Human Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 Induces MefE/Mel-mediated Macrolide Resistance in Streptococcus Pneumoniae

Overview

Journal Antimicrob Agents Chemother

Publisher American Society for Microbiology

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2010 May 26

PMID 20498319

Citations 33

Authors

Dorothea Zahner

Xiaoliu Zhou

Scott T Chancey

Jan Pohl

William M Shafer

David S Stephens

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Macrolide resistance is a major concern in the treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Inducible macrolide resistance in this pneumococcus is mediated by the efflux pump MefE/Mel. We show here that the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 induces the mefE promoter and confers resistance to erythromycin and LL-37. Such induction may impact the efficacy of host defenses and of macrolide-based treatment of pneumococcal disease.

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