Comprehensive analysis of resistance-nodulation-cell division superfamily (RND) efflux pumps from Serratia marcescens, Db10

Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 19;9(1):4854. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-41237-7.

Abstract

We investigated the role of the resistance-nodulation-cell division superfamily (RND) efflux system on intrinsic multidrug resistance in Serratia marcescens. We identified eight putative RND efflux system genes in the S. marcescens Db10 genome that included the previously characterized systems, sdeXY, sdeAB, and sdeCDE. Six out of the eight genes conferred multidrug resistance on KAM32, a drug hypersensitive strain of Escherichia coli. Five out of the eight genes conferred resistance to benzalkonium, suggesting the importance of RND efflux systems in biocide resistance in S. marcescens. The energy-dependent efflux activities of five of the pumps were examined using a rhodamine 6 G efflux assay. When expressed in the tolC-deficient strain of E. coli, KAM43, none of the genes conferred resistance on E. coli. When hasF, encoding the S. marcescens TolC ortholog, was expressed in KAM43, all of the genes conferred resistance on E. coli, suggesting that HasF is a major outer membrane protein that is used by all RND efflux systems in this organism. We constructed a sdeXY deletion mutant from a derivative strain of the clinically isolated multidrug-resistant S. marcescens strain and found that the sdeXY deletion mutant was sensitive to a broad spectrum of antimicrobial agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Benzalkonium Compounds / pharmacology
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Genome, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Genome, Bacterial / genetics
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins
  • Serratia Infections / drug therapy
  • Serratia Infections / genetics*
  • Serratia Infections / microbiology
  • Serratia marcescens / drug effects*
  • Serratia marcescens / genetics
  • Serratia marcescens / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Benzalkonium Compounds
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins