Reactive Oxygen Species-Related Ceftazidime Resistance Is Caused by the Pyruvate Cycle Perturbation and Reverted by Fe3+ in Edwardsiella tarda

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are related to antibiotic resistance and have been reported in bacteria. However, whether ROS contribute to ceftazidime resistance and plays a role in ceftazidime-mediated killing is unknown. The present study showed lower ROS production in ceftazidime-resistant Edwardsiella tarda (LTB4-R-CAZ) than that in LTB4-sensitive E. tarda (LTB4-S), two isogenic E. tarda LTB4 strains, which was related to bacterial viability in the presence of ceftazidime. Consistently, ROS promoter Fe3+ and inhibitor thiourea elevated and reduced the ceftazidime-mediated killing, respectively. Further investigation indicated that the reduction of ROS is related to inactivation of the pyruvate cycle, which provides sources for ROS biosynthesis, but not superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), which degrade ROS. Interestingly, Fe3+ promoted the P cycle, increased ROS biosynthesis, and thereby promoted ceftazidime-mediated killing. The Fe3+-induced potentiation is generalizable to cephalosporins and clinically isolated multidrug-resistant pathogens. These results show that ROS play a role in bacterial resistance and sensitivity to ceftazidime. More importantly, the present study reveals a previously unknown mechanism that Fe3+ elevates ROS production via promoting the P cycle.

Automated summary

This study found that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in ceftazidime resistance and sensitivity, with Fe3+ promoting ROS production by activating the pyruvate cycle. This discovery has important theoretical and practical implications.