Analysis of two Nocardia brasiliensis class A β-lactamases (BRA-1 and BRS-1) and related resistance to β-lactam antibiotics

Abstract

Objective

Molecular determinants of β-lactam resistance are poorly explored for most Nocardia species, such as Nocardia brasiliensis. In this study, we characterised resistance mediated by two β-lactamases in the reference strain N. brasiliensis HUJEG-1 and extended our analysis to nine N. brasiliensis clinical strains.

Methods

The susceptibility of N. brasiliensis HUJEG-1 was determined by measuring the MIC via microdilution for five β-lactam antibiotics that were or were not associated with β-lactamase inhibitors (clavulanate and avibactam, 4 µg/mL). Two putative class A β-lactamase-encoding genes (bla_BRA-1 and bla_BRS-1) were identified in the HUJEG-1 genome. The kinetic parameters of purified BRA-1 and BRS-1 were determined by spectrophotometry. Measurement of β-lactam resistance was then extended to nine clinical strains. These phenotypic data were compared with the genomic diversity of whole genomes (next-generation sequencing).

Results

N. brasiliensis HUJEG-1 was resistant to amoxicillin, cefuroxime, and cefotaxime, but susceptible to their combination with clavulanate or avibactam. This strain was resistant to imipenem (with or without inhibitors) and susceptible to meropenem. BRA-1 showed high catalytic efficiencies against penams (penicillin, ampicillin) and cephems (cephaloridine, cephalothin, and cefamandole), but not against penems (imipenem, meropenem), suggesting that imipenem resistance was mediated by another mechanism. The hydrolytic activity of BRS-1 was 100–1000-fold lower than that of BRA-1 for all β-lactams tested, suggesting that BRS-1 has a minor contribution to β-lactam resistance. Analysis of the nine clinical strains showed variations in susceptibility to cefotaxime, as well as diversity in genetic backgrounds and BRA-1 sequences.

Conclusions

N. brasiliensis HUJEG-1 resistance to penams and cephems is mainly due to the class A β-lactamase BRA-1.