Antibiotic Stress Induces Genetic Transformability in the Human Pathogen <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i>

TLDR

Natural transformation is a widespread mechanism for genetic exchange in bacteria. Antibiotherapy design should consider the potential of S. pneumoniae to increase genetic exchange under antibiotic stress.

Abstract

Natural transformation is a widespread mechanism for genetic exchange in bacteria. Aminoglycoside and fluoroquinolone antibiotics, as well as mitomycin C, a DNA-damaging agent, induced transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae. This induction required an intact competence regulatory cascade. Furthermore, mitomycin C induction of recA was strictly dependent on the development of competence. In response to antibiotic stress, S. pneumoniae, which lacks an SOS-like system, exhibited genetic transformation. The design of antibiotherapy should take into consideration this potential of a major human pathogen to increase its rate of genetic exchange in response to antibiotics.