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786800.9580A double-quenching paperclip ECL biosensing platform for ultrasensitive detection of antibiotic resistance genes (mecA) based on Ti(3)C(2) MXene-Au NPs as a coreactant accelerator. The global spread of environmental biological pollutants, such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), has emerged as a critical public health concern. It is imperative to address this pressing issue due to its potential implications for public health. Herein, a DNA paperclip probe with double-quenching function of target cyclic cleavage was proposed, and an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensing platform was constructed using Ti(3)C(2) MXene in-situ reduction growth of Au NPs (TCM-Au) as a coreactant accelerator, and applied to the sensitive detection of ARGs. Thanks to the excellent catalytic performance, large surface area and Au-S affinity of TCM-Au, the ECL performance of CdS QDs have been significantly improved. By cleverly utilizing the negative charge of the paperclip nucleic acid probe and its modification group, double-quenching of the ECL signal was achieved. This innovative approach, combined with target cyclic amplification, facilitated specific and sensitive detection of the mecA gene. This biosensing platform manifested highly selective and sensitive determination of mecA genes in the range of 10 fM to 100 nM and a low detection limit of 2.7 fM. The credible detectability and anti-interference were demonstrated in Yangtze river and Aeration tank outlet, indicating its promising application toward pollution monitoring of ARGs.202337666010
299810.9570Membrane vesicles derived from Enterococcus faecalis promote the co-transfer of important antibiotic resistance genes located on both plasmids and chromosomes. BACKGROUND: Bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) are novel vehicles of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) transfer in Gram-negative bacteria, but their role in the spread of ARGs in Gram-positive bacteria has not been defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of MVs in the transmission of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-positive bacteria. METHODS: A linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecalis CQ20 of swine origin was selected as the donor strain. Linezolid-susceptible E. faecalis SC032 of human origin, Enterococcus faecium BM4105 and Escherichia coli were selected as recipient strains. The presence of plasmids (pCQ20-1 and pCQ20-2) and an optrA-carrying transposon Tn6674 in CQ20, MVs and vesiculants was verified by WGS or PCR. MVs were isolated with density gradient centrifugation, and MV-mediated transformation was performed to assess the horizontal transferability of MVs. The MICs for CQ20 and its vesiculants were determined by the broth microdilution method. RESULTS: CQ20-derived MVs (CQ20-MV) were isolated, and PCR identified the presence of two plasmids and the optrA gene in the CQ20-MVs. MV-mediated transformation to E. faecalis SC032 and E. faecium BM4105 was successfully performed, and the WGS data also showed that both plasmids pCQ20-1 and pCQ20-2 and optrA-carrying transposon Tn6674 were transferred to E. faecalis SC032 and E. faecium BM4105, but failed for E. coli. Additionally, vesiculants that had acquired ARGs still had the ability to spread these genes via MVs. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of MV-mediated co-transfer of ARG-carrying plasmids and transposons in the Gram-positive bacterium E. faecium.202438109479
999520.9537Direct fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in Escherichia coli with a target-specific quantum dot-based molecular beacon. Quantum dots (QDs) are inorganic fluorescent nanocrystals with excellent properties such as tunable emission spectra and photo-bleaching resistance compared with organic dyes, which make them appropriate for applications in molecular beacons. In this work, quantum dot-based molecular beacons (QD-based MBs) were fabricated to specifically detect β-lactamase genes located in pUC18 which were responsible for antibiotic resistance in bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) DH5α. QD-based MBs were constructed by conjugating mercaptoacetic acid-quantum dots (MAA-QDs) with black hole quencher 2 (BHQ2) labeled thiol DNA vial metal-thiol bonds. Two types of molecular beacons, double-strands beacons and hairpin beacons, were observed in product characterization by gel electrophoresis. Using QD-based MBs, one-step FISH in tiny bacteria DH5α was realized for the first time. QD-based MBs retained their bioactivity when hybridizing with complementary target DNA, which showed excellent advantages of eliminating background noise caused by adsorption of non-specific bioprobes and achieving clearer focus of genes in plasmids pUC18, and capability of bacterial cell penetration and signal specificity in one-step in situ hybridization.201020729070
53730.9534Omegon-Km: a transposable element designed for in vivo insertional mutagenesis and cloning of genes in gram-negative bacteria. To combine the features of the omega interposons with the advantages of in vivo transposition mutagenesis, we have constructed an artificial transposon, called Omegon-Km. The Omegon-Km transposon is carried on the plasmid pJFF350 which can be conjugally mobilized into a broad range of Gram-negative bacteria. Omegon-Km is flanked, in inverted orientation, by synthetic 28-bp repeats derived from the ends of IS1. In addition, each end of Omegon-Km has the very efficient transcription and translation terminators of the omega interposon. Internally, Omegon-Km carries the selectable kanamycin (Km)-neomycin resistance gene (alph A) which is expressed well in many Gram-negative bacteria. The IS1 transposition functions are located on the donor plasmid but external to Omegon-Km. Thus, insertions of Omegon-Km are very stable because they lack the capacity for further transposition. Omegon-Km mutagenesis is performed by conjugal transfer of pJFF350 from Escherichia coli into any Gram-negative recipient strain in which this plasmid is unable to replicate. Those cells which have had a transposition event are selected by their resistance to Km. Very high frequencies of Omegon-Km transposition were observed in Pseudomonas putida. Preliminary experiments with other Gram-negative soil and water bacteria (Rhizobium leguminosarum, Paracoccus denitrificans) yielded mutants at reasonable levels. The presence of an E. coli-specific origin of replication (ori) within Omegon-Km allows the rapid and easy cloning, in E. coli, of the nucleotide sequences flanking the site of the transposition event.19892546859
872140.9533Chromium metabolism characteristics of coexpression of ChrA and ChrT gene. OBJECTIVE: Serratia sp. S2 is a wild strain with chromium resistance and reduction ability. Chromium(VI) metabolic-protein-coding gene ChrA and ChrT were cloned from Serratia sp. S2, and ligated with prokaryotic expression vectors pET-28a (+) and transformed into E. coli BL21 to construct ChrA, ChrT and ChrAT engineered bacteria. By studying the characteristics of Cr(VI) metabolism in engineered bacteria, the function and mechanism of the sole expression and coexpression of ChrA and ChrT genes were studied. METHODS: Using Serratia sp. S2 genome as template, ChrA and ChrT genes were amplified by PCR, and prokaryotic expression vectors was ligated to form the recombinant plasmid pET-28a (+)-ChrA, pET-28a (+)-ChrT and pET-28a (+)-ChrAT, and transformed into E. coli BL21 to construct ChrA, ChrT, ChrAT engineered bacteria. The growth curve, tolerance, and reduction of Cr(VI), the distribution of intracellular and extracellular Cr, activity of chromium reductase and intracellular oxidative stress in engineered bacteria were measured to explore the metabolic characteristics of Cr(VI) in ChrA, ChrT, ChrAT engineered bacteria. RESULTS: ChrA, ChrT and ChrAT engineered bacteria were successfully constructed by gene recombination technology. The tolerance to Cr(VI) was Serratia sp. S2 > ChrAT ≈ ChrA > ChrT > Control (P < 0.05), and the reduction ability to Cr(VI) was Serratia sp. S2 > ChrAT ≈ ChrT > ChrA (P < 0.05). The chromium distribution experiments confirmed that Cr(VI) and Cr(III) were the main valence states. Effect of electron donors on chromium reductase activity was NADPH > NADH > non-NAD(P)H (P < 0.05). The activity of chromium reductase increased significantly with NAD(P)H (P < 0.05). The Glutathione and NPSH (Non-protein Sulfhydryl) levels of ChrA, ChrAT engineered bacteria increased significantly (P < 0.05) under the condition of Cr(VI), but there was no significant difference in the indexes of ChrT engineered bacteria (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: ChrAT engineered bacteria possesses resistance and reduction abilities of Cr(VI). ChrA protein endows the strain with the ability to resist Cr(VI). ChrT protein reduces Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by using NAD(P)H as electronic donor. The reduction process promotes the production of GSH, GSSG and NPSH to maintain the intracellular reduction state, which further improves the Cr(VI) tolerance and reduction ability of ChrAT engineered bacteria.202032768747
247450.9531Nano-biosensors for rapid detection of antibiotic resistance genes blaCTX-M in Escherichia coli and blaKPC in Klebsiella pneumoniae. The wide spread of antibiotic resistance genes in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) has become a worrying issue worldwide. Thus, electrochemical DNA-based biosensors were developed and applied for the rapid detection of antibiotic resistance genes (blaCTX-M extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) in E. coli and blaKPC carbapenemase in Klebsiella pneumoniae). Selective ssDNA probes specific to the targeting complementary genes were designed and individually immobilized onto disposable sensor chips that were functionalized with nanocomposite (ssDNA-probe@ATP@AuNPs-PPY-V(2)O(5)). In this regard, the sensor surfaces were first modified with vanadium oxide (V(2)O(5)) and polypyrrole (PPy) then gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to effectively promote the chemical immobilization of each of the designed bio-receptor (ssDNA probe) onto the sensor matrix using the 4-aminothiophenol (ATP) as the chemical cross-linker. Different parameters that affect the biosensing performance were studied and optimized. Accordingly, high sensitivity to both E. coli blaCTX-M and K. pneumoniae blaKPC genes were obtained with a dynamic linear range from 10(-6) to 0.1 ng/μL with correlation coefficient (R(2)) of 0.991 and 0.988, limit of detection (LODs) of 0.5 × 10(-7) ng/μL and 1 × 10(-7) ng/μL, and limit of quantification (LOQs) of 1.2 × 10(-7) and 3 × 10(-7) ng/μL, respectively. High selectivity was provided since no electrochemical signals were obtained from various competitors of common bacteria. Finally, different types of clinical samples were analyzed and validated.202540250654
843160.9530A quaternary ammonium salt grafted tannin-based flocculant boosts the conjugative transfer of plasmid-born antibiotic resistance genes: The nonnegligible side of their flocculation-sterilization properties. This study developed dual-function tannin-based flocculants, namely tannin-graft-acrylamide-diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (TGCC-A/TGCC-C), endowed with enhanced flocculation-sterilization properties. The impacts of these flocculants on proliferation and transformation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) among bacteria during the flocculation-deposition process were examined. TGCC-A/TGCC-C exhibited remarkable flocculation capacities towards both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, encompassing a logarithmic range of initial cell density (10(8)-10(9) CFU/mL) and a broad pH spectrum (pH 2-11). The grafted quaternary ammonium salt groups played pivotal parts in flocculation through charge neutralization and bridging mechanisms, concurrently contributing to sterilization by disrupting cellular membranes. The correlation between flocculation and sterilization entails a sequential progression, where an excess of TGCC, initially employed for flocculation, is subsequently consumed for sterilization purposes. The frequencies of ARGs conjugative transfer were enhanced in bacterial flocs across all TGCC treatments, stemming from augmented bacterial aggregation and cell membrane permeability, elicited stress response, and up-regulated genes encoding plasmid transfer. These findings underscore the indispensable role of flocculation-sterilization effects in mediating the propagation of ARGs, consequently providing substantial support for the scientific evaluation of the environmental risks associated with flocculants in the context of ARGs dissemination during the treatment of raw water featuring high bacterial density.202337619725
149370.9528Coexistence of blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1 in one IncHI5 plasmid confers transferable carbapenem resistance from a clinical isolate of Klebsiella michiganensis in China. OBJECTIVES: This study firstly identified an IncHI5 plasmid pK254-KPC_NDM co-carrying two different class carbapenemase genes blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1 in Klebsiella michiganensis K254. METHODS: The strain K254 was sequenced by high-throughput genome sequencing. A detailed genomic and phenotypic characterization of pK254-KPC_NDM was performed. RESULTS: pK254-KPC_NDM displayed the conserve IncHI5 backbone and carried a resistant accessory region: Tn1696-related transposon Tn7414 containing blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1. A sequence comparison was applied to a collection of four Tn1696-related transposons (Tn7414-Tn7417) harbouring carbapenemase genes. For all these four transposons, the blaNDM-1 was carried by Tn125 derivatives within three different mobile genetic elements. Tn7414 further acquired another carbapenemase gene, blaKPC-2, because of the integration of the local blaKPC-2 genetic environment from Tn6296, resulting in the high-level carbapenem resistance of K. michiganensis K254. The conjugal transfer and plasmid stability experiments confirmed that pK254-KPC_NDM could be transferred intercellularly and keep the stable vertical inheritance in different bacteria, which would contribute to the further dissemination of multiple carbapenemase genes and enhance the adaption and survival of K. michiganensis under complex and diverse antimicrobial selection pressures. CONCLUSION: This study was the first to report the K. michiganensis isolate coharbouring blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1 in the Tn1696-related transposon in IncHI5 plasmid. The emergence of novel transposons simultaneously carrying multiple carbapenemase genes might contribute to the further dissemination of high-level carbapenem resistance in the isolates of the hospital settings and pose new challenges for the treatment of nosocomial infection.202337714378
53580.9526Improved broad-host-range plasmids for DNA cloning in gram-negative bacteria. Improved broad-host-range plasmid vectors were constructed based on existing plasmids RSF1010 and RK404. The new plasmids pDSK509, pDSK519, and pRK415, have several additional cloning sites and improved antibiotic-resistance genes which facilitate subcloning and mobilization into various Gram-negative bacteria. Several new polylinker sites were added to the Escherichia coli plasmids pUC118 and pUC119, resulting in the new plasmids, pUC128 and pUC129. These plasmids facilitate the transfer of cloned DNA fragments to the broad-host-range vectors. Finally, the broad-host-range cosmid cloning vector pLAFR3 was improved by the addition of a double cos casette to generate the new plasmid, pLAFR5. This latter cosmid simplifies vector preparation and has permitted the rapid cloning of genomic DNA fragments generated with Sau3A. The resulting clones may be introduced into other Gram-negative bacteria by conjugation.19882853689
39090.9525A new simple method for introducing an unmarked mutation into a large gene of non-competent Gram-negative bacteria by FLP/FRT recombination. BACKGROUND: For the disruption of a target gene in molecular microbiology, unmarked mutagenesis is preferable to marked mutagenesis because the former method raises no concern about the polar effect and leaves no selection marker. In contrast to naturally competent bacteria, there is no useful method for introducing an unmarked mutation into a large gene of non-competent bacteria. Nevertheless, large genes encoding huge proteins exist in diverse bacteria and are interesting and important for physiology and potential applications. Here we present a new method for introducing an unmarked mutation into such large genes of non-competent Gram-negative bacteria. RESULTS: Two gene replacement plasmids, pJQFRT and pKFRT/FLP, were constructed to apply the FLP/FRT recombination system to introduce an unmarked mutation into a large gene of non-competent Gram-negative bacteria. In our methodology, pJQFRT and pKFRT/FLP are integrated into the upstream and the downstream regions of a target gene, respectively, through homologous recombination. The resultant mutant has antibiotic resistance markers, the sacB counter-selection marker, flp recombinase under the control of the tetR regulator, and identical FRT sites sandwiching the target gene and the markers on its chromosome. By inducing the expression of flp recombinase, the target gene is completely deleted together with the other genes derived from the integrated plasmids, resulting in the generation of an unmarked mutation. By this method, we constructed an unmarked mutant of ataA, which encodes the huge trimeric autotransporter adhesin (3,630 aa), in a non-competent Gram-negative bacterium, Acinetobacter sp. Tol 5. The unmarked ataA mutant showed the same growth rate as wild type Tol 5, but lost the adhesive properties of Tol 5, similar to the transposon-inserted mutant of ataA that we generated previously. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of our methodology was evidenced by the construction of an unmarked ataA mutant in the Tol 5 strain. Since FLP/FRT recombination can excise a long region of DNA exceeding 100 kb, our method has the potential to selectively disrupt much larger genes or longer regions of gene clusters than ataA. Our methodology allows the straightforward and efficient introduction of an unmarked mutation into a large gene or gene cluster of non-enterobacterial Gram-negative bacteria.201323594401
335100.9525Construction and characterization of a replication-competent retroviral shuttle vector plasmid. We constructed two versions of an RCASBP-based retroviral shuttle vector, RSVP (RCASBP shuttle vector plasmid), containing either the zeocin or blasticidin resistance gene. In this vector, the drug resistance gene is expressed in avian cells from the long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter, whereas in bacteria the resistance gene is expressed from a bacterial promoter. The vector contains a bacterial origin of replication (ColE1) to allow circular viral DNA to replicate as a plasmid in bacteria. The vector also contains the lac operator sequence, which binds to the lac repressor protein, providing a simple and rapid way to purify the vector DNA. The RSVP plasmid contains the following sequence starting with the 5" end: LTR, gag, pol, env, drug resistance gene, lac operator, ColE1, LTR. After this plasmid was transfected into DF-1 cells, we were able to rescue the circularized unintegrated viral DNA from RSVP simply by transforming the Hirt DNA into Escherichia coli. Furthermore, we were able to rescue the integrated provirus. DNA from infected cells was digested with an appropriate restriction enzyme (ClaI) and the vector-containing segments were enriched using lac repressor protein and then self-ligated. These enriched fractions were used to transform E. coli. The transformation was successful and we did recover integration sites, but higher-efficiency rescue was obtained with electroporation. The vector is relatively stable upon passage in avian cells. Southern blot analyses of genomic DNAs derived from successive viral passages under nonselective conditions showed that the cassette (drug resistance gene-lac operator-ColE1) insert was present in the vector up to the third viral passage for both resistance genes, which suggests that the RSVP vectors are stable for approximately three viral passages. Together, these results showed that RSVP vectors are useful tools for cloning unintegrated or integrated viral DNAs.200211799171
2214110.9524Development of multiplex recombinase polymerase amplification for the rapid detection of five carbapenemase (bla(KPC), bla(NDM), bla(OXA-48)-like, bla(IMP), and bla(VIM)) and 10 mcr (mcr-1 to mcr-10) genes in blood cultures. The emergence of plasmid-encoded carbapenemase and mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes poses a significant challenge in controlling the spread of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Addressing this issue requires the development of rapid, accurate, and cost-effective tools for gene detection. For the first time, this study reports three multiplex recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assays, each designed to detect five resistance genes: carbapenemase (bla(KPC), bla(NDM), bla(OXA-48)-like, bla(IMP), and bla(VIM)), mcr-1 to mcr-5, and mcr-6 to mcr-10. Using agarose gel electrophoresis, all 15 target genes were successfully amplified by the three assays, demonstrating the potential of these assays for integration with rapid reporting platforms. To increase their applicability, the assays were combined with SYBR(Ⓡ) Green I for visual identification of all 15 target genes and with lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) for detection of two carbapenemase (bla(NDM) and bla(OXA-48)-like) and two mcr genes (mcr-1 and mcr-3) genes. Specificity testing showed that RPA-SYBR(Ⓡ) Green I and RPA-LFIAs produced no cross-reactivity among the target genes. The limit of detection for RPA-SYBR(Ⓡ) Green I, for all genes, ranged from 2 × 10(0) to 2 × 10(2) CFU/reaction, and for RPA-LFIAs from 2 × 10(0) to 2 × 10(3) CFU/reaction. The developed RPA-SYBR(Ⓡ) Green I and RPA-LFIAs successfully detected 15 and four target genes, from positive haemoculture bottles. These assays offer a promising approach for point-of-care testing. Providing a valuable tool for antimicrobial resistance surveillance and timely guidance for effective antibiotic intervention.202540618792
5086120.9522Detection of genetically modified microorganisms in soil using the most-probable-number method with multiplex PCR and DNA dot blot. The principal objective of this study was to detect genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) that might be accidentally released into the environment from laboratories. Two methods [plate counting and most-probable-number (MPN)] coupled with either multiplex PCR or DNA dot blots were compared using genetically modified Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, and Acinetobacter oleivorans harboring an antibiotic-resistance gene with additional gfp and lacZ genes as markers. Alignments of sequences collected from databases using the Perl scripting language (Perl API) and from denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the gfp, lacZ and antibiotic-resistance genes (kanamycin, tetracycline, and ampicillin) in GMMs differed from the counterpart genes in many sequenced genomes and in soil DNA. Thus, specific multiplex PCR primer sets for detection of plasmid-based gfp and lacZ antibiotic-resistance genes could be generated. In the plate counting method, many antibiotic-resistant bacteria from a soil microcosm grew as colonies on antibiotic-containing agar plates. The multiplex PCR verification of randomly selected antibiotic-resistant colonies with specific primers proved ineffective. The MPN-multiplex PCR method and antibiotic-resistant phenotype could be successfully used to detect GMMs, although this method is quite laborious. The MPN-DNA dot blot method screened more cells at a time in a microtiter plate containing the corresponding antibiotics, and was shown to be a more efficient method for the detection of GMMs in soil using specific probes in terms of labor and accuracy.201121810467
2451130.9521Acquisition and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in association with conjugative plasmid or class 1 integrons of Acinetobacter baumannii. Conjugation is a type of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) that serves as the primary mechanism responsible for accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in Gram-negative bacteria. The present study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the conjugation-mediated gene transfer from the extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDR-AB) and New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1-producing Acinetobacter baumannii (NDM-AB) to environmental isolates of Acinetobacter spp. Conjugation experiments demonstrated that resistance to ticarcillin and kanamycin could be transferred from four donors to two sodium azide-resistant A. baumannii strains, namely, NU013R and NU015R. No transconjugants were detected on Mueller-Hinton Agar (MHA) plates containing tetracycline. Plasmids obtained from donors as well as successful transconjugants were characterized by PCR-based replicon typing and S1-nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE). Detection of antibiotic resistance genes and integrase genes (int) was performed using PCR. Results revealed that the donor AB364 strain can transfer the blaOXA-23 and blaPER-1 genes to both recipients in association with int1. A 240-kb plasmid was successfully transferred from the donor AB364 to recipients. In addition, the aphA6 and blaPER-1 genes were co-transferred with the int1 gene from the donor strains AB352 and AB405. The transfer of a 220-kb plasmid from the donors to recipient was detected. The GR6 plasmid containing the kanamycin resistance gene (aphA6) was successfully transferred from the donor strain AB140 to both recipient strains. However, the blaNDM-1 and tet(B) genes were not detected in all transconjugants. Our study is the first to demonstrate successful in vitro conjugation, which indicated that XDR-AB contained combination mechanisms of the co-transfer of antimicrobial resistance elements with integron cassettes or with the plasmid group GR6. Thus, conjugation could be responsible for the emergence of new types of antibiotic-resistant strains.201830521623
1492140.9521Characterization of the tet(M)-bearing transposon Tn7125 of Escherichia coli strain A13 isolated from an intensive pig farm located in Henan province, China. BACKGROUND: Transposons carrying tet(M) in Gram-positive bacteria have been reported extensively, while there is a paucity of data on the transmission characteristics of tet(M) in Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the genetic characteristics of the tet(M)-bearing transposon Tn7125, and to clarify the transmission mechanism of the plasmids pTA13-1 and pTA13-3 in Escherichia coli strain A13. METHODS: Plasmids from strain A13 and a corresponding transconjugant were determined by whole genome sequencing and analyzed using bioinformatics tools. The plasmids pTA13-1 and pTA13-3 of the transconjugant TA13 were characterized by S1-pulse-field gel electrophoresis, Southern hybridization, stability experiments, and direct competition assays. RESULTS: The conjugated IncF2:A6:B20 plasmid pTA13-1 co-transferred with the 41-kb plasmid pTA13-3, which carried no resistance genes; plasmid pTA13-2, which harbored the replication initiator PO111; and the IncX4 plasmid pTA13-4, which harbored the antibiotic resistance gene mcr-1. The novel IS26-bracked composite transposon Tn7125 was located on plasmid pTA13-1, which mainly consists of three resistance modules: IS26-ctp-lp-tet(M)-hp-IS406tnp, qac-aadA1-cmlA1-aadA2-DUF1010-dfrA12, and ∆ISVSa3-VirD-floR-LysR-ISVSa3. The plasmid pTA13-1 was highly stable in E. coli strain J53 with no fitness cost to the host or disadvantage in growth competition. CONCLUSION: Evolution of co-integrated transposons, such as Tn7125, may convey antibiotic resistance to a wide spectrum of hosts via the plasmids pTA13-1 and pTA13-3, which acts as an adaptable and mobile multidrug resistance reservoir to accelerate dissemination of other genes by co-selection, thereby posing a potentially serious barrier to clinical treatment regimens.202540639501
8720150.9521Chromium resistance characteristics of Cr(VI) resistance genes ChrA and ChrB in Serratia sp. S2. OBJECTIVE: To find an efficient chromium (VI) resistance system, with a highly efficient, economical, safe, and environmentally friendly chromium-removing strain, ChrA, ChrB, and ChrAB fragments of the chromium (VI) resistance gene in Serratia sp. S2 were cloned, and their prokaryotic expression vectors were constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21. The anti-chromium (VI) capacity and characteristics of engineered bacteria, role of ChrA and ChrB genes in the anti-chromium (VI) processes, and the mechanism of chromium metabolism, were explored. METHODS: The PCR technique was used to amplify ChrA, ChrB, and ChrAB genes from the Serratia sp. S2 genome. ChrA, ChrB, and ChrAB genes were connected to the prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a and transferred into E. coli BL21 for prokaryotic expression. Cr-absorption and Cr-efflux ability of the engineered strains were determined. The effects of respiratory inhibitors and oxygenated anions on Cr-efflux of ChrA and ChrB engineered strains were explored. RESULTS: ChrA, ChrB, and ChrAB engineered strains were constructed successfully; there was no significant difference between the control strain and the ChrB engineered strain for Cr-metabolism (P > 0.05). Cr-absorption and Cr-efflux of ChrA and ChrAB engineered strains were significantly stronger than the control strain (P < 0.05). Oxyanions (sulfate and molybdate) and inhibitors (valinomycin and CN(-)) could significantly inhibit the Cr-efflux capacities of ChrA and ChrAB engineered strains (P < 0.05), while NADPH could significantly promote such capacities (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The Cr-transporter, encoded by ChrA gene, confer the ability to pump out intracellular Cr on ChrA and ChrAB engineered strains. The ChrB gene plays a positive regulatory role in ChrA gene regulation. The Cr-metabolism ability of the ChrAB engineered strain is stronger than the ChrA engineered strain. ChrA and ChrAB genes in the Cr-resistance system may involve a variety of mechanisms, such as sulfate ion channel and respiratory chain electron transfer.201829655157
6148160.9520Heavy metal resistant Arthrobacter sp.--a tool for studying conjugational plasmid transfer between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The role of two heavy metal-resistant strains of the Gram-positive genus Arthrobacter sp. as a tool in studying conjugational plasmid transfer between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria is described. The high nickel resistance and the cobalt resistance of Arthrobacter sp. strain RM1/6 could be transferred to Arthrobacter sp. strain WS14. IncQ plasmids (pKT240, pKT240::czc, pML10) could be mobilized from E. coli into Arthrobacter spp. strains; antibiotic (Km, Ap, Tc) and heavy metal (Co) resistance genes were expressed in the recipient stains. IncQ plasmid pKT240 could be mobilized between Arthrobacter spp. strains. IncP plasmid RP4::Tn4371 was transferred from A. eutrophus to Arthrobacter sp., RP4-mediated antibiotic resistance to Km was expressed in the recipient strain.19979265744
5070170.9520Sequence-specific DNA solid-phase extraction in an on-chip monolith: Towards detection of antibiotic resistance genes. Antibiotic resistance of bacteria is a growing problem and presents a challenge for prompt treatment in patients with sepsis. Currently used methods rely on culturing or amplification; however, these steps are either time consuming or suffer from interference issues. A microfluidic device was made from black polypropylene, with a monolithic column modified with a capture oligonucleotide for sequence selective solid-phase extraction of a complementary target from a lysate sample. Porous properties of the monolith allow flow and hybridization of a target complementary to the probe immobilized on the column surface. Good flow-through properties enable extraction of a 100μL sample and elution of target DNA in 12min total time. Using a fluorescently labeled target oligonucleotide related to Verona Integron-Mediated Metallo-β-lactamase it was possible to extract and detect a 1pM sample with 83% recovery. Temperature-mediated elution by heating above the duplex melting point provides a clean extract without any agents that interfere with base pairing, allowing various labeling methods or further downstream processing of the eluent. Further integration of this extraction module with a system for isolation and lysis of bacteria from blood, as well as combining with single-molecule detection should allow rapid determination of antibiotic resistance.201728734608
6017180.9520Selection of lactic acid bacteria to promote an efficient silage fermentation capable of inhibiting the activity of Aspergillus parasiticus and Fusarium gramineraum and mycotoxin production. AIMS: To select lactic acid bacteria with potential silage inoculant properties. The bio-control activity against mycotoxicogenic fungi and the presence of antibiotics resistance gene were also evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Lactobacillus rhamnosus RC007 and Lactobacillus plantarum RC009 were selected on the basis of growth rate and efficacy in reducing the pH of maize extract medium; therefore, they were evaluated for their bio-control ability against Fusarium graminearum and Aspergillus parasiticus. Studies on lag phase, growth rate and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEA) production were carried out in vitro under different regimes of aw (0·95 and 0·99); pH (4 and 6); temperature (25 and 37°C); and oxygen availability (normal and reduced). Lactobacillus rhamnosus RC007 was able to completely inhibit the F. graminearum growth at all assayed conditions, while Lact. plantarum RC009 only did it at pH 4. Both Lactobacillus strains were able to significantly reduce the A. parasiticus growth rate mainly at 0·99 aw . A decrease in ZEA production was observed as result of Lactobacillus strains -F. graminearum interaction; however, the A. parasiticus- Lact. plantarum interaction resulted in an increased AFB1 production. Lactobacillus rhamnosus RC007 proved to have no genes for resistance to the tested antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of Lact. rhamnosus RC007 to rapidly drop the pH and to inhibit fungal growth and mycotoxin production and the absence of antibiotic resistance genes shows the potential of its application as inoculant and bio-control agent in animal feed. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrated the importance of selecting bacteria for silage inoculants not only for the improvement of silage fermentation but also for their effects on mycotoxicogenic fungi and the resulting mycotoxin production due to the risk that they may involve.201323437822
5798190.9520Rapid identification of bacteria, mecA and van genes from blood cultures. The Genotype technology, a quick molecular genetic assay based on DNA multiplex amplification with biotinylated primers followed by hybridization to membrane bound probes, complies with the requirements for a fast diagnosis of sepsis. We evaluated the new Genotype BC Gram-negative and Gram-positive test kits (Hain Life Science, Germany) which respectively allow for the identification of 15 species of Gram-negative (GN) rods, and the identification of 17 Gram-positive (GP) bacteria species together with the determination of methicillin and vancomycin resistance (mecA and van genes). The study was performed on 60 positive blood cultures from BacT/ALERT bottles (aerobic, anaerobic and pediatric bottles). First, a Gram stain was carried out to select between Genotype BC GP or GN test, then identification were performed by the Genotype BC tests and by biochemical conventional tests after subculture and phenotypic susceptibility determination. The operating procedure was very easy to carry out and required a small amount of starting material (5 to 10 microL of blood culture). The results were available within 4.5 hours. For all the blood cultures, the Genotype BC results correlated with the biochemical identification and phenotypic antibiotics susceptibility. According to our results, this DNA strip technology based assay can easily be incorporated into routine diagnosis.200717913394