# | Rank | Similarity | Title + Abs. | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 2081 | 0 | 1.0000 | Distribution of the antiseptic-resistance gene qacE delta 1 in gram-positive bacteria. The distribution of the antiseptic-resistance genes qacE and qacE delta 1, originally isolated from Gram-negative bacteria, was studied in a large number of Gram-positive bacteria by a method that included the polymerase chain reaction. A total of 151 strains of Staphylococcus and Enterococcus, isolated from clinical sources and obtained from the Japanese Collection of Microorganisms, was used in this analysis. We found the qacE delta 1 gene in 36 of 103 strains of Staphylococcus and in nine of 48 strains of Enterococcus. All of the strains in which we detected the qacE delta 1 gene were clinical isolates. The qacE gene was not detected in any of the strains examined in this study. The nucleotide sequences of the qacE delta 1 genes from the strains of Staphylococcus and Enterococcus were identical to that of the gene located on integron InC in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These results indicate that the antiseptic-resistance gene qacE delta 1 is present in Gram-positive, as well as Gram-negative, bacteria. | 1998 | 9742702 |
| 2080 | 1 | 1.0000 | Distribution of the antiseptic-resistance genes qacE and qacE delta 1 in gram-negative bacteria. The distribution of the antiseptic-resistance genes qacE and qacE delta 1 was studied in a large number of Gram-negative bacteria by a method that included the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 117 strains of Gram-negative bacteria, isolated from clinical or environmental sources, was used in this analysis. We demonstrated the presence of these genes in 48 of 78 strains of Pseudomonas, in 20 of 26 strains of Vibrio, and in four of 13 strains of other species. These results indicate that the antiseptic-resistance genes are present in a broad range of species of Gram-negative bacteria. | 1998 | 9503610 |
| 2906 | 2 | 0.9998 | The mef(A) gene predominates among seven macrolide resistance genes identified in gram-negative strains representing 13 genera, isolated from healthy Portuguese children. Of the 176 randomly selected, commensal, gram-negative bacteria isolated from healthy children with low exposure to antibiotics, 138 (78%) carried one or more of the seven macrolide resistance genes tested in this study. These isolates included 79 (91%) isolates from the oral cavity and 59 (66%) isolates from urine samples. The mef(A) gene, coding for an efflux protein, was found in 73 isolates (41%) and was the most frequently carried gene. The mef(A) gene could be transferred from the donors into a gram-positive E. faecalis recipient and a gram-negative Escherichia coli recipient. The erm(B) gene transferred and was maintained in the E. coli transconjugants but was found in 0 to 100% of the E. faecalis transconjugants tested, while the other five genes could be transferred only into the E. coli recipient. The individual macrolide resistance genes were identified in 3 to 12 new genera. Eight (10%) of the oral isolates and 30 (34%) of the urine isolates for which the MICs were 2 to >500 microg of erythromycin per ml did not hybridize with any of the seven genes and may carry novel macrolide resistance genes. | 2004 | 15328110 |
| 2010 | 3 | 0.9998 | Epidemiological survey of genes encoding aminoglycoside phosphotransferases APH (3') I and APH (3') II using DNA probes. The epidemiological survey of APH (3') I and APH (3') II genes, at a time when the specific antibiotic pressure was very low, was carried out by DNA-DNA hybridization. The sample included 334 aminoglycoside resistant Gram-negative bacteria collected from patients of a General Hospital. Of these, 251 hybridized with the APH (3') I-probe and 19 with the APH (3') II-probe but only 190 strains showed high resistance levels (CIM greater than 64 micrograms/ml) for kanamycin, neomycin and paromomycin. These strains were isolated both from inpatients and outpatients with different infectious diseases. The APH (3') I-gene was dispersed among all the bacterial species and clinical specimens tested but the APH (3') II-gene was not found in Pseudomonas spp, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii and Enterobacter cloacae, nor in infected catheters. Several plasmids of different sizes carrying APH (3') genes were detected among different bacteria. Plasmids along with transposable elements (the probes used in this work were developed from Tn906 and Tn5) and the high consumption of other antibiotics whose resistance is carried by these bacteria might be playing an important role in the maintenance and dispersion of APH (3') genes. | 1992 | 1328557 |
| 5853 | 4 | 0.9998 | Identification of the tet(B) resistance gene in Streptococcus suis. The tetracycline resistance gene, tet(B), has been described previously in gram negative bacteria. In this study tet(B) was detected in plasmid extracts from 17/111 (15%) Streptococcus suis isolates from diseased pigs, representing the first report of this resistance gene in gram positive bacteria. | 2011 | 20696603 |
| 2083 | 5 | 0.9998 | A classification system for plasmids from enterococci and other Gram-positive bacteria. A classification system for plasmids isolated from enterococci and other Gram-positive bacteria was developed based on 111 published plasmid sequences from enterococci and other Gram-positive bacteria; mostly staphylococci. Based on PCR amplification of conserved areas of the replication initiating genes (rep), alignment of these sequences and using a cutoff value of 80% identity on both protein and DNA level, 19 replicon families (rep-families) were defined together with several unique sequences. The prevalence of these rep-families was tested on 79 enterococcal isolates from a collection of isolates of animal and human origin. Difference in prevalence of the designed rep-families were detected with rep(9) being most prevalent in Enterococcus faecalis and rep(2) in Enterococcus faecium. In 33% of the tested E. faecium and 32% of the tested E. faecalis no positive amplicons were detected. Furthermore, conjugation experiments were performed obtaining 30 transconjugants when selecting for antimicrobial resistance. Among them 19 gave no positive amplicons indicating presence of rep-families not tested for in this experimental setup. | 2010 | 19879906 |
| 2082 | 6 | 0.9998 | Rapid screening technique for class 1 integrons in Enterobacteriaceae and nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria and its use in molecular epidemiology. A screening technique for integrons in members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria by real-time PCR is reported. A total of 226 isolates of gram-negative bacteria obtained from a variety of clinical specimens were screened for class 1 integrons by real-time PCR performed on a LightCycler instrument. This technique used a primer pair specific for a 300-bp conserved region at the 5' ends of class 1 integrons. The screening assay was evaluated by comparison with results obtained by the conventional, thermal-block PCR (long PCR) by using established conditions and primers for the detection of class 1 integrons, and the real-time PCR technique was thus shown to be both sensitive and specific. DNA from 50 of 226 (22%) isolates screened was identified as containing an integron by the screening PCR, and sequence data were obtained across the integron for 34 of 50 (68%) of these isolates. In an attempt to study the molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance genes carried within integrons, a comparison of the types of gene cassettes carried by isolates from different patients was made. Adenyltransferase genes conferring resistance to streptomycin and spectinomycin were the predominant gene cassettes amplified in the study. Resistance to trimethoprim was also frequently found to be encoded within integrons. Furthermore, multiple bacterial isolates obtained from one patient over a 5-month period were all shown to carry an integron containing the same single adenyltransferase gene cassette, suggesting that these elements were relatively stable in this case. | 2001 | 11257011 |
| 5955 | 7 | 0.9998 | Integrons and gene cassettes in clinical isolates of co-trimoxazole-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Despite a trend of declining consumption, resistance to co-trimoxazole has increased during a 12-year period in Stockholm. The molecular background to this surprising development was investigated by using PCR to screen for integrons and specific resistance genes, followed by sequence analysis of selected integrons, in 105 clinical urinary isolates of Gram-negative bacteria selected partly for trimethoprim resistance. Sixty-five integrons of class 1 or 2 were detected in a subset of 59 isolates, and of these positive isolates, all but one were resistant to trimethoprim. However, 11 isolates were resistant to trimethoprim, but negative for integrons. Isolates positive for integrons were resistant to an average of 4.2 antibiotics, compared with 1.9 antibiotics for integron-negative isolates. Despite this, the only gene cassettes identified in 19 class 1 integrons analysed were dfr and aadA cassettes. Thus, only resistance to trimethoprim, streptomycin, spectinomycin and sulphonamides could be explained by the presence of integrons in these isolates. A new dfr gene, named dfrA22, was discovered as a single gene cassette in a class 1 integron. In addition, sulphonamide resistance in many isolates was caused by carriage of sul2, which has no known association with integrons. Resistance to co-trimoxazole and many other antibiotics was thus not accounted for fully by the presence of integrons in these isolates. | 2005 | 15715715 |
| 2050 | 8 | 0.9998 | Identification of a novel fosfomycin resistance gene (fosA2) in Enterobacter cloacae from the Salmon River, Canada. AIMS: To investigate the occurrence of fosfomycin-resistant (fos(R) ) bacteria in aquatic environments. METHODS AND RESULTS: A fos(R) strain of Enterobacter cloacae was isolated from a water sample collected at a site (50°41'33·44″N, 119°19'49·50″W) near the mouth of the Salmon River at Salmon Arm, in south-central British Columbia, Canada. The strain was identified by PCR screening for plasmid-borne, fosA-family amplicons, followed by selective plating. Sequencing of the resistance gene cloned using PCR primers to conserved flanking DNA revealed a new allele (95% amino acid identity to fosA), and I-Ceu I PFGE showed that it was chromosomally located. In Escherichia coli, the cloned DNA conferred a greater resistance to fosfomycin than its fosA counterpart. CONCLUSIONS: Gene fosA2 conferred fosfomycin resistance in an environmental isolate of Ent. cloacae. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The repurposing of older antibiotics should be considered in the light of existing reservoirs of resistance genes in the environment. | 2011 | 21392044 |
| 5935 | 9 | 0.9998 | Antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic bacteria isolated from primary dental root canal infections. Fourty-one bacterial strains isolated from infected dental root canals and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence were screened for the presence of 14 genes encoding resistance to beta-lactams, tetracycline and macrolides. Thirteen isolates (32%) were positive for at least one of the target antibiotic resistance genes. These strains carrying at least one antibiotic resistance gene belonged to 11 of the 26 (42%) infected root canals sampled. Two of these positive cases had two strains carrying resistance genes. Six out of 7 Fusobacterium strains harbored at least one of the target resistance genes. One Dialister invisus strain was positive for 3 resistance genes, and 4 other strains carried two of the target genes. Of the 6 antibiotic resistance genes detected in root canal strains, the most prevalent were blaTEM (17% of the strains), tetW (10%), and ermC (10%). Some as-yet-uncharacterized Fusobacterium and Prevotella isolates were positive for blaTEM, cfxA and tetM. Findings demonstrated that an unexpectedly large proportion of dental root canal isolates, including as-yet-uncharacterized strains previously regarded as uncultivated phylotypes, can carry antibiotic resistance genes. | 2012 | 23108290 |
| 2910 | 10 | 0.9998 | Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of tetracycline and minocycline resistance in Clostridium perfringens. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of tetracycline resistance and the prevalence of tetracycline-resistance genes in strains of Clostridium perfringens isolated from different sources between 1994 and 2005. Susceptibility to tetracycline and minocycline in strains from humans (35 isolates), chickens (15 isolates), food (21 isolates), soil (16 isolates) and veterinary sources (6 isolates) was determined, and tetracycline-resistance genes were detected. Resistance was most common in strains isolated from chickens, followed by those from soils, clinical samples and foods. The most highly resistant strains were found among clinical and food isolates. tetA(P) was the most common resistance gene, and along with tetB(P) was found in all resistant strains and some sensitive strains. One tetracycline-resistant food isolate had an intact tet(M) gene. However, PCR fragments of 0.4 or 0.8 kb with high degrees of identity to parts of the tet(M) sequences of other bacteria were found, mainly in clinical isolates, and often in isolates with tetB(P). No correlation between level of sensitivity to tetracycline or minocycline and the presence of tetA(P), tetB(P) or part of tet(M) was found. The presence of part of tet(M) in some strains of C. perfringens containing tetB(P) may have occurred by recent gene transfer. | 2010 | 20661548 |
| 2909 | 11 | 0.9998 | Determination of the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes in canine Clostridium perfringens isolates. Clostridium perfringens is a well documented cause of a mild self-limiting diarrhea and a potentially fatal acute hemorrhagic diarrheal syndrome in the dog. A recent study documented that 21% of canine C. perfringens isolates had MIC's indicative of resistance to tetracycline, an antimicrobial commonly recommended for treatment of C. perfringens-associated diarrhea. The objective of the present study was to further evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of these isolates by determining the prevalence of specific resistance genes, their expression, and ability for transference between bacteria. One hundred and twenty-four canine C. perfringens isolates from 124 dogs were evaluated. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of tetracycline, erythromycin, tylosin, and metronidazole were determined using the CLSI Reference Agar Dilution Method. All isolates were screened for three tetracycline resistance genes: tetA(P), tetB(P) and tetM, and two macrolide resistance genes: ermB and ermQ, via PCR using primer sequences previously described. Ninety-six percent (119/124) of the isolates were positive for the tetA(P) gene, and 41% (51/124) were positive for both the tetA(P) and tetB(P) genes. No isolates were positive for the tetB(P) gene alone. Highly susceptible isolates (MIC< or = 4 microg/ml) were significantly more likely to lack the tetB(P) gene. One isolate (0.8%) was positive for the ermB gene, and one isolate was positive for the ermQ gene. The tetM gene was not found in any of the isolates tested. Two out of 15 tested isolates (13%) demonstrated transfer of tetracycline resistance via bacterial conjugation. Tetracycline should be avoided for the treatment of C. perfringens-associated diarrhea in dogs because of the relatively high prevalence of in vitro resistance, and the potential for conjugative transfer of antimicrobial resistance. | 2006 | 16330169 |
| 2922 | 12 | 0.9998 | Tetracycline-resistance genes in gram-negative isolates from estuarine waters. AIMS: To investigate the diversity and dissemination of tetracycline resistance genes in isolates from estuarine waters. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-two out of 164 multi-resistant isolates previously obtained were resistant or less-susceptible to tetracycline, as evaluated by the disc diffusion method. Minimal inhibitory concentration for resistant bacteria ranged from 16 to 256 mg l(-1). Screening of tet genes by polymerase chain reaction showed that 88% of the isolates carried at least one of the genes tested, namely tet(A) (present in 13 isolates), tet(B) (present in 13 isolates), tet(C) (present in 3 isolates), tet(D) (present in 1 isolate), tet(E) (present in 6 isolates) and tet(M) (present in 1 isolate). One isolate carried tet(A) and tet(M). To our knowledge, this study presents the first description of a tet(D) gene in Morganella morganii. Hybridization revealed that tet genes were plasmid-located in 31% of the isolates. Those isolates were included as donors in conjugation experiments and 38% transferred tetracycline resistance. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable diversity of tet genes was detected in the estuary. Frequently, these genes were associated with plasmids and could be transferred to Escherichia coli. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results presented provide further evidence of the role played by estuarine reservoirs in antibiotic resistance maintenance and dissemination. | 2008 | 19120920 |
| 2904 | 13 | 0.9998 | The maintenance in the oral cavity of children of tetracycline-resistant bacteria and the genes encoding such resistance. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the maintenance of tetracycline-resistant oral bacteria and the genes encoding tetracycline resistance in these bacteria in children (aged 4--6 years) over a period of 12 months. METHODS: Plaque and saliva samples were taken from 26 children. Tetracycline-resistant bacteria were isolated and identified. The types of resistance genes and their genetic locations were also determined. RESULTS: Fifteen out of 18 children harboured tetracycline-resistant (defined as having a MIC>or=8 mg/L) oral bacteria at all three time points. The median percentage of tetracycline-resistant bacteria at 0, 6 and 12 months was 1.37, 1.37 and 0.85%, respectively; these were not significantly different. The MIC(50) of the group was 64 mg/L at all three time points compared with the MIC(90), which was 64 mg/L at 0 months, and 128 mg/L at 6 and 12 months. The most prevalent resistant species were streptococci (68%), which were isolated at all three time points in 13 children. The most prevalent gene encoding tetracycline resistance was tet(M) and this was found in different species at all three time points. For the first time, tet(32) was found in Streptococcus parasanguinis and Eubacterium saburreum. PCR and Southern-blot analysis (on isolates from three of the children) showed that the tet(M) gene was located on a Tn916-like element and could be detected at all three time points, in four different genera, Streptococcus, Granulicatella, Veillonella and Neisseria. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that tetracycline-resistant bacteria and tet(M) are maintained within the indigenous oral microbiota of children, even though they are unlikely to have been directly exposed to tetracycline. | 2005 | 16027144 |
| 5954 | 14 | 0.9998 | Distribution of genes for trimethoprim and gentamicin resistance in bacteria and their plasmids in a general hospital. The incidence of trimethoprim resistance in enterobacteria causing infection in a London hospital increased from 5.6% in 1970 to 16% in 1979. The proportion of gentamicin-resistant aerobic Gram-negative bacilli had risen to 6.5% by 1979. During a 5-month period in 1977, during which no epidemic was recognized, all isolates resistant to either trimethoprim, gentamicin, tobramycin or amikacin were studied. The proportion of enterobacteria resistant to both trimethoprim and gentamicin (3.8% of the total) was significantly higher than expected assuming no correlation between acquisition of resistance characters. The resistance was transferable in 23% of trimethoprim-resistant and 76% of gentamicin-resistant strains. Trimethoprim resistance was carried by plasmids of seven different incompatibility groups and in at least four instances was part of a transposon. Gentamicin resistance was determined by plasmids of three groups - IncC, IncFII and IncW. Transposition of gentamicin resistance was not shown, though this may have been the means of evolution of the gentamicin R plasmids of InW, which determined aminoglycoside acetyltransferase, AAC(3). Some bacterial strains with their plasmids were endemic. There was evidence for these plasmids (i) acquiring new resistance genes by transposition, (ii) losing resistance genes by deletion and (iii) being transferred between bacterial species in the hospital. | 1980 | 7003059 |
| 5921 | 15 | 0.9998 | Prevalence of tetracycline resistance genes in oral bacteria. Tetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used in humans, animals, and aquaculture; therefore, many bacteria from different ecosystems are exposed to this antibiotic. In order to determine the genetic basis for resistance to tetracycline in bacteria from the oral cavity, saliva and dental plaque samples were obtained from 20 healthy adults who had not taken antibiotics during the previous 3 months. The samples were screened for the presence of bacteria resistant to tetracycline, and the tetracycline resistance genes in these isolates were identified by multiplex PCR and DNA sequencing. Tetracycline-resistant bacteria constituted an average of 11% of the total cultivable oral microflora. A representative 105 tetracycline-resistant isolates from the 20 samples were investigated; most of the isolates carried tetracycline resistance genes encoding a ribosomal protection protein. The most common tet gene identified was tet(M), which was found in 79% of all the isolates. The second most common gene identified was tet(W), which was found in 21% of all the isolates, followed by tet(O) and tet(Q) (10.5 and 9.5% of the isolates, respectively) and then tet(S) (2.8% of the isolates). Tetracycline resistance genes encoding an efflux protein were detected in 4.8% of all the tetracycline-resistant isolates; 2.8% of the isolates had tet(L) and 1% carried tet(A) and tet(K) each. The results have shown that a variety of tetracycline resistance genes are present in the oral microflora of healthy adults. This is the first report of tet(W) in oral bacteria and the first report to show that tet(O), tet(Q), tet(A), and tet(S) can be found in some oral species. | 2003 | 12604515 |
| 5980 | 16 | 0.9998 | Mutation in the gyrA gene of quinolone-resistant clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii. The gyrA gene mutations associated with quinolone resistance were determined in 21 epidemiologically unrelated clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii. Our studies highlight the conserved sequences in the quinolone resistance-determining region of the gyrA gene from A. baumannii and other bacteria. All 15 isolates for which the MIC of ciprofloxacin is > or = 4 micrograms/ml showed a change at Ser-83 to Leu. Six strains for which the MIC of ciprofloxacin is 1 microgram/ml did not show any change at Ser-83, although a strain for which the MIC of ciprofloxacin is 1 microgram/ml exhibited a change at Gly-81 to Val. Although it is possible that mutations in other locations of the gyrA gene, the gyrB gene, or in other genes may also contribute to the modulation of the MIC level, our results suggest that a gyrA mutation at Ser-83 is associated with quinolone resistance in A. baumannii. | 1995 | 7625818 |
| 5549 | 17 | 0.9998 | Analysis of Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm-Forming Capacity in Tetracycline-Resistant Bacteria from a Coastal Lagoon. Concerns have been raised regarding co-selection for antibiotic resistance among bacteria exposed to antibiotics used as growth promoters for some livestock and poultry species. Tetracycline had been commonly used for this purpose worldwide, and its residue has been associated with selection of resistant bacteria in aquatic biofilms. This study aimed to determine the resistance profile, the existence of some beta-lactamases genes and the capacity to form biofilm of bacteria isolated from water samples previously exposed to tetracycline (20 mg/L). Thirty-seven tetracycline-resistant