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Article

Antibiotic Resistance in Acetic Acid Bacteria Originating from Vinegar

by
Sun-Hee Kim
1,
Hyun-Wook Jang
1,
Jin-Ju Park
1,
Dong-Geon Nam
2,
Su-Jeong Lee
1,
Soo-Hwan Yeo
1,* and
So-Young Kim
1,*
1
Fermented and Processed Food Science Division, Department of Agrofood Resources, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Republic of Korea
2
Division of Functional Food & Nutrition, Department of Agrofood Resources, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Republic of Korea
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Antibiotics 2024, 13(7), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13070626
Submission received: 30 May 2024 / Revised: 3 July 2024 / Accepted: 4 July 2024 / Published: 5 July 2024
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Abstract

:
Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are major contributors to the production of fermented vinegar, offering various cultural, culinary, and health benefits. Although the residual unpasteurized AAB after vinegar production are not pathogens, these are necessary and require safety evaluations, including antibiotic resistance, before use as a starter. In this research, we investigated the antibiotic resistance profiles of 26 AAB strains, including various species of Komagataeibacter and Acetobacter, against 10 different antibiotics using the E-test method. All strains exhibited resistance to aztreonam and clindamycin. Komagataeibacter species demonstrated a 50% resistance rate to ciprofloxacin, analogous to Acetobacter species, but showed twice the resistance rates to chloramphenicol and erythromycin. Genomic analysis of K. saccharivorans CV1 identified intrinsic resistance mechanisms, such as multidrug efflux pumps, thereby enhancing our understanding of antibiotic resistance in acetic acid-producing bacteria. These findings enhance understanding of antibiotic resistance in AAB for food safety and new antimicrobial strategies, suggesting the need for standardized testing methods and molecular genetic study.

1. Introduction

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are primarily Gram-negative bacteria that are prevalent in the environment, playing a crucial role in vinegar production [1]. These bacteria contribute to the characteristic tangy taste and acidity of vinegar by oxidizing ethanol into acetic acid during the alcohol fermentation process [2]. This process is essential for maintaining the stability and quality of vinegar. Without the activity of AAB, vinegar production would be significantly impeded [3,4]. AAB are utilized in the production of various fermented foods and beverages, such as kefir, certain types of beer, nanocellulose, kombucha tea, and nata de coco. They are also found in diverse environments in warm and humid regions and are commonly present in natural settings such as fruits, flowers, fruit fly guts, and plants [5,6,7]. Their adaptation in diverse environments indicates significant genetic diversity and physiological characteristics. Their adaptation to diverse environments indicates substantial genetic diversity and physiological characteristics, prompting ongoing research into their efficient industrial and food processing applications, including acetic acid production rates, tolerance to acetic acid and ethanol, and high-temperature resistance [8,9,10,11].
Concurrently, the antibiotic susceptibility of AAB, which have promising applications, has raised significant concerns regarding food safety and fermentation processes. Accordingly, unpasteurized and uncooked fermented foods may present unique antibiotic resistance risks compared to other commonly consumed foods. Most food-fermenting lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi are non-pathogenic, posing a limited direct threat to human health. However, the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in these beneficial fermentation microbes could still be problematic. Metagenomic studies on various fermented products have identified resistance genes in several kombucha samples, suggesting a restricted potential for AAB to harbor antibiotic resistance. Additionally, antibiotic resistance in Acetobacter was demonstrated in a specific strain of Acetobacter indonesiensis isolated from patient samples, which exhibited multidrug resistance [12]. Recently, a metagenomic analysis of human fecal samples identified the genus Acetobacter as one of the carriers of antibiotic resistance genes [13]. Furthermore, it has been suggested that the genetic determinants potentially involved in antibiotic resistance in Acetobacter and Komagataeibacter species from vinegar samples encode efflux pumps [14].
Bacteria that survive in diverse environments may possess inherent resistance to specific classes of antibiotics, facilitated by various adaptive mechanisms. Specifically, AAB feature a unique bilayer membrane structure with an effective intracellular equilibrium mechanism, allowing them to maintain a balance between environmental and cytoplasmic pH levels. These bacteria can withstand various pH levels, contributing to their acid resistance. Factors contributing to the acid resistance of AAB include pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (PQQADH), the lipid composition of the cell membrane, proton motive force-dependent efflux pumps, ABC transporters, and enzymes and stress proteins associated with the TCA cycle [15,16]. These factors may prevent the selective entry of antibiotic drugs [17,18,19].
Since 2018, we have been isolating AAB from vinegar samples collected from various local regions in Republic of Korea and the United States. To enhance the safe utility of these wild isolates, we analyzed their antibiotic susceptibility. We conducted minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests on 26 AAB strains using 10 different antibiotics representing various structural groups and modes of action. Currently, the primary strains used in the industrial production of acetic acid in Northeast Asia and Europe are A. pasteurianus, isolated from traditional vinegars [11,20,21,22]. Additionally, we aimed to enhance the industrial applicability of the high-acidity-producing acetic acid bacteria K. saccharivorans CV1, which we isolated [23]. Following the work of Wu et al. [13], who identified Acetobacter as one of the genera carrying the top 20 antibiotic resistance gene types, Cepec and Trček [14] selected model groups of Acetobacter and Komagataeibacter species to analyze antibiotic resistance through genome sequences to gather more information about antibiotic resistance in AAB. We explored potential genetic information for antibiotic resistance in the genome sequence of CV1 from the Komagataeibacter species. This background information is crucial for advancing research and understanding of antibiotic resistance, particularly in studies involving acetic acid bacteria.

2. Results

2.1. Strains of Acetic Acid Bacteria (AAB)

We analyzed the antibiotic resistance of Komagataeibacter and Acetobacter species originating from various geographical regions (Table 1). Most strains were originated from 15 types of fruit vinegar and 11 types of grain vinegar. Among the 26 pure strains, there were 4 species of Komagataeibacter and 22 species of Acetobacter. These strains included 1 strain of A. malorum, 1 strain of A. cerevisiae, and 20 strains of A. pasteurianus. All AAB strains have been deposited and stored in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing information was submitted to the GenBank database with accession numbers at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) (Table 1).

2.2. Antibiotic Resistance of Acetic Acid Bacteria

We selected representatives from different antibiotic classes, including ampicillin and aztreonam as inhibitors of bacterial cell wall synthesis; chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin, streptomycin, kanamycin, clindamycin, and tetracycline as inhibitors of bacterial protein synthesis; and ciprofloxacin as an inhibitor of bacterial DNA synthesis. These antibiotics belong to different antimicrobial classes: ampicillin to penicillins; aztreonam to beta-lactams; chloramphenicol to phenicols; erythromycin to macrolides; gentamicin, streptomycin, and kanamycin to aminoglycosides; clindamycin to lincosamides; tetracycline to tetracyclines; and ciprofloxacin to fluoroquinolones.
As there are no standardized methods and test media defined for the evaluation of antibiotic resistance in AAB, we used the Mueller–Hinton (MH) mentioned agar as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the European Committee on AST (EUCAST) guidelines. However, for strains that failed to grow on MH agar, we utilized GYC agar, excluding alcohol and CaCO3. Komagataeibacter strains were conducted by GY medium. The antibiotic susceptibility analysis of all strains examined is presented in Table 2. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) gradient strip test utilized plastic test strips embedded with pre-defined concentration gradients of a single antibiotic. The antibiotic diffused into the agar medium, and after incubation, elliptical zones of inhibition were observed. These zones were measured in µg/mL (mg/L) on the printed MIC scale, as illustrated in Supplementary Table S1. This method enabled the estimation of the degree of resistance, intermediate resistance, or susceptibility to the tested antibiotics.
If no inhibition zone appeared beyond the concentration range indicated on the strip for the tested antibiotic, the strain was marked as resistant (R). For antibiotics where slight inhibition zones appeared around the highest concentration range indicated on the strip, the strains were marked as intermediate (I) (Table 2). Using this method, aztreonam and clindamycin exhibited 100% resistance (>256 µg/mL) in all 26 strains, while chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin showed resistance rates of 75%, 73%, and 50%, respectively. Additionally, 25% of the strains for chloramphenicol, 9% for erythromycin, and 38% for ciprofloxacin displayed intermediate resistance (I) (Table 2, Figure 1).

2.3. Resistance and Sensitivity of AAB to Aztreonam and Ampicilline Antibiotics

Gram-negative bacteria exhibit resistance to the well-known antibiotic penicillin. Penicillin targets proteins within the peptidoglycan structure of the bacterial cell wall. However, it is ineffective against Gram-negative bacteria due to their outer lipid membrane and relatively thin peptidoglycan layer. This is a key reason why antibiotics like penicillin are not effective against Gram-negative bacteria. Aztreonam, which acts similarly to penicillin, demonstrated resistance (>256 µg/mL) in all 26 strains tested. Aztreonam inhibits the synthesis of bacterial cell walls by blocking the cross-linking of peptidoglycan. It has a very high affinity for penicillin-binding protein-3 and a weak affinity for penicillin-binding protein-1a. Although aztreonam is bactericidal, it has limited efficacy [24]. In contrast, ampicillin, a member of the penicillin group, exhibited sensitivity opposite to that of aztreonam. Ampicillin is part of the aminopenicillin subclass and differs from penicillin G by the presence of an amino group. This amino group helps ampicillin penetrate the pores of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria [25,26]. Consequently, except for two strains tested—A. cerevisiae KSO5 (24 µg/mL) and A. pasteurianus JGB 21-17 (16 µg/mL)—all other 24 strains were sensitive (0.19–4 µg/mL) to ampicillin (Supplementary Table S1).

