Tet38 Efflux pump contributes to fosfomycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Fosfomycin inhibits MurA following uptake by the GlpT transporter of glycerol-3-phosphate in Escherichia coli. In Staphylococcus aureus, plasmid overexpression of the Tet38 efflux pump and a glpT mutant resulted in increased MICs and decreased accumulation of fosfomycin, with MICs affected by glycerol-3-phosphate. In contrast, a tet38 mutant had a lower MIC and increased accumulation of fosfomycin, suggesting that Tet38 acts as an efflux transporter of fosfomycin.