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From
•>>February 2007
Patrice Nordmann answers a
few questions about this month's emerging research front in
the field of Microbiology.
Microbiology
Article: OXA-58, a novel class D beta-lactamase involved in resistance to carbapenems in Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Poirel, L;Marque, S;Heritier, C;Segonds, C;Chabanon,
G;Nordmann, P
Journal: ANTIMICROB AGENTS CHEMOTHER, 49 (1): 202-208, JAN 2005
Addresses:
Hop Bicetre, Serv Bacteriol Virol, 78 Rue Gen Leclerc, F-94275 Le Kremlin Bicetre, France.
Univ Paris 11, Hop Bicetre, Assistance Publ Hop Paris, Fac Med Paris Sud,Serv Bacteriol Virol, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France.
CHU Rangueil, Lab Bacteriol Hyg, Toulouse, France.
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Why do you think your paper is
highly cited?
It is probably because this paper describes a novel
mechanism for carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter
baumannii which is a nosocomial pathogen (pulmonary
infections) that already possesses naturally a quite high
level of resistance to many antibiotic molecules.
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“...this is a totally novel ß-lactamase that has been identified so far only in Acinetobacter baumannii raising the problem of its origin (reservoir).”
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Several papers published in 2006 reported the spread of
this mechanism of carbapenem resistance as being likely the
most prevalent mechanism of carbapenem resistance in that
species worldwide. In addition, this is a totally novel ß-lactamase
that has been identified so far only in Acinetobacter
baumannii, raising the problem of its origin (reservoir).
Does it describe a new discovery or a new methodology
that’s useful to others?
This article describes the discovery of a novel type of ß-lactamase
that hydrolyze significantly many ß-lactam antibiotics,
including carbapenem, which are the antibiotics of last resort
in intensive care units.
This finding added to the knowledge of the mechanism for
carbapenem resistance in that species. The gene encoding this
resistance determinant was plasmid-encoded, bracketed by
mobile elements, and therefore was able to be submitted for
interbacterial transfer
Could you summarize the significance of your paper in
layman’s terms?
This work identified a novel mechanism of resistance in a
nosocomial pathogen. It contributes significantly to multidrug
resistance in A. baumannii, which itself is the cause
of difficult-to-treat infections.
How did you become involved in this research?
Our research unit focuses on the mechanisms of antibiotic
resistance which are emerging worldwide. This is the reason
why clinical microbiologists, such as Prof. Gerard Chabanon
and Dr. Christine Segonds, from the Toulouse hospital and
University in the southern part of France, kindly sent us a
multidrug resistant A. baumannii isolate which they had
detected as possessing an unusual strain of an antibiotic
resistance phenotype.
Since we did not identify known mechanisms of carbapenem
resistance in that isolate, we conducted a series of genetic
and biochemical analyses for unravelling its mechanism of
resistance. That led us to discover this novel resistance
determinant.
Are there any social or political implications for your
research?
Multidrug resistance in nosocomial bacterial species is
following an upward trend. At the same time, the number of
novel antibiotic molecules that are marketed is decreasing. We
may face, in a near future, a shortage of antibiotics still
efficient in fighting against those infections. Here we show a
novel mechanism of resistance that contributes to multidrug
resistance in a bacterial species that is responsible for
severe hospital-acquired infections.
Patrice Nordmann, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Clinical Microbiology
Head of the Department of Microbiology
Hospital Bicêtre
South-Paris Medical School
University Paris XI
Le Kremlin-Bicêtre
Paris, France
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