2.4. Sensitivity of AAB to Aminoglycosides (GM, SM, and KM) and Tetracycline Antibiotics

Aminoglycosides primarily target the 30S ribosomal subunit, where they disrupt protein translation, leading to extensive cellular damage through various secondary effects. To exert their bactericidal effects on Gram-negative bacteria, aminoglycosides must first traverse both the outer and inner membranes of the bacterial cell. The uptake of aminoglycosides is intimately linked to bacterial respiration, with the electrical component of the proton motive force (Δψ) posited as the principal driving force for the internalization of these polar compounds [27,28]. Changes in bacterial respiration and metabolism have been found to influence the absorption and bactericidal activity of aminoglycosides, thereby enhancing their effectiveness and rendering bacteria more susceptible to these aminoglycosides. This phenomenon is evident in our findings, where the sensitivity of the 26 test strains to aminoglycosides—specifically gentamicin (0.75–8 µg/mL), streptomycin (0.75–3 µg/mL), and kanamycin (0.19–4 µg/mL)—correlates with the aforementioned mechanisms (Supplementary Table S1). Furthermore, tetracycline, an inhibitor of bacterial protein synthesis, effectively prevents the production of membrane-associated proteins in Gram-negative bacteria. Consistent with the effects observed with aminoglycosides, all 26 strains in our study exhibited sensitivity (0.25–8 µg/mL) to tetracycline antibiotics (Supplementary Table S1).

2.5. Resistance of AAB to Erythromycin and Clindamycin Antibiotics

Many Gram-negative bacteria typically exhibit resistance to macrolides, such as erythromycin, and lincosamides, such as clindamycin, antibiotics. Although chemically and structurally distinct, these antibiotics share a similar mechanism of action by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis through binding to the 23S rRNA within the 50S ribosomal subunit. In rRNA methylation, the methylase enzyme attaches one or two methyl groups to the adenine residue in the 23S rRNA moiety, thereby reducing the affinity of the ribosomal subunit to macrolides-lincosamides antibiotics [29,30]. Our 26 test strains demonstrated resistance to clindamycin, with minimal inhibitory concentrations exceeding 256 µg/mL (Supplementary Table S1). Additionally, various erm (erythromycin ribosome methyltransferase) genes have been widely reported [30]. Upon examining intrinsic genes related to antibiotic resistance through whole-genome analysis of our strain K. saccharivorans CV1 (NCBI GenBank Accession No. CP023036.1), we identified a protein homologous to erythromycin esterase via COG analysis (Supplementary Table S2). The 73% resistance rate to erythromycin depicted in Figure 1, with Acetobacter and Komagataeibacter accounting for 45% and 100%, respectively, suggests the influence of resistance enzymes. The susceptibility of bacteria to specific antibiotics can vary greatly among different species and strains, indicating significant diversity.

2.6. Resistance of AAB to Chloramphenicol and Ciprofloxacin Antibiotics

The most common resistance mechanism of bacteria to chloramphenicol primarily involves enzymatic inactivation through acetylation by acetyltransferases, and occasionally through chloramphenicol phosphotransferases [31,32]. Resistance to chloramphenicol can also occur due to target site mutations or modifications [31], decreased outer membrane permeability [33], and occasionally by the presence of efflux pumps that act as multidrug transporters, thereby reducing effective intracellular drug concentrations [34,35]. The resistance (>256 µg/mL) rate to chloramphenicol among our 26 test strains was 75%. Komagataeibacter species demonstrated a 100% resistance rate, whereas Acetobacter species exhibited a 50% resistance rate and a 50% intermediate resistance rate (Figure 1). The Bcr (bicyclomycin resistance protein) superfamily in Escherichia coli and CflA (chloramphenicol and florfenicol resistance) in Salmonella typhimurium DT104 have been shown to confer efflux-mediated resistance to chloramphenicol [36,37,38]. A protein with homology to Bcr/CflA was identified through COG analysis (Supplementary Table S2). Conversely, the antibiotic resistance to ciprofloxacin (>32 µg/mL) was found to be 50%. Komagataeibacter species exhibited 50% resistance and 25% intermediate resistance, while Acetobacter species showed 50% resistance and 50% intermediate resistance (Figure 1). NorM, originally identified in Vibrio parahaemolyticus, has been reported to mediate resistance to fluoroquinolones such ase ciprofloxacin through an energy-dependent efflux system [39]. This was also reflected in our COG analysis of K. saccharivorans CV1 (Supplementary Table S2).

2.7. Putative Proteins Related to Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms

Table 3 represents the predicted antibiotic resistome from the CV1 genomic sequences, highlighting regions that align with the molecular determinants of known antibiotic resistance. These genetic determinants correspond to various mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, particularly within the category of multidrug efflux pumps (Supplementary Table S2). Examples include the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) multidrug resistance efflux pump [37,40], the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) multidrug efflux pump [41], the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) multidrug transporter [42], and the Na+-driven multidrug efflux pump (Supplementary Table S2). Additionally, efflux permeases can enhance resistance by both restricting antibiotic entry and increasing the expulsion of antibiotics.
The antibiotic resistome predicted from CV1 genomic sequences shown in Figure 2 was similar to the antibiotic resistome predicted in the genome sequences of type strains reported by Cepec and Trček et al. [14]. Multidrug transporters can handle a variety of structurally unrelated compounds. Based on biological energy and structural criteria, multidrug transporters can be divided into two main classes. Secondary multidrug transporters extract drugs from cells using transmembrane electrochemical gradients of protons or sodium ions. In contrast, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) multidrug transporters pump drugs out of cells utilizing the free energy derived from ATP hydrolysis [43].
The well-studied AcrAB-TolC system of E. coli, MexAB-OprM in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and MuxAB-OpmB, which shares high similarity with MdtAB in Enterobacteriaceae, are RND-type multidrug efflux pumps [44]. Similar to the multidrug efflux pump AcrAB conferring resistance to chloramphenicol in E. coli, it was also detected in our COG analysis of CV1. The EmrAB-TolC system in E. coli functions as an MFS family transporter, expelling drugs in conjunction with membrane fusion proteins (MFPs) and outer membrane protein (OMP) components. A homolog of E. coli’s SMR family transporter EmrE was also detected in CV1’s COG analysis. Additionally, ATP-dependent drug efflux proteins known as traffic ATPases belong to the ABC superfamily. MFS family or ATP-transporters exhibit efflux activities for macrolides and lincosamides. We now have a deeper understanding of the contribution of efflux pumps to intrinsic resistance to antimicrobial agents in K. saccharivorans CV1.

3. Discussion

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are widely distributed microorganisms in the natural environment. They have been utilized for the production of various fermented foods and beverages [2] and have also been employed in the production of pharmaceuticals and medical products [8]. While generally considered safe, antibiotic resistance in AAB has not been systematically investigated. Our research aims to contribute to the understanding of antibiotic resistance in AAB.
We analyzed the susceptibility of Komagataeibacter and Acetobacter species that we isolated from fruit and grain vinegars in various geographical regions. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate the relationship among the 26 test bacterial strains for each antibiotic (Figure 3). The heatmap displayed relative values for the maximum MIC (µg/mL) of each antibiotic, showing the relationship between susceptibility and resistance of AAB to antibiotics with different chemical structures and mechanisms of action.
The AAB, especially Acetobacter and Komagataeibacter strains, possess an outstanding ability to tolerate and produce acetic acid [46,47,48]. Several mechanisms enhance the survival of AAB in acidic environments. The proton motive force-dependent efflux pump can expel intracellular acetic acid out of the cell, preventing the accumulation of acetate from adversely affecting the growth and metabolism of the bacteria. This acetate efflux pump, functioning as an H+ antiporter, differs from ABC transporters. ABC transporters, which are expected to affect the acid resistance of E. coli, are membrane proteins named AatA. Comparing the macrolide transporter used as an antibiotic efflux pump with AatA, it is shown that they share a common structure, suggesting that the ABC transporter in E. coli may have similar functions to antibiotic efflux pumps. Based on the findings described above, the activity of multidrug pumps could lead to resistance against various toxic compounds while also potentially increasing sensitivity to certain others. Komagataeibacter exhibited higher resistance rates to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin compared to Acetobacter. Additionally, the resistance rates of AAB from fruit-based vinegar (Figure 3B) to these antibiotics were higher than those from grains-based vinegar (Figure 3C). This suggests that the resistance to acid is stronger in Komagataeibater and could be attributed to the higher acidity of fruits compared to grains [49].
One important characteristic of Gram-negative bacteria is the presence of an outer membrane that acts as a barrier against harsh external conditions such as heat or acids, protecting the cell. Additionally, the outer membrane contains beta-barrels that help maintain the internal stability of the cell and selectively allow molecules to enter. This feature is crucial as it increases the barrier against penetration by large molecules like many antibiotics, enhancing bacterial resistance [26,50]. However, transport across the outer membrane is mediated by porin proteins forming water-filled channels [25,26]. Tetracycline, which showed sensitivity to strain 26, is considered an intermediate lipophilic molecule. Porin channels, namely OmpF and OmpC, allow the entry of cation-tetracycline complexes. These cation-metal ion-antibiotic complexes are attracted through the membrane by the transmembrane potential, accumulating in the periplasm. Here, the metal ion-tetracycline complex is likely released, generating tetracycline, a weakly lipophilic substance, which can diffuse through the inner (cytoplasmic) membrane region of the cell membrane [51]. This combination of properties is crucial for tetracycline to function as an antibiotic because it can traverse both the aqueous and lipid barriers to reach its target site within bacterial cells. Additionally, hydrophilic compounds of the aminoglycoside antibiotic family (GM, SM, and KM) enter the periplasm through porins via self-promoted uptake [44]. Thus, the reason for sensitivity to strain 26 can be understood. The sensitivity of aminoglycoside antibiotics, GM, SM, and KM, as well as tetracycline antibiotics, was greater for AAB originating from cereal vinegar (Figure 3B,C).
Penicillin-like antibiotics also enter bacteria through porins, and the rate of diffusion through these porins depends on the size of the drug molecule. Aztreonam, which is similar in size to penicillin, is expected to enter slowly through porins. This was indicated by its high resistance (>256 µg/mL) observed in tested 26 AAB strains. In contrast, smaller antibiotics like ampicillin diffuse much faster, demonstrating sensitivity in the tested 26 AAB strains. This suggested that the size of antibiotics and the characteristics of porins play a crucial role in determining susceptibility or resistance to specific penicillins. The sensitivity of penicillin antibiotics, particularly ampicilline, was greater for AAB originating from cereal vinegar (Figure 3B,C).
To gain a comprehensive understanding of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in AAB, genome-wide studies have been conducted to explore integrated antibiotic resistance systems. These studies, previously reviewed [13,14], play a crucial role in understanding the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Through genomic analysis of K. saccharivorans CV1, we identified intrinsic genetic information related to multidrug resistance efflux pump transporters. Understanding the resistance mechanisms of Komagataeibacter species and Acetobacter species was facilitated through comparative literature analysis, as depicted in Table 3. Genetic homologs associated with chloramphenicol resistance, such as the multidrug efflux pump AcrAB [52] and the Bcr/CflA subfamily [36,37], as well as NorM involved in ciprofloxacin resistance [39], and MFS family (EmrA) or ATP-transporters related to macrolides-lincosamides resistance [44], have been detected. This helped understand the resistance observed to clindamycin antibiotics in all 26 strains of AAB.
The AAB registered as food raw materials by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in South Korea for vinegar production include A. aceti, A. pasteurianus, K. europaeus, and K. hanseni. Among these, A. pasteurianus is the most commonly used for vinegar production [16]. However, Komagataeibacter, which exhibits strong alcohol tolerance and excellent acid production, is also commonly used in vinegar production [49]. K. saccharivorans CV1, isolated by us, also demonstrated industrial value with acid production of 9.3% and 8.4% at alcohol concentrations of 10% and 9%, respectively [23]. In the analysis of antibiotic sensitivity for food safety evaluation of CV1, the antibiotic sensitivity of CV1 was found to be similar to that of A. pasteurianus originating from fruit vinegar rather than A. pasteurianus originating from grain vinegar, as demonstrated by the Pearson correlation (Figure 4A,B). It appears that the pattern of antibiotic resistance in K. saccharivorans CV1 corresponded to the acid resistance of Komagataeibacter species and the acid-adapted AAB originating from fruit vinegar [49].

