Genetic Classification and Antimicrobial Resistance of Ureaplasma urealyticum Isolated from Urine

Myungwon Choi; Indal Park

doi:10.4167/jbv.2012.42.2.156

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Choi and Park: Genetic Classification and Antimicrobial Resistance of Ureaplasma urealyticum Isolated from Urine

Communication

Journal of Bacteriology and Virology

Journal of Bacteriology and Virology 2012; 42(2): 156-161.

Published online: 22 June 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4167/jbv.2012.42.2.156

Genetic Classification and Antimicrobial Resistance of Ureaplasma urealyticum Isolated from Urine

Myungwon Choi, Indal Park

Department of Microbiology and Research Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Corresponding author: Indal Park. Department of Microbiology and Research Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance, Kosin University College of Medicine 34, Amnam-dong, Seo-gu, Busan 602-703, Korea. Phone: +82-51-990-6423, Fax: +82-51-990-3081, microdal@kosin.ac.kr

Received 7 May 2012 Revised 15 May 2012 Accepted 24 May 2012

Abstract

Recently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods have been used to reclassify Ureaplasma urealyticum into two independent species (spp.), designating U. parvum and U. urealyticum. In the current study, we aim to reclassify U. urealyticum and to analyze the correlation between the presence of a genetic marker and an antibiotic resistance of U. urealyticum. Susceptibility test against tetracycline, levofloxain or moxifloxacin was performed by broth microdilution method. The presence of tet(M) gene and the mutations of quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) were analyzed by PCR and sequencing. Among fourteen Ureaplasma isolates, three were identified as U. parvum and eleven were identified as U. urealyticum, and this is first report showing that two independent spp. of U. urealyticum isolated from Korean are present. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges for Ureaplasma isolates were as follows: tetracycline 0.25~128 µg/ml, levofloxacin 1~8 µg/ml, and moxifloxacin 0.5~4 µg/ml. The tet(M) determinant was found in 3 among 14 Ureaplasma isolates with tetracycline MIC of >16 µg/ml, suggesting that the presence of the tet(M) determinant is associated with tetracycline resistance. Mutations of gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE genes in the QRDRs were found in 3 among 14 Ureaplasma isolates, exhibiting only parE gene mutation is associated with fluoroquinolone resistance.

Keywords: Ureaplasma parvum, Ureaplasma urealyticum, tet(M), Fluoroquinolones, Mutation

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Analysis of the PCR products of 16S rRNA gene or urease gene from Ureaplasma spp for species classification of U. urealyticum and U. parvum. MW: 100 bp DNA ladder, Uu: U. urealyticum, Up: U. parvum

Figure 2

Analysis of the PCR products of tet(M) gene from Ureaplasma spp. MW: 100 bp DNA ladder, T: tet(M) gene

Table 1

PCR primers used in this study

Table 2

Minimal inhibitory concentrations of Ureaplasma species

Tc, tetracycline; LFX, levofloxacin; MFX, moxifloxacin; N, none.

^aUp: U. parvum, Uu: U. urealyticum

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