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302100.9965Sequencing and comparative analysis of IncP-1α antibiotic resistance plasmids reveal a highly conserved backbone and differences within accessory regions. Although IncP-1 plasmids are important for horizontal gene transfer among bacteria, in particular antibiotic resistance spread, so far only three plasmids from the subgroup IncP-1α have been completely sequenced. In this study we doubled this number. The three IncP-1α plasmids pB5, pB11 and pSP21 were isolated from bacteria of two different sewage treatment plants and sequenced by a combination of next-generation and capillary sequencing technologies. A comparative analysis including the previously analysed IncP-1α plasmids RK2, pTB11 and pBS228 revealed a highly conserved plasmid backbone (at least 99.9% DNA sequence identity) comprising 54 core genes. The accessory elements of the plasmid pB5 constitute a class 1 integron interrupting the parC gene and an IS6100 copy inserted into the integron. In addition, the tetracycline resistance genes tetAR and the ISTB11-like element are located between the klc operon and the trfA-ssb operon. Plasmid pB11 is loaded with a Tn5053-like mercury resistance transposon between the parCBA and parDE operons and contains tetAR that are identical to those identified in plasmid pB5 and the insertion sequence ISSP21. Plasmid pSP21 harbours an ISPa7 element in a Tn402 transposon including a class 1 integron between the partitioning genes parCBA and parDE. The IS-element ISSP21 (99.89% DNA sequence identity to ISSP21 from pB11), inserted downstream of the tetR gene and a copy of ISTB11 (identical to ISTB11 on pTB11) inserted between the genes pncA and pinR. On all three plasmids the accessory genes are almost always located between the backbone modules confirming the importance of the backbone functions for plasmid maintenance. The striking backbone conservation among the six completely sequenced IncP-1α plasmids is in contrast to the much higher diversity within the IncP-1β subgroup.201121115076
301910.9964Identification and Characterization of New Resistance-Conferring SGI1s (Salmonella Genomic Island 1) in Proteus mirabilis. Salmonella genomic island 1 (SGI1) is a resistance-conferring chromosomal genomic island that contains an antibiotic resistance gene cluster. The international spread of SGI1-containing strains drew attention to the role of genomic islands in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in Salmonella and other Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, five SGI1 variants conferring multidrug and heavy metal resistance were identified and characterized in Proteus mirabilis strains: SGI1-PmCAU, SGI1-PmABB, SGI1-PmJN16, SGI1-PmJN40, and SGI1-PmJN48. The genetic structures of SGI1-PmCAU and SGI1-PmABB were identical to previously reported SGI1s, while structural analysis showed that SGI1-PmJN16, SGI1-PmJN40, and SGI1-PmJN48 are new SGI1 variants. SGI1-PmJN16 is derived from SGI1-Z with the MDR region containing a new gene cassette array dfrA12-orfF-aadA2-qacEΔ1-sul1-chrA-orf1. SGI1-PmJN40 has an unprecedented structure that contains two right direct repeat sequences separated by a transcriptional regulator-rich DNA fragment, and is predicted to form two different extrachromosomal mobilizable DNA circles for dissemination. SGI1-PmJN48 lacks a common ORF S044, and its right junction region exhibits a unique genetic organization due to the reverse integration of a P. mirabilis chromosomal gene cluster and the insertion of part of a P. mirabilis plasmid, making it the largest known SGI1 to date (189.1 kb). Further mobility functional analysis suggested that these SGIs can be excised from the chromosome for transfer between bacteria, which promotes the horizontal transfer of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes. The identification and characterization of the new SGI1 variants in this work suggested the diversity of SGI1 structures and their significant roles in the evolution of bacteria.201830619228
301520.9963Genetic structure and biological properties of the first ancient multiresistance plasmid pKLH80 isolated from a permafrost bacterium. A novel multidrug-resistance plasmid, pKLH80, previously isolated from Psychrobacter maritimus MR29-12 found in ancient permafrost, was completely sequenced and analysed. In our previous studies, we focused on the pKLH80 plasmid region containing streptomycin and tetracycline resistance genes, and their mobilization with an upstream-located ISPpy1 insertion sequence (IS) element. Here, we present the complete sequence of pKLH80 and analysis of its backbone genetic structure, including previously unknown features of the plasmid's accessory region, notably a novel variant of the β-lactamase gene blaRTG-6. Plasmid pKLH80 was found to be a circular 14 835 bp molecule that has an overall G+C content of 40.3 mol% and encodes 20 putative ORFs. There are two distinctive functional modules within the plasmid backbone sequence: (i) the replication module consisting of repB and the oriV region; and (ii) the mobilization module consisting of mobA, mobC and oriT. All of the aforementioned genes share sequence identities with corresponding genes of different species of Psychrobacter. The plasmid accessory region contains antibiotic resistance genes and IS elements (ISPsma1 of the IS982 family, and ISPpy1 and ISAba14 of the IS3 family) found in environmental and clinical bacterial strains of different taxa. We revealed that the sequences flanking blaRTG-6 and closely related genes from clinical bacteria are nearly identical. This fact suggests that blaRTG-6 from the environmental strain of Psychrobacter is a progenitor of blaRTG genes of clinical bacteria. We also showed that pKLH80 can replicate in different strains of Acinetobacter and Psychrobacter genera. The roles of IS elements in the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes are examined and discussed.201425063046
