Temporal Interplay between Efflux Pumps and Target Mutations in Development of Antibiotic Resistance in Escherichia coli

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe emergence of resistance presents a debilitating change in the management of infectious diseases. Currently, the temporal relationship and interplay between various mechanisms of drug resistance are not well understood. A thorough understanding of the resistance development process is needed to facilitate rational design of countermeasure strategies. Using anin vitrohollow-fiber infection model that simulates human drug treatment, we examined the appearance of efflux pump (acrAB) overexpression and target topoisomerase gene (gyrAandparC) mutations over time in the emergence of quinolone resistance inEscherichia coli. Drug-resistant isolates recovered early (24 h) had 2- to 8-fold elevation in the MIC due toacrABoverexpression, but no point mutations were noted. In contrast, high-level (≥64× MIC) resistant isolates with target site mutations (gyrAS83L with or withoutparCE84K) were selected more readily after 120 h, and regression ofacrABoverexpression was observed at 240 h. Using a similar dosing selection pressure, the emergence of levofloxacin resistance was delayed in a strain withacrABdeleted compared to the isogenic parent. The role of efflux pumps in bacterial resistance development may have been underappreciated. Our data revealed the interplay between two mechanisms of quinolone resistance and provided a new mechanistic framework in the development of high-level resistance. Early low-level levofloxacin resistance conferred byacrABoverexpression preceded and facilitated high-level resistance development mediated by target site mutation(s). If this interpretation is correct, then these findings represent a paradigm shift in the way quinolone resistance is thought to develop.