Mariam Rima1, Cecile Emeraud1,2,3, Rémy A Bonnin1,3, Camille Gonzalez1,2, Laurent Dortet1,2,3, Bogdan I Iorga4, Saoussen Oueslati1,2, Thierry Naas1,2,3. 1. Team ReSIST, INSERM U1184, School of Medicine Université Paris-Saclay, LabEx LERMIT, and Joint Research Unit EERA 'Evolution and Ecology of Resistance to Antibiotics', Institut Pasteur-APHP-University Paris Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France. 2. Bacteriology-Hygiene Unit, Assistance Publique/Hôpitaux de Paris, Bicêtre Hospital, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France. 3. French National Reference Centre for Antibiotic Resistance: Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France. 4. Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: OXA-48-producing Enterobacterales have widely disseminated globally with an increasing number of variants identified. Among them, OXA-244 is increasingly reported, despite detection difficulties. OBJECTIVES: To determine the steady-state kinetic parameters of OXA-244. METHODS: The blaOXA-244 gene was amplified, cloned into plasmids p-TOPO and pET41b+, and transformed into Escherichia coli TOP10 for MIC determination and E. coli BL21 DE3 for purification. Steady-state kinetic parameters and IC50s of clavulanic acid, tazobactam and NaCl were determined using purified OXA-244. Molecular modelling was also performed. RESULTS: A reduction in MICs of temocillin and carbapenems was observed in E. coli expressing OXA-244 as compared with OXA-48. The kinetic parameters revealed a reduced carbapenemase activity of OXA-244 as compared with OXA-48, especially for imipenem, which was 10-fold lower. Similarly, catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) was reduced by 4-fold and 20-fold for ampicillin and temocillin, respectively. Kinetic parameters for cephalosporins were, however, similar. Molecular modelling studies evidenced the key role of R214 in OXA-48, establishing salt bridges with D159 and with the carboxylate group of the R1 substituent of temocillin. These interactions are not possible with G214 in OXA-244, explaining the reduced affinity of temocillin for this enzyme. The R214G mutation in OXA-244 is also likely to induce changes in the active site's water network that would explain the decrease in the hydrolysis rate of carbapenems. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that the R214G mutation (present in OXA-244) results in reduced carbapenem- and temocillin-hydrolysing activity, confirming the crucial role of residue 214 in the hydrolysis of these substrates by OXA-48-like β-lactamases.
BACKGROUND: OXA-48-producing Enterobacterales have widely disseminated globally with an increasing number of variants identified. Among them, OXA-244 is increasingly reported, despite detection difficulties. OBJECTIVES: To determine the steady-state kinetic parameters of OXA-244. METHODS: The blaOXA-244 gene was amplified, cloned into plasmids p-TOPO and pET41b+, and transformed into Escherichia coli TOP10 for MIC determination and E. coli BL21 DE3 for purification. Steady-state kinetic parameters and IC50s of clavulanic acid, tazobactam and NaCl were determined using purified OXA-244. Molecular modelling was also performed. RESULTS: A reduction in MICs of temocillin and carbapenems was observed in E. coli expressing OXA-244 as compared with OXA-48. The kinetic parameters revealed a reduced carbapenemase activity of OXA-244 as compared with OXA-48, especially for imipenem, which was 10-fold lower. Similarly, catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) was reduced by 4-fold and 20-fold for ampicillin and temocillin, respectively. Kinetic parameters for cephalosporins were, however, similar. Molecular modelling studies evidenced the key role of R214 in OXA-48, establishing salt bridges with D159 and with the carboxylate group of the R1 substituent of temocillin. These interactions are not possible with G214 in OXA-244, explaining the reduced affinity of temocillin for this enzyme. The R214G mutation in OXA-244 is also likely to induce changes in the active site's water network that would explain the decrease in the hydrolysis rate of carbapenems. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that the R214G mutation (present in OXA-244) results in reduced carbapenem- and temocillin-hydrolysing activity, confirming the crucial role of residue 214 in the hydrolysis of these substrates by OXA-48-like β-lactamases.