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Antibiotic tolerance in a drug naïve methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strain FDA209P from pre-antibiotic era.

Antibiotic tolerance in a drug naïve methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strain FDA209P from pre-antibiotic era.

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Antibiotic tolerance in a drug naïve methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strain FDA209P from pre-antibiotic era.
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<strong>SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY </strong> a talk on <strong>Antibiotic tolerance in a drug naïve methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strain FDA209P from pre-antibiotic era.</strong> Speaker: <strong>Dr. Madhuri Singh</strong>, Department of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Hongo Campus, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, Japan Date: <strong>9th September 2015 </strong> <strong>Abstract:</strong> The bacterial strategies to overcome antibiotics fall into two categories i.e., Resistance and Tolerance. In case of resistance bacteria grow in the presence of constant antibiotic pressure, whereas tolerance allowsthe bacteria to survive in the presence of antibiotic even at very high concentration. Although both adaptation strategies are responsible for the failure of the antibiotic, tolerance is less understood than resistance. The mechanism of resistance for each antibiotic has been well established, which make the resistant variants to be easily identified and cured in patients. However, the characteristics of antibiotic tolerant strains are generalized and not yet clear for a specific antibiotic exposure, thus, making their isolation and elimination very difficult. Here, we studied the adaptive responses of a drug naive Rosenbach1884 Staphylococcus aureus strain FDA209P, which was collected before antibiotic era, to vancomycin and Imipenem exposures. Of various mechanisms, slow growth and delayed lag phase was the typical characteristics of tolerant variants, irrespective of antibiotic type. Using whole genome sequencing, the vancomycin selected tolerant mutants independently showed five mutations (Single nucleotide polymorphisms)in genes i.e.; pp2C (pp2C protein phosphatase), div IVA (Cell division initiation protein), ribA(riboflavin biosynthesis protein), ileS(isoleucyl-tRNAsynthetase) and SA1386 (Endonuclease IV). And Imiepenem selected strains showed a mutation in parC (Topoisomerase IV) gene. The mutations in some of these genes for instance pp2Cand ileS have already been implicated in antibiotic resistance, however, rest are the newly identified mutations related to antibiotic tolerance. This study will enhance our knowledge of vancomycin tolerance, thus it may bring improvement in diagnosis of the recurrent infections and their treatments.

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.