Work

Subinhibitory concentrations of tedizolid induce upregulation of virulence gene transcription in Staphylococcus aureus

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of antibiotics can modulate the expression of virulence factors in bacterial pathogens. This study aimed to assess the impacts of sub-MICs of tedizolid on virulence gene expression in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and compare them with those of linezolid. METHODOLOGY: Two S. aureus strains (N315 and Newman) possessing the selected virulence genes were analyzed. The MICs of tedizolid and linezolid were determined, and sub-MICs for subsequent experiments were selected based on bacterial growth kinetics. Using qRT-PCR, we assessed the expression of 23 virulence genes, including 7 cell wall-anchored (CWA) protein genes, 4 exoenzyme genes, 6 toxin genes, and 6 regulatory genes, before and after exposure to tedizolid and linezolid. RESULTS: Growth kinetics indicated that 1/8 and 1/4 MICs were optimal for evaluating the influence of drugs on gene expression. The qRT-PCR results revealed that sub-MICs of tedizolid and linezolid primarily enhanced the expression of the studied virulence genes in both strains. In Newman, tedizolid upregulated the expression of more genes encoding CWA proteins, regulators, and toxins than linezolid. In N315, tedizolid stimulated the expression of more toxin-coding genes but fewer regulatory genes compared to linezolid. CONCLUSIONS: Sub-MIC of tedizolid and linezolid could increase the mRNA levels of different types of virulence genes in S. aureus, with strain-dependent variations. These findings provide new insights into the potential role of oxazolidinones in bacterial virulence regulation.

Source: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries

DOI: 10.3855/jidc.20386

Authors: Han Yang, Wen Lin, Chunyan He, Wen Shu, Wenjing Chen, Qingzhong Liu

Institutions: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $394