The ABC Transporter AnrAB Contributes to the Innate Resistance of Listeria monocytogenes to Nisin, Bacitracin, and Various β-Lactam Antibiotics

A mariner transposon bank was used to identify loci that contribute to the innate resistance of Listeria monocytogenes to the lantibiotic nisin. In addition to highlighting the importance of a number of loci previously associated with nisin resistance (mprF, virRS, and telA), a nisin-sensitive phenotype was associated with the disruption of anrB (lmo2115), a gene encoding the permease component of an ABC transporter. The contribution of anrB to nisin resistance was confirmed by the creation of nonpolar deletion mutants. The loss of this putative multidrug resistance transporter also greatly enhanced sensitivity to bacitracin, gallidermin, and a selection of beta-lactam antibiotics. A comparison of the relative antimicrobial sensitivities of a number of mutants established the Delta anrB strain as being one of the most bacitracin-sensitive L. monocytogenes strains identified to date.