Resistance to Streptomycin in Yersinia pestis
Author Information
Author(s): Annie Guiyoule, Guy Gerbaud, Carmen Buchrieser, Marc Galimand, Lila Rahalison, Suzanne Chanteau, Patrice Courvalin, Elisabeth Carniel
Primary Institution: Institut Pasteur
Hypothesis
Is there a second strain of Yersinia pestis with high-level resistance to streptomycin?
Conclusion
A second strain of Yersinia pestis isolated in Madagascar shows high-level resistance to streptomycin, which poses a significant public health concern.
Supporting Evidence
- A second strain of Y. pestis was isolated from a human case of bubonic plague in Madagascar.
- The resistance genes were carried by a self-transferable plasmid.
- High-level resistance to streptomycin was confirmed through disk-agar diffusion tests.
- The emergence of resistance to streptomycin represents a critical public health problem.
Takeaway
Scientists found a new type of bacteria that causes plague and is resistant to a common medicine called streptomycin, which could make treating the disease harder.
Methodology
The study involved isolating the Yersinia pestis strain from a human case and testing its resistance to antibiotics through various methods.
Limitations
The study is limited to a single strain and does not explore the full range of resistance mechanisms in Yersinia pestis.
Participant Demographics
The isolate was obtained from a 14-year-old boy in Madagascar.
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