Pathogenicity of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria

Research Group Dr. Göttig

Göttig Lab

Our research focuses on antibiotic resistance mechanisms and virulence factors of clinically relevant Gram-negative bacteria. Resistance to antibiotics has dramatically increased in recent years, especially among Gram-negative bacteria like Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli or Acinetobacter baumannii. Multidrug resistance is often caused by acquisition of bacterial enzymes which are encoded on mobile genetic elements (e.g., plasmid-encoded carbapenemase genes). Highly pathogenic bacteria that are non-susceptible to last line antibiotics like carbapenems or polymyxins pose a major threat to public health. These bacteria cause severe nosocomial infections like sepsis or pneumonia and can be transmitted from patient to patient.

Therefore we are interested in characterizing

  • molecular mechanisms by which Gram-negative bacteria become resistant to carbapenems and colistin
  • the molecular evolution of carbapenemases like the New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM)
  • how antibiotic resistance genes can be transmitted by horizontal gene transfer in vivo
  • the impact of carbapenem and colistin resistance on fitness and virulence of Gram-negative bacteria
  • the pathogenicity factor Acinetobacter trimeric autotransporter adhesion of A. baumannii

 

Group Leader

Dr. med. Dr. rer. physiol. Stephan Göttig
stephan.goettig@unimedizin-ffm.de

Lab members

Kristina Gerbracht
Emily Huth
Felix Krause
Laura Leukert
Rabea Margies
Larissa Neidert
Sara Riedel-Christ
Lea Schauer
Caroline Sittmann
Julian Sommer
Manuela Tietgen

 

Funding

Selected publications

Weidensdorfer M, Ishikawa I, Hori K, Linke D, Djahanschiri B, Iruegas R, Ebersberger I, Riedel-Christ S, Enders G, Leukert L, Kraiczy P, Rothweiler R, Cinatl J, Berger j, Hipp K, Kempf V, Göttig S#.
The Acinetobacter trimeric autotransporter adhesin Ata controls key virulence traits of Acinetobacter baumannii
Virulence. 2019 Dec;10(1):68-81.

Tietgen M, Kramer JS, Brunst S, Djahanschiri B, Wohra S, Higgins PG, Weidensdorfer M, Riedel-Christ S, Pos KM, Gonzaga A, Steglich M, Nübel U, Ebersberger I, Proschak E, Göttig S#.
Identification of the novel class D β-lactamase OXA-679 involved in carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus.
J Antimicrob Chemother. 2019 Mar 7. pii: dkz080.

Gerson S, Betts JW, Lucaßen K, Nodari CS, Wille J, Josten M, Göttig S, Nowak J, Stefanik D, Roca I, Vila J, Cisneros JM, La Ragione RM, Seifert H, Higgins PG.
Investigation of Novel pmrB and eptA Mutations in Isogenic Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates Associated with Colistin Resistance and Increased Virulence In Vivo.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 Feb 26;63(3).

Brochado AR, Telzerow A, Bobonis J, Banzhaf M, Mateus A, Selkrig J, Huth E, Bassler S, Zamarreno Beas J, Zietek M, Ng N, Foerster S, Ezraty B, Py B, Barras F, Savitski MM, Bork P, Göttig S, Typas A.
Species-specific activity of antibacterial drug combinations.
Nature. 2018 Jul;559(7713):259-263.

Tietgen M, Semmler T, Riedel-Christ S, Kempf VAJ, Molinaro A, Ewers C, Göttig  S#.
Impact of the colistin resistance gene mcr-1 on bacterial fitness.
Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2018 Apr;51(4):554-561.

Koenigs A, Stahl J, Averhoff B, Göttig S, Wichelhaus TA, Wallich R, Zipfel PF, Kraiczy P.
CipA of Acinetobacter baumannii Is a Novel Plasminogen Binding and Complement Inhibitory Protein.
J Infect Dis. 2016 May 1;213(9):1388-99.

Klingler FM, Wichelhaus TA, Frank D, Cuesta-Bernal J, El-Delik J, Müller HF,  Sjuts H, Göttig S, Koenigs A, Pos KM, Pogoryelov D, Proschak E.
Approved Drugs Containing Thiols as Inhibitors of Metallo-β-lactamases: Strategy To Combat Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria.
J Med Chem. 2015 Apr 23;58(8):3626-30.

Göttig S#, Gruber TM, Stecher B, Wichelhaus TA, Kempf VA.
In vivo horizontal gene transfer of the carbapenemase OXA-48 during a nosocomial outbreak.
Clin Infect Dis. 2015 Jun 15;60(12):1808-15.

Gruber TM*, Göttig S*,#, Mark L, Christ S, Kempf VA, Wichelhaus TA, Hamprecht A.
Pathogenicity of pan-drug-resistant Serratia marcescens harbouring blaNDM-1.
J Antimicrob Chemother. 2015 Apr;70(4):1026-30.

Göttig S#, Gruber TM, Higgins PG, Wachsmuth M, Seifert H, Kempf VA.
Detection  of pan drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Germany.
J Antimicrob Chemother. 2014 Sep;69(9):2578-9.

Göttig S#, Hamprecht AG, Christ S, Kempf VA, Wichelhaus TA.
Detection of NDM-7 in Germany, a new variant of the New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase with increased carbapenemase activity.
J Antimicrob Chemother. 2013 Aug;68(8):1737-40.

Göttig S, Pfeifer Y, Wichelhaus T, Zacharowski K, Bingold T, Averhoff B, Brandt C, Kempf V.
Global spread of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1.
Lancet Infect Dis. 2010 Dec;10(12):828-9.