ARS | Publication request: PENICILLIN-BINDING PROTEINS IN THE PATHOGENIC INTESTINAL SPIROCHETE BRACHYSPIRA PILOSICOLI

Submitted to: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 6, 2004
Publication Date: April 1, 2005
Citation: Dassanayake, R., Sarath, G., Duhamel, G. 2005. Penicillin-binding proteins in the pathogenic intestinal spirochete brachyspira pilosicoli. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 4:1561-1563.

Interpretive Summary: Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) are frequently present on the outer membranes of pathogenic microorganisms. These proteins effectively shield the pathogen from penicillin-type antibiotics and impact effectiveness of antibiotic treatments. The spirochete Brachyspira pilosicoli is a human pathogen and can cause serious illness, especially in immuno-compromised individuals. We have analyxzed for the first time the PBPs present on this organism. We identified three penicillin-binding proteins. These data will provide a basis for the future functional analyses of PBPs in spirochete pathogens that infect humans and animals.

Technical Abstract: Three putative penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of approximately 94-, 62-, and 42-kDa were identified in membrane preparations obtained from the pathogenic human intestinal spirochete Brachyspira pilosicoli. The data provide a basis for functional analysis of PBPs interaction with ß-lactam antibiotics among pathogenic intestinal spirochetes of humans and animals.