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Home / Equine Research Bank / Curr Microbiol / Study of lysozyme resistance in Rhodococcus equi.
Current microbiology2013; 68(3); 352-357; doi: 10.1007/s00284-013-0483-6

Study of lysozyme resistance in Rhodococcus equi.

Abstract: Lysozyme is an important and widespread component of the innate immune response that constitutes the first line of defense against bacterial pathogens. The bactericidal effect of this enzyme relies on its capacity to hydrolyze the bacterial cell wall and also on a nonenzymatic mechanism involving its cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) properties, which leads to membrane permeabilization. In this paper, we report our findings on the lysozyme resistance ability of Rhodococcus equi, a pulmonary pathogen of young foals and, more recently, of immunocompromised patients, whose pathogenic capacity is conferred by a large virulence plasmid. Our results show that (i) R. equi can be considered to be moderately resistant to lysozyme, (ii) the activity of lysozyme largely depends on its muramidase action rather than on its CAMP activity, and (iii) the virulence plasmid confers part of its lysozyme resistance capacity to R. equi. This study is the first one to demonstrate the influence of the virulence plasmid on the stress resistance capacity of R. equi and improves our understanding of the mechanisms enabling R. equi to resist the host defenses.
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Publication Date: 2013-10-30 PubMed ID: 24170270DOI: 10.1007/s00284-013-0483-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates the resistance of Rhodococcus equi, a bacterium that causes illness in foals and immunocompromised humans, to attack by the lysozyme enzyme, a key part of the body’s initial immune response. The finding is that R. equi is moderately resistant to lysozyme, mostly due to a large virulence plasmid, and that the enzyme’s action is mainly due to its ability to break down the bacterial cell wall, not its antimicrobial properties.

Introduction

  • The focus of this research is on the bacterial pathogen Rhodococcus equi. This bacterium is known to cause pulmonary diseases in young foals and also affects immunocompromised patients.
  • The researchers are interested in studying the organism’s resistance to the antimicrobial enzyme lysozyme, which functions as part of the innate immune response.

Lysozyme Resistance in R. equi

  • In their experiments, the researchers found that R. equi can be categorized as moderately resistant to lysozyme.
  • The activity of lysozyme against this bacterium primarily utilises its muramidase action to hydrolyze the bacterial cell wall, as opposed to its cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) properties.

Significance of the Virulence Plasmid on Stress Resistance

  • The researchers have found that the virulence plasmid of R. equi confers additional resistance capability against lysozyme to the bacterium.
  • This study is the first of its kind to highlight the critical role of the virulence plasmid of R. equi in contributing to its stress resistance capacity.
  • The findings add to our understanding of how R. equi can resist host defenses, which could potentially guide new treatment strategies against infections caused by this bacterium.

Cite This Article

APA
Hébert L, Bidaud P, Goux D, Benachour A, Laugier C, Petry S. (2013). Study of lysozyme resistance in Rhodococcus equi. Curr Microbiol, 68(3), 352-357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-013-0483-6

Publication

Current microbiology
ISSN: 1432-0991
NlmUniqueID: 7808448
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 68
Issue: 3
Pages: 352-357

Researcher Affiliations

Hébert, Laurent
  • Dozulé Laboratory for Equine Diseases, Bacteriology and Parasitology Unit, ANSES, 14430, Goustranville, France, laurent.hebert@anses.fr.
Bidaud, Pauline
    Goux, Didier
      Benachour, Abdellah
        Laugier, Claire
          Petry, Sandrine

            MeSH Terms

            • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism
            • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
            • Genes, Bacterial
            • Muramidase / metabolism
            • Plasmids
            • Rhodococcus equi / drug effects
            • Rhodococcus equi / genetics

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            Citations

            This article has been cited 1 times.
            1. Nahar A, Baker AL, Nichols DS, Bowman JP, Britz ML. Benchmarking DNA Extraction Methods for Phylogenomic Analysis of Sub-Antarctic Rhodococcus and Williamsia Species.. Microorganisms 2021 Jun 9;9(6).
              doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9061253pubmed: 34207615google scholar: lookup
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