Contribution of Resistance-Nodulation-Division Efflux Pump OperonsmeU1-V-W-U2-Xto Multidrug Resistance of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Abstract

ABSTRACTKJ09C, a multidrug-resistant mutant ofStenotrophomonas maltophiliaKJ, was generated byin vitroselection with chloramphenicol. The multidrug-resistant phenotype of KJ09C was attributed to overexpression of a resistance nodulation division (RND)-type efflux system encoded by an operon consisting of five genes:smeU1,smeV,smeW,smeU2, andsmeX. Proteins encoded bysmeV,smeW, andsmeXwere similar to the membrane fusion protein, RND transporter, and outer membrane protein, respectively, of known RND-type systems. The proteins encoded bysmeU1andsmeU2were found to belong to the family of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases. Mutant KJ09C exhibited increased resistance to chloramphenicol, quinolones, and tetracyclines and susceptibility to aminoglycosides; susceptibility to β-lactams and erythromycin was not affected. The expression of thesmeU1-V-W-U2-Xoperon was regulated by the divergently transcribed LysR-type regulator genesmeRv. Overexpression of the SmeVWX pump contributed to the acquired resistance to chloramphenicol, quinolones, and tetracyclines. Inactivation ofsmeVandsmeWcompletely abolished the activity of the SmeVWX pump, whereas inactivation ofsmeXalone decreased the activity of the SmeVWX pump. The enhanced aminoglycoside susceptibility observed in KJ09C resulted from SmeX overexpression.