Identification of a novel cephalosporinase (DHA-3) in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated in Taiwan

Clin Microbiol Infect. 2005 Nov;11(11):893-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2005.01252.x.

Abstract

A strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to cefoxitin and oxyimino-cephalosporins, but susceptible to cefepime, was isolated from an adult patient hospitalised in Taichung, Taiwan. Isoelectric focusing revealed three beta-lactamases with isoelectric points of 5.4, 8.2 and 7.9, respectively. Following PCR with plasmid DNA templates and gene sequencing, these enzymes were shown to correspond to TEM-1, SHV-5 and a novel DHA-1-like enzyme (designated DHA-3). The bla genes for TEM-1 and SHV-5 were transferable, but the bla(DHA-3) gene was non-self-transferable in conjugation experiments. All three bla genes were successfully introduced by electrotransformation into an Escherichia coli recipient (DH5alpha), resulting in a similar resistance profile to that observed in the original donor strain. Other K. pneumoniae strains producing DHA-1-like enzymes have been identified previously in Taiwan, and this report suggests that DHA-type beta-lactamases are continuing to emerge in this country.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Proteins / analysis
  • Bacterial Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Cefoxitin / pharmacology
  • Cephalosporinase / analysis*
  • Cephalosporinase / chemistry
  • Cephalosporinase / genetics
  • Cephalosporinase / isolation & purification
  • Conjugation, Genetic
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Isoelectric Point
  • Klebsiella Infections / microbiology*
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / enzymology*
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasmids
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Taiwan

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cefoxitin
  • Cephalosporinase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY494945