Comparison of the antibiotic resistance mechanisms in a gram-positive and a gram-negative bacterium by gene networks analysis

Abstract

Nowadays, the emergence of some microbial species resistant to antibiotics, both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, is due to changes in molecular activities, biological processes and their cellular structure in order to survive. The aim of the gene network analysis for the drug-resistant Enterococcus faecium as gram-positive and Salmonella Typhimurium as gram-negative bacteria was to gain insights into the important interactions between hub genes involved in key molecular pathways associated with cellular adaptations and the comparison of survival mechanisms of these two bacteria exposed to ciprofloxacin. To identify the gene clusters and hub genes, the gene networks in drug-resistant E. faecium and S. Typhimurium were analyzed using Cytoscape. Subsequently, the putative regulatory elements were found by examining the promoter regions of the hub genes and their gene ontology (GO) was determined. In addition, the interaction between milRNAs and up-regulated genes was predicted. RcsC and D920_01853 have been identified as the most important of the hub genes in S. Typhimurium and E. faecium, respectively. The enrichment analysis of hub genes revealed the importance of efflux pumps, and different enzymatic and binding activities in both bacteria. However, E. faecium specifically increases phospholipid biosynthesis and isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis, whereas S. Typhimurium focuses on phosphorelay signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, and protein autophosphorylation. The similarities in the GO findings of the promoters suggest common pathways for survival and basic physiological functions of both bacteria, including peptidoglycan production, glucose transport and cellular homeostasis. The genes with the most interactions with milRNAs include dpiB, rcsC and kdpD in S. Typhimurium and EFAU004_01228, EFAU004_02016 and EFAU004_00870 in E. faecium, respectively. The results showed that gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria have different mechanisms to survive under antibiotic stress. By deciphering their intricate adaptations, we can develop more effective therapeutic approaches and combat the challenges posed by multidrug-resistant bacteria.