Transition Mutations in 23S rRNA Account for Acquired Resistance to Macrolides in Ureaplasma urealyticum

摘要

Objective: To study the mechanisms of acquired resistance of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) to Macrolide antibiotics.nMethods: Eighteen strains of Uu clinical isolates with different phenotypes of resistance to Macrolidenantibiotics were screened for mutations in 23S rRNA in comparison with the reference strain ATCC 27618 andnAF272627-1 in GenBank, which is susceptible to Macrolide antibiotics. Results: Compared to the sequence ofnreference strains ATCC 27618 and AF272627-1, three transitions were found in 23S rRNA of Uu clinical isolatesnwith acquired resistance to Macrolide antibiotics. The C2243N (T or C) transition was found in the 23S rRNAnsequence of five strains with the phenotype of acquired resistance to Roxithromycin (ROM) and Azithromycinn(AZM). The two changes of A2149C and A2181T were found in the 23S rRNA sequence of nine strains with thenphenotype of resistance to ROM and midrange resistance to AZM, and they were also found in that of fournstrains with the phenotype of sensitivity to macrolides (Josamycin, Clarithromycin, ROM, and AZM). Nonmutation was found in the ATCC 27618. Conclusion: The mechanisms of Uu resistance to ROM and AZM maynbe associated with the C2243N (T or C) mutation in 23S rRNA. Further studies are necessary to confirm thisnhypothesis.