bacterial strains were identified as Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, Morganella morganii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, Providencia alcalifaciens, and Enterococcus faecium. The highest percentage of resistance was for ampicillin (75.75%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (66.66%) in the Gram-negative bacteria and an E. faecium strain showed high resistance to vancomycin (minimum inhibitory concentration 250 μg/mL). Among the strains analyzed, 81.09% had multidrug resistance and eight Gram-negatives carried the bla(OXA-48) gene. All strains were able to form biofilm and 43.23% were strong biofilm formers. This study suggests that resistant bacteria can be selected under selection pressure of tetracycline, and that these bacteria could contribute to the maintenance and spread of antimicrobial resistance in this environment. | 2022 | 35325574 |
| 5941 | 18 | 0.9998 | Characterization of macrolide resistance genes in Haemophilus influenzae isolated from children with cystic fibrosis. OBJECTIVES: to determine the mechanism(s) of macrolide resistance in Haemophilus influenzae isolated from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients participating in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of azithromycin. METHODS: macrolide susceptibility, mutations and carriage of the macrolide resistance genes erm(A), erm(B), erm(C), erm(F) and mef(A) were determined using PCR assays and sequencing or hybridization of the PCR products. H. influenzae isolates were used as donors in conjugation studies with H. influenzae and Enterococcus faecalis recipients. Transconjugant susceptibility and the macrolide resistance genes carried were determined. RESULTS: of the 106 H. influenzae isolates, 27 were resistant and 78 intermediate resistant to azithromycin and/or erythromycin. All isolates carried one or more macrolide resistance gene(s), with the mef(A), erm(B) and erm(F) genes found in 74%, 31% and 29% of the isolates, respectively. None of the selected isolates had L4 or L22 mutations. Twenty-five donors, with various macrolide MICs, transferred macrolide resistance genes to H. influenzae Rd (3.5 × 10(-7)-1 × 10(-10)) and/or E. faecalis (1 × 10(-7)-1 × 10(-8)) recipients. The H. influenzae transconjugants were phenotypically resistant or intermediate to both macrolides while E. faecalis transconjugants were erythromycin resistant. CONCLUSIONS: this is the first identification of erm(A), erm(C) and erm(F) genes in H. influenzae or bacteria from CF patients and the first characterization of macrolide gene transfer from H. influenzae donors. The high level of H. influenzae macrolide gene carriage suggests that the use of azithromycin in the CF population may ultimately reduce the effectiveness of continued or repeated macrolide therapy. | 2011 | 21081549 |
| 5920 | 19 | 0.9998 | Study on acquisition of bacterial antibiotic resistance determinants in poultry litter. Antibiotic resistance and the mode of transmission were investigated in bacteria isolated from poultry litter. Total aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were screened and identified for their resistance to different antibiotics such as ampicillin, streptomycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, tobramycin, and rifampicin. The distribution of bacteria found in the litter was Staphylococcus (29.1%), which was the predominant group, followed by Streptococcus (25%), Micrococcus (20.8%), Escherichia coli (12.5%), Salmonella (8.3%), and Aeromonas (4.1%). Fifty percent of these isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, 57% to erythromycin, 25% to tetracycline, 4% to chloramphenicol, 40% to kanamycin, 75% to streptomycin, 54% to tobramycin, and 4% to rifampicin. Three randomly selected isolates representing Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Micrococcus were examined for plasmids, and plasmid-curing and plasmid-induced transformation studies were conducted. Streptococcus and Micrococcus harbored a plasmid of 4.2 and 5.1 kb, respectively, whereas Staphylococcus did not harbor any plasmids. Plasmids were cured in Streptococcus and Micrococcus at a concentration of 75 and 100 microg/ mL of acridine orange, respectively, and transformation of 4.2- and 5.1-kb plasmids isolated from the Streptococcus and Micrococcus to plasmid-free E. coli DH5alpha strain was possible. In conjugation experiments, the antibiotic resistance profiles of transconjugant cells were found to be the same as the donors with the exception of Staphylococcus. The results of this study suggest that transformation and conjugation could be an important mechanism for horizontal gene transfer between bacteria in poultry litter. An understanding of the mechanism and magnitude of resistance gene transfer may provide a strategy to reduce the potential for dissemination of these genes. | 2009 | 19531707 |