombinations,Recombinations, Genetic
D002442 Ceftazidime Semisynthetic, broad-spectrum antibacterial derived from CEPHALORIDINE and used especially for Pseudomonas and other gram-negative infections in debilitated patients. Ceftazidime Anhydrous,Ceftazidime Pentahydrate,Fortaz,Fortum,GR-20263,LY-139381,Pyridinium, 1-((7-(((2-amino-4-thiazolyl)((1-carboxy-1-methylethoxy)imino)acetyl)amino)-2-carboxy-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo(4.2.0)oct-2-en-3-yl)methyl)-, inner salt, pentahydrate, (6R-(6alpha,7beta(Z)))-,Tazidime,GR 20263,GR20263,LY 139381,LY139381
D002701 Chloramphenicol An antibiotic first isolated from cultures of Streptomyces venequelae in 1947 but now produced synthetically. It has a relatively simple structure and was the first broad-spectrum antibiotic to be discovered. It acts by interfering with bacterial protein synthesis and is mainly bacteriostatic. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 29th ed, p106) Cloranfenicol,Kloramfenikol,Levomycetin,Amphenicol,Amphenicols,Chlornitromycin,Chlorocid,Chloromycetin,Detreomycin,Ophthochlor,Syntomycin
D002876 Chromosomes, Bacterial Structures within the nucleus of bacterial cells consisting of or containing DNA, which carry genetic information essential to the cell. Bacterial Chromosome,Bacterial Chromosomes,Chromosome, Bacterial
D002939 Ciprofloxacin A broad-spectrum antimicrobial carboxyfluoroquinoline. Bay-09867,Ciprinol,Cipro,Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride,Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride Anhydrous,Ciprofloxacin Monohydrochloride Monohydrate,Anhydrous, Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride,Bay 09867,Bay09867,Hydrochloride Anhydrous, Ciprofloxacin,Hydrochloride, Ciprofloxacin,Monohydrate, Ciprofloxacin Monohydrochloride,Monohydrochloride Monohydrate, Ciprofloxacin
D003091 Colistin Cyclic polypeptide antibiotic from Bacillus colistinus. It is composed of Polymyxins E1 and E2 (or Colistins A, B, and C) which act as detergents on cell membranes. Colistin is less toxic than Polymyxin B, but otherwise similar; the methanesulfonate is used orally. Polymyxin E,Colimycin,Colisticin,Colistin Sulfate,Coly-Mycin,Totazina,Sulfate, Colistin
D004926 Escherichia coli A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc. Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D005578 Fosfomycin An antibiotic produced by Streptomyces fradiae. Phosphonomycin,Fosfomycin Trometamol Salt,Fosfomycin Tromethamine,Monuril,Phosphomycin,Tromethamine, Fosfomycin
D005839 Gentamicins A complex of closely related aminoglycosides obtained from MICROMONOSPORA purpurea and related species. They are broad-spectrum antibiotics, but may cause ear and kidney damage. They act to inhibit PROTEIN BIOSYNTHESIS. Gentamicin Sulfate (USP),Gentamycin,G-Myticin,Garamycin,Gentacycol,Gentamicin,Gentamicin Sulfate,Gentamycins,Gentavet,Genticin,G Myticin,GMyticin,Sulfate, Gentamicin

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