301830.9961The large Bacillus plasmid pTB19 contains two integrated rolling-circle plasmids carrying mobilization functions. Plasmid pTB19 is a 27-kb plasmid originating from a thermophilic Bacillus species. It was shown previously that pTB19 contains an integrated copy of the rolling-circle type plasmid pTB913. Here we describe the analysis of a 4324-bp region of pTB19 conferring resistance to tetracycline. The nucleotide sequence of this region revealed all the characteristics of a second plasmid replicating via the rolling-circle mechanism. This sequence contained (i) the tetracycline resistance marker of pTB19, which is highly similar to other tetL-genes of gram-positive bacteria; (ii) a hybrid mob gene, which bears relatedness to both the mob-genes of pUB110 and pTB913; (iii) a palU type minus origin identical to those of pUB110 and pTB913; and (iv) a plus origin of replication similar to that of pTB913. A repB-type replication initiation gene sequence identical to that of pTB913 was present, which lacked the middle part (492 bp), thus preventing autonomous replication of this region. The hybrid mob gene was functional in conjugative mobilization of plasmids between strains of Bacillus subtilis.19911946749
302840.9960Novel macrolide resistance module carried by the IncP-1beta resistance plasmid pRSB111, isolated from a wastewater treatment plant. The macrolide resistance plasmid pRSB111 was isolated from bacteria residing in the final effluents of a wastewater treatment plant. The 47-kb plasmid confers resistance to azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, roxithromycin, and tylosin when it is carried by Pseudomonas sp. strain B13 and is very similar to prototype IncP-1beta plasmid pB3, which was previously isolated from an activated-sludge bacterial community of a wastewater treatment plant. The two plasmids differ in their accessory regions, located downstream of the conjugative transfer module gene traC. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the pRSB111 accessory region revealed that it contains a new macrolide resistance module composed of the genes mphR(E), mph(E), and mrx(E), which putatively encode a transcriptional regulator, a macrolide phosphotransferase, and a transmembrane transport protein, respectively. Analysis of the contributions of the individual genes of the macrolide resistance module revealed that mph(E) and mrx(E) are required for high-level macrolide resistance. The resistance genes are flanked by two insertion sequences, namely, ISPa15 and ISRSB111. Two truncated transposable elements, IS6100 and remnants of a Tn3-like transposon, were identified in the vicinity of ISRSB111. The accessory element of pRSB111 apparently replaced the Tn402-like element present on the sister plasmid, pB3, as suggested by the conservation of Tn402-specific terminal inverted repeats on pRSB111.200717101677
302750.9960Tn5045, a novel integron-containing antibiotic and chromate resistance transposon isolated from a permafrost bacterium. A novel antibiotic and chromate resistance transposon, Tn5045, was isolated from a permafrost strain of Pseudomonas sp. Tn5045 is a compound transposon composed of three distinct genetic elements. The backbone element is a Tn1013-like Tn3 family transposon, termed Tn1013∗, that contains the tnpA and the tnpR genes, encoding the transposase and resolvase, respectively, the res-site and four genes (orfA, B, C, D) related to different house-keeping genes. The second element is class 1 integron, termed InC∗, which is inserted into the Tn1013∗ res-region and contains 5'-CS-located integrase, 3'-CS-located qacE∆1 and sulfonamide resistance sulI genes, and a single cassette encoding the streptomycin resistance aadA2-gene. The third element is a TnOtChr-like Tn3 family transposon termed TnOtChr∗, which is inserted into the transposition module of the integron and contains genes of chromate resistance (chrB, A, C, F). Tn5045 is the first example of an ancient integron-containing mobile element and also the first characterized compound transposon coding for both antibiotic and chromate, resistance. Our data demonstrate that antibiotic and chromate resistance genes were distributed in environmental bacteria independently of human activities and provide important insights into the origin and evolution of antibiotic resistance integrons.201121262357
301660.9960Complete nucleotide sequence of the conjugative tetracycline resistance plasmid pFBAOT6, a member of a group of IncU plasmids with global ubiquity. This study presents the first complete sequence of an IncU plasmid, pFBAOT6. This plasmid was originally isolated from a strain of Aeromonas caviae from hospital effluent (Westmorland General Hospital, Kendal, United Kingdom) in September 1997 (G. Rhodes, G. Huys, J. Swings, P. McGann, M. Hiney, P. Smith, and R. W. Pickup, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:3883-3890, 2000) and belongs to a group of related plasmids with global ubiquity. pFBAOT6 is 84,748 bp long and has 94 predicted coding sequences, only 12 of which do not have a possible function that has been attributed. Putative replication, maintenance, and transfer functions have been identified and are located in a region in the first 31 kb of the plasmid. The replication region is poorly understood but exhibits some identity at the protein level with replication proteins from the gram-positive bacteria Bacillus and Clostridium. The mating pair formation system is a virB homologue, type IV secretory pathway that is similar in its structural organization to the mating pair formation systems of the related broad-host-range (BHR) environmental plasmids pIPO2, pXF51, and pSB102 from plant-associated bacteria. Partitioning and maintenance genes are homologues of genes in IncP plasmids. The DNA transfer genes and the putative oriT site also exhibit high levels of similarity with those of plasmids pIPO2, pXF51, and pSB102. The genetic load region encompasses 54 kb, comprises the resistance genes, and includes a class I integron, an IS630 relative, and other transposable elements in a 43-kb region that may be a novel Tn1721-flanked composite transposon. This region also contains 24 genes that exhibit the highest levels of identity to chromosomal genes of several plant-associated bacteria. The features of the backbone of pFBAOT6 that are shared with this newly defined group of environmental BHR plasmids suggest that pFBAOT6 may be a relative of this group, but a relative that was isolated from a clinical bacterial environment rather than a plant-associated bacterial environment.200415574953
300870.9960Sequence of conjugative plasmid pIP1206 mediating resistance to aminoglycosides by 16S rRNA methylation and to hydrophilic fluoroquinolones by efflux. Self-transferable IncFI plasmid pIP1206, isolated from an Escherichia coli clinical isolate, carries two new resistance determinants: qepA, which confers resistance to hydrophylic fluoroquinolones by efflux, and rmtB, which specifies a 16S rRNA methylase conferring high-level aminoglycoside resistance. Analysis of the 168,113-bp sequence (51% G+C) revealed that pIP1206 was composed of several subregions separated by copies of insertion sequences. Of 151 open reading frames, 56 (37%) were also present in pRSB107, isolated from a bacterium in a sewage treatment plant. pIP1206 contained four replication regions (RepFIA, RepFIB, and two partial RepFII regions) and a transfer region 91% identical with that of pAPEC-O1-ColBM, a plasmid isolated from an avian pathogenic E. coli. A putative oriT region was found upstream from the transfer region. The antibiotic resistance genes tet(A), catA1, bla(TEM-1), rmtB, and qepA were clustered in a 33.5-kb fragment delineated by two IS26 elements that also carried a class 1 integron, including the sulI, qacEDelta1, aad4, and dfrA17 genes and Tn10, Tn21, and Tn3-like transposons. The plasmid also possessed a raffinose operon, an arginine deiminase pathway, a putative iron acquisition gene cluster, an S-methylmethionine metabolism operon, two virulence-associated genes, and a type I DNA restriction-modification (R-M) system. Three toxin/antitoxin systems and the R-M system ensured stabilization of the plasmid in the host bacteria. These data suggest that the mosaic structure of pIP1206 could have resulted from recombination between pRSB107 and a pAPEC-O1-ColBM-like plasmid, combined with structural rearrangements associated with acquisition of additional DNA by recombination and of mobile genetic elements by transposition.200818458128
302080.9960Combining sequencing approaches to fully resolve a carbapenemase-encoding megaplasmid in a Pseudomonas shirazica clinical strain. Horizontal transfer of plasmids plays a pivotal role in dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes and emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Plasmid sequencing is thus paramount for accurate epidemiological tracking in hospitals and routine surveillance. Combining Nanopore and Illumina sequencing allowed full assembly of a carbapenemase-encoding megaplasmid carried by multidrug-resistant clinical isolate FFUP_PS_41. Average nucleotide identity analyses revealed that FFUP_PS_41 belongs to the recently proposed new species Pseudomonas shirazica, related to the P. putida phylogenetic group. FFUP_PS_41 harbours a 498,516-bp megaplasmid (pJBCL41) with limited similarity to publicly-available plasmids. pJBCL41 contains genes predicted to encode replication, conjugation, partitioning and maintenance functions and heavy metal resistance. The |aacA7|blaVIM-2|aacA4| cassette array (resistance to carbapenems and aminoglycosides) is located within a class 1 integron that is a defective Tn402 derivative. This transposon lies within a 50,273-bp region bound by Tn3-family 38-bp inverted repeats and flanked by 5-bp direct repeats (DR) that composes additional transposon fragments, five insertion sequences and a Tn3-Derived Inverted-Repeat Miniature Element. The hybrid Nanopore/Illumina approach allowed full resolution of a carbapenemase-encoding megaplasmid from P. shirazica. Identification of novel megaplasmids sheds new light on the evolutionary effects of gene transfer and the selective forces driving antibiotic resistance.201931381486
987490.9960Genomic islands related to Salmonella genomic island 1; integrative mobilisable elements in trmE mobilised in trans by A/C plasmids. Salmonella genomic island 1 (SGI1), an integrative mobilisable element (IME), was first reported 20 years ago, in the multidrug resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 clone. Since this first report, many variants and relatives have been found in Salmonella enterica and Proteus mirabilis. Thanks to whole genome sequencing, more and more complete sequences of SGI1-related elements (SGI1-REs) have been reported in these last few years among Gammaproteobacteria. Here, the genetic organisation and main features common to SGI1-REs are summarised to help to classify them. Their integrases belong to the tyrosine-recombinase family and target the 3'-end of the trmE gene. They share the same genetic organisation (integrase and excisionase genes, replicase module, SgaCD-like transcriptional activator genes, traN, traG, mpsB/mpsA genes) and they harbour AcaCD binding sites promoting their excision, replication and mobilisation in presence of A/C plasmid. SGI1-REs are mosaic structures suggesting that recombination events occurred between them. Most of them harbour a multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) region and the plasticity of their MAR region show that SGI1-REs play a key role in antibiotic resistance and might help multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria to adapt to their environment. This might explain the emergence of clones with SGI1-REs.202133582118
3023100.9959ICEAplChn1, a novel SXT/R391 integrative conjugative element (ICE), carrying multiple antibiotic resistance genes in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. SXT/R391 integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) are capable of self-transfer by conjugation and highly prevalent in various aquatic bacteria and Proteus species. In the present study, a novel SXT/R391 ICE, named ICEAplChn1, was identified in the multidrug resistant (MDR) Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae strain app6. ICEAplChn1 was composed of the typical SXT/R391 backbone and insertion DNA at eight hotspots, including HS1, HS2, HS3, HS4, HS5, VRII, VRIII and a new variation region VRVI. Many of the insertion contents were not present in other reported SXT/R391 family members, including ICEApl2, a recently identified SXT/R391 ICE from a clinical isolate of A. pleuropneumoniae. Remarkably, the VRIII region had accumulated seven resistance genes tet(A), erm(42), floR, aphA6, strB (two copies), strA and sul2. Of them, erm(42) and aphA6 emerged for the first time not only in the SXT/R391 elements but also in A. pleuropneumoniae. Phylogenetic analysis showed considerable variation of the backbone sequence of ICEAplChn1, as compared to those of other SXT/R391 ICEs. A circular intermediate form of ICEAplChn1 was detected by nested PCR. However, the conjugation experiments using different bacteria as recipients failed. These findings demonstrated that SXT/R391 ICEs are able to adapt to a broader range of host bacterial species. The presence of the MDR gene cluster in ICEAplChn1 underlines that SXT/R391 ICE could serve as an important vector for the accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes.201829885796
9875110.9958Antibiotic Resistance in Vibrio cholerae: Mechanistic Insights from IncC Plasmid-Mediated Dissemination of a Novel Family of Genomic Islands Inserted at trmE. Cholera remains a formidable disease, and reports of multidrug-resistant strains of the causative agent Vibrio cholerae have become common during the last 3 decades. The pervasiveness of resistance determinants has largely been ascribed to mobile genetic elements, including SXT/R391 integrative conjugative elements, IncC plasmids, and genomic islands (GIs). Conjugative transfer of IncC plasmids is activated by the master activator AcaCD whose regulatory network extends to chromosomally integrated GIs. MGIVchHai6 is a multidrug resistance GI integrated at the 3' end of trmE (mnmE or thdF) in chromosome 1 of non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae clinical isolates from the 2010 Haitian cholera outbreak. In the presence of an IncC plasmid expressing AcaCD, MGIVchHai6 excises from the chromosome and transfers at high frequency. Herein, the mechanism of mobilization of MGIVchHai6 GIs by IncC plasmids was dissected. Our results show that AcaCD drives expression of GI-borne genes, including xis and mobI(M) , involved in excision and mobilization. A 