4. Materials and Methods

4.1. Preparation of Acetic Acid Bacteria (AAB)

In our study, we used the 26 strains of AAB isolated from traditional vinegars and revived from frozen stocks stored at −80 °C using culture medium for AAB named YGC agar medium, which is composed of yeast extract (5 g/L), glucose (30 g/L), CaCO3 (10 g/L), ethanol (40 g/L), and agar (20 g/L) [10]. The plates were incubated for two days at 30 °C.

4.2. Assesment of Antibiotic Resistance for AAB

The method used to detect resistance in AAB involved applying MIC-gradient strips directly onto agar plates that had been inoculated with AAB. After successful recovery, the strains were pre-cultured on YGC media and incubated at 30 °C for two days. Subsequently, the biomass obtained from each plate was harvested into a liquid medium composed of yeast extract (5 g/L), glucose (5 g/L), glycerin (10 g/L), and MgSO4·7H2O (0.2 g/L). The turbidity was then adjusted to an OD660 of 0.5. The prepared bacterial suspension was evenly spread across the entire surface of either Mueller–Hinton (MH; Oxoid Ltd., Basingstoke, Hants, UK) or YGC (without CaCO3 and ethanol) plates using a sterilized swab (BD BBL™ Culture Swab™, Sparks, MD, USA). Then, antibiotic E-tests were applied to the plates using the following commercial antibiotic strips from bioMerieux Inc. (Hazelwood, MO, USA): ampicillin (AM, 0.016–256 µg/mL), chloramphenicol (CL, 0.016–256 µg/mL), erythromycin (EM, 0.016–256 µg/mL), gentamicin (GM, 0.016–256 µg/mL), streptomycin (SM, 0.064–1024 µg/mL), kanamycin (KM, 0.016–256 µg/mL), clindamycin (CM, 0.016–256 µg/mL), tetracycline (TC, 0.016–256 µg/mL), aztreonam (AT, 0.016–256 µg/mL), and ciprofloxacin (CI, 0.002–32 µg/mL). Measurements were taken after incubating the inoculated medium at 30 °C for two days. The MIC values were recorded as the lowest concentration of antibiotics at which bacterial growth was completely inhibited. The antibiotic resistance of the strains was categorized into three levels, resistant (R), intermediate (I), and susceptible (S), as recommended by CLSI.

