Mutations in the transcriptional regulator MAB_2885 confer tedizolid and linezolid resistance through the MmpS-MmpL efflux pump MAB_2302-MAB_2303 in Mycobacterium abscessus.

Abstract

Mycobacterium abscessus (MAB) is a clinically significant multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen, particularly implicated in pulmonary infections among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Tedizolid (TZD), an oxazolidinone-class antibacterial drug, has been recommended as an alternative treatment for MAB-infected patients who are intolerant to or whose isolate is resistant to first-line drugs including linezolid (LZD). To investigate the TZD resistance mechanisms in MAB, we isolated 23 TZD-resistant MAB mutants and performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to identify resistance-associated genes. Frequent mutations were identified in MAB_2885, encoding a putative TetR transcriptional regulator, and MAB_2303, encoding a putative mycobacterial membrane protein large (MmpL). Drug susceptibility testing confirmed that MAB_2885 mutations contribute to both TZD and LZD resistance in MAB. RNA-seq analysis revealed that restoring wild-type MAB_2885 in mutants downregulated the MAB_2302-MAB_2303. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed the MAB_2885 protein binds to its target sequence upstream of MAB_2302-MAB_2303, further confirming their regulatory relationship. The W91R mutation in the MAB_2885 protein was found to impair its DNA-binding activity compared to the wild-type. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis confirmed that MAB_2302-MAB_2303 functions as a TZD efflux pump. Additionally, overexpression of MAB_2885 in M. abscessus subsp. bolletii and M. abscessus subsp. massiliense also increased their TZD susceptibility and downregulated their respective MmpS-MmpL orthologs. Overall, our study demonstrates that mutations in MAB_ 2885 contribute to TZD and LZD resistance by disrupting the negative regulation of the downstream MAB_2302-MAB_2303, which functions as a direct efflux pump for TZD. These findings provide new insights into oxazolidinone resistance mechanisms in MAB and identify potential biomarkers for detecting drug resistance.