4.3. Bioinformatics

To analyze the presence of homologs related to antibiotic resistance in the genomic sequences of the acetate-producing bacterial CV1 strains listed in Table 1, we utilized the online tool Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COGs) analysis using the NCBI database [53]. In COG analysis, we used BLAST to compare the given sequences with the COG database to identify orthologous groups and gained insights into the potential functions of query sequences based on their similarity to known sequences in the COG database. We primarily evaluated the significance of matches through information such as similarity of matches, E-value, and bit score. Predicted proteins were subjected to psiblast (v. 2.6.0+) against COG database with followed options; -max_target_seqs 1 -evalue 0.1 -comp_based_stats 0. Proteins of defense mechanisms such as multidrug efflux pump within COG categories were shown in Supplementary Table S2.

4.4. Correlation Heatmap

The acquisition of relevant graphs was achieved using Excel version 2020 (Microsoft Office Professional Plus), while a significant difference analysis was performed by SPSS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) (ANOVA), where p < 0.05 indicated a significant difference between samples. The related value percentage (%) was calculated using the following formula:
Related Value (RV) % = Maximum value/corresponding value × 100.

5. Conclusions

Following A. pasteurianus, which is widely used in vinegar fermentation, we anticipated that harnessing the advantages of Komagataeibacter species would contribute significantly to the vinegar industry. While antibiotic resistance, including aztreonam and clindamycin, was detected in 26 strains of AAB derived from our vinegar samples, genomic analysis of K. saccharivorans CV1 revealed proteins such as multidrug efflux pumps encoding intrinsic resistance genes. The implications of this research are twofold. First, it enhances our understanding of antibiotic resistance in AAB, which is critical for both food safety and the potential development of new antimicrobial strategies. Second, it underscores the need for standardized testing methods for antibiotic resistance in AAB, given their unique growth requirements and resistance profiles. This highlights the need for further research to identify more precise genetic determinants and molecular mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance in AAB in the future.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/antibiotics13070626/s1, Table S1: Microbiological MIC values (µg/mL) of acetic acid bacteria against 10 antibiotics; Table S2: The putative proteins associated with antibiotic resistance mechanisms through the analysis of the K. saccharivorans CV1 genome using the COG database.

Author Contributions

This work was carried out in collaboration with all authors. S.-H.K., S.-H.Y. and S.-Y.K. designed the study. S.-H.K. performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. D.-G.N. acted the visualization of resources. S.-J.L., H.-W.J. and J.-J.P. managed the analyses of the study and literature searches. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the Research Program for Agricultural Science and Technology Development (Project No. PJ01747404) and the National Institute of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Genomes were summited to NCBI and are available as presented in Supplementary Table S2.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. The antibiotic resistance rates of AAB strains to aztreonam, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, clindamycin, and ciprofloxacin. KR represents the resistance rate of Komagataeibacter strains; KI represents the intermediate resistance rate of Komagataeibacter strains; AR represents the resistance rate of Acetobacer strains; and AI represents the intermediate resistance rate of Acetobacer strains.
Figure 1. The antibiotic resistance rates of AAB strains to aztreonam, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, clindamycin, and ciprofloxacin. KR represents the resistance rate of Komagataeibacter strains; KI represents the intermediate resistance rate of Komagataeibacter strains; AR represents the resistance rate of Acetobacer strains; and AI represents the intermediate resistance rate of Acetobacer strains.
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Antibiotics 13 00626 g002
Figure 2. Schematic illustration of the putative multidrug efflux pump identified in the K. saccharivorans CV1 genome sequences. This figure was drawn based on the schematic of bacterial drug efflux pumps from Kumar and Schweizer [44]. Illustrated are: EmrAB, a member of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS); EmrE, a member of the small multidrug resistance (SMR) superfamily; NorM, a member of the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) superfamily; AcrAB–TolC, a member of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily; and a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily. The drug pump mechanism encoded by such bacteria in their ubiquitous chromosomes significantly contributes to antibiotic resistance [45]. All pumps expel substrates in their unaltered state using either ion gradients (proton or Na+) or ATP, in an energy-dependent manner. Efflux-mediated resistance to a wide range of antibacterial agents, including antibiotics, biocides, and solvents, has been reported in many bacteria [35]. Gram-negative bacteria’s efflux-mediated resistance is a complex issue due to the molecular architecture of the outer membrane. Consequently, in many cases, drug resistance is explained by a synergy between reduced drug uptake (primarily due to low outer membrane permeability) and active drug efflux via pumps [26]. Lipid A is the membrane-anchoring domain of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which, together with porins, imparts the characteristic permeability properties of the outer membrane.
Figure 2. Schematic illustration of the putative multidrug efflux pump identified in the K. saccharivorans CV1 genome sequences. This figure was drawn based on the schematic of bacterial drug efflux pumps from Kumar and Schweizer [44]. Illustrated are: EmrAB, a member of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS); EmrE, a member of the small multidrug resistance (SMR) superfamily; NorM, a member of the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) superfamily; AcrAB–TolC, a member of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily; and a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily. The drug pump mechanism encoded by such bacteria in their ubiquitous chromosomes significantly contributes to antibiotic resistance [45]. All pumps expel substrates in their unaltered state using either ion gradients (proton or Na+) or ATP, in an energy-dependent manner. Efflux-mediated resistance to a wide range of antibacterial agents, including antibiotics, biocides, and solvents, has been reported in many bacteria [35]. Gram-negative bacteria’s efflux-mediated resistance is a complex issue due to the molecular architecture of the outer membrane. Consequently, in many cases, drug resistance is explained by a synergy between reduced drug uptake (primarily due to low outer membrane permeability) and active drug efflux via pumps [26]. Lipid A is the membrane-anchoring domain of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which, together with porins, imparts the characteristic permeability properties of the outer membrane.
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Antibiotics 13 00626 g003
Figure 3. The heatmap reports relative abundance value (RV) compared to maximum value for each antibiotic column: (A) comparison of total strains, (B) comparison of K. saccharivorans CV1 with AAB from fruit-based vinegar, and (C) comparison of K. saccharivorans CV1 with AAB from grain-based vinegar. AM, ampicillin; CL, chlolamphenicol; EM, erythromycin; GM, gentamicin; SM, streptomycin; KM, kanamycin; CM, clindamycin; TC, tetracycline; AT, aztreonam; CI, ciprofloxacin.
Figure 3. The heatmap reports relative abundance value (RV) compared to maximum value for each antibiotic column: (A) comparison of total strains, (B) comparison of K. saccharivorans CV1 with AAB from fruit-based vinegar, and (C) comparison of K. saccharivorans CV1 with AAB from grain-based vinegar. AM, ampicillin; CL, chlolamphenicol; EM, erythromycin; GM, gentamicin; SM, streptomycin; KM, kanamycin; CM, clindamycin; TC, tetracycline; AT, aztreonam; CI, ciprofloxacin.
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Antibiotics 13 00626 g004
Figure 4. The correlation heatmap reports the Pearson correlation coefficients value (r) for each comparison. Value (r) interpretation, 0.0 to 0.2 weak or correlation; 0.2 to 0.4 weak relationship; 0.4 to 0.6 moderate relationship; 0.6 to 0.8 strong relationship; 0.8 to 1.0 very strong relationship. (A) Comparison of K. saccharivorans CV1 with AAB from fruit-based vinegar, (B) comparison of K. saccharivorans CV1 with AAB from grain-based vinegar.
Figure 4. The correlation heatmap reports the Pearson correlation coefficients value (r) for each comparison. Value (r) interpretation, 0.0 to 0.2 weak or correlation; 0.2 to 0.4 weak relationship; 0.4 to 0.6 moderate relationship; 0.6 to 0.8 strong relationship; 0.8 to 1.0 very strong relationship. (A) Comparison of K. saccharivorans CV1 with AAB from fruit-based vinegar, (B) comparison of K. saccharivorans CV1 with AAB from grain-based vinegar.
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Table 1. List of AAB strains used in this study.
Table 1. List of AAB strains used in this study.
No.StrainsKACC No.NCBI Accession No.Origin (Vinegar)Region
Komagataeibacter spp. (4)
1K. swingsii YU19KACC 92275PPP504479AppleSanta Barbara, USA
2K. xylinous CV4KACC 17012PP474345AppleMungyeong, Republic of Korea
3K. intermedius CV2KACC 17072PP474454LoquatJindo, Republic of Korea
4K. saccharivorans CV1KACC 17057AB759966RiceJindo, Republic of Korea
Acetobacter spp. (22)
5A. malorum CV11KACC 92076PPP504490AppleYecheon, Republic of Korea
6A. cerevisiae KSO5KACC 92352PPP478110Magnolia berrySeongnam, Republic of Korea
7A. pasteurianus A33KACC 92250PPP479652PeachSejong, Republic of Korea
8A. pasteurianus A37KACC 92206PPP479653PlumHongcheon, Republic of Korea
9A. pasteurianus JGB20-11KACC 92382PPP478112Korean blackberryGochang, Republic of Korea
10A. pasteurianus JGB21-17KACC 92383PPP478120Korean blackberryGochang, Republic of Korea
11A. pasteurianus JGB21-20KACC 92350PPP478123Korean blackberryGochang, Republic of Korea
12A. pasteurianus GHA7KACC 92351PPP478158AppleHongcheon, Republic of Korea
13A. pasteurianus GHA20KACC 92384PPP478164AppleHongcheon, Republic of Korea
14A. pasteurianus GYA23KACC 92385PPP478167AppleYecheon, Republic of Korea
15A. pasteurianus GHG8KACC 92534PPP478186GrapeHamyang, Republic of Korea
16A. pasteurianus GHG17KACC 92535PPP479654GrapeHamyang, Republic of Korea
17A. pasteurianus A11-2KACC 92203PPP477813Brown riceHongcheon, Republic of Korea
18A. pasteurianus GSR2KACC 92424PPP478168Brown riceSancheong, Republic of Korea
19A. pasteurianus CHR1KACC 92423PPP478175Brown riceHongseong, Republic of Korea
20A. pasteurianus GAR12KACC 92445PPP479656Brown riceAndong, Republic of Korea
21A. pasteurianus GSB12KACC 92446PPP478170Black riceSancheong, Republic of Korea
22A. pasteurianus GYO12KACC 92447PPP478173Five grainsYecheon, Republic of Korea
23A. pasteurianus A24KACC 92204PPP477814RiceSeoul, Republic of Korea
24A. pasteurianus JKR1KACC 92533PPP478188RiceGimje, Republic of Korea
25A. pasteurianus GSB8KACC 92531PPP478181BarleySeongnam, Republic of Korea
26A. pasteurianus GSB26KACC 92532PPP478182BarleySeongnam, Republic of Korea
Table 2. Effects on resistance of AAB strains against 10 antibiotics.
Table 2. Effects on resistance of AAB strains against 10 antibiotics.
No.StrainsAMCLEMGMSMKMCMTCATCI
1K. swingsii YU19 RR R RI
2K. xylinous CV4 RR R RR
3K. intermedius CV2 RR R R
4K. saccharivorans CV1 RR R RR
5A. malorum CV11 RR R RR
6A. cerevisiae KSO5 IR R RR
7A. pasteurianus A33 RI R RR
8A. pasteurianus A37 RR R RR
9A. pasteurianus JGB20-11 RR R RR
10A. pasteurianus JGB21-17 IR R RR
11A. pasteurianus JGB21-20 IR R RR
12A. pasteurianus GHA7 I R RR
13A. pasteurianus GHA20 I R RI
14A. pasteurianus GYA23 IR R RI
15A. pasteurianus GHG8 RR R RI
16A. pasteurianus GHG17 RI R RR
17A. pasteurianus A11-2 R R RR
18A. pasteurianus GSR2 RI R RI
19A. pasteurianus CHR1 R R RI
20A. pasteurianus GAR12 II R RI
21A. pasteurianus GSB12 I R RR
22A. pasteurianus GYO12 IR R RI
23A. pasteurianus A24 R R RI
24A. pasteurianus JKR1 RR R RI
25A. pasteurianus GSB8 I R RI
26A. pasteurianus GSB26 I R RI
AM, ampicillin; CL, chloramphenicol; EM, erythromycin; GM, gentamicin; SM, streptomycin; KM, kanamycin; CM, clindamycin; TC tetracycline; AT, aztreonam; CI, ciprofloxacin. AM, CL, EM, GM, KM, CM, TC and AT result based on resistance (R), >256 µg/mL; intermediate (I), 64–192 µg/mL; susceptibility (not displayed), <48 µg/mL as shown in Supplementary Table S1. SM results based on resistance (R), >1024 µg/mL; intermediate (I), 256–768 µg/mL; susceptibility (not displayed), <192 µg/mL as shown in Supplementary Table S1. CI results based on resistance (R), >32 µg/mL; intermediate (I), 12–32 µg/mL; susceptibility (not displayed), <8 µg/mL as shown in Supplementary Table S1.
Table 3. Putative proteins related to antibiotic resistance mechanisms identified in strains of Acetobacter and Komagataeibacter species.
Table 3. Putative proteins related to antibiotic resistance mechanisms identified in strains of Acetobacter and Komagataeibacter species.
SpeciesMultidrug Resistance TransportersReferences
K. saccharivorans LMG 1582T 1AcrA, MdtA, MdtB, MexB, OprM, MuxB, OpmB, Bcr-1, EmrE, QacECepec and Trček et al. [14]
K. saccharivorans CV1AcrA, AcrB, EmrA, EmrE, NorM, Bcr/CflA, ABC transporter, This study
K. swingsii LMG 22125TAcrA, MdtA, MdtB, MexB, OprM, Bcr-1, EmrE, QacECepec and Trček et al. [14]
A. pasteurianus LMG 1262TAcrA, MuxB, OpmB, OprM, Bcr-1Cepec and Trček et al. [14]
1 Type strain.
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Kim, S.-H.; Jang, H.-W.; Park, J.-J.; Nam, D.-G.; Lee, S.-J.; Yeo, S.-H.; Kim, S.-Y. Antibiotic Resistance in Acetic Acid Bacteria Originating from Vinegar. Antibiotics 2024, 13, 626. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13070626

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Kim S-H, Jang H-W, Park J-J, Nam D-G, Lee S-J, Yeo S-H, Kim S-Y. Antibiotic Resistance in Acetic Acid Bacteria Originating from Vinegar. Antibiotics. 2024; 13(7):626. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13070626

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Kim, Sun-Hee, Hyun-Wook Jang, Jin-Ju Park, Dong-Geon Nam, Su-Jeong Lee, Soo-Hwan Yeo, and So-Young Kim. 2024. "Antibiotic Resistance in Acetic Acid Bacteria Originating from Vinegar" Antibiotics 13, no. 7: 626. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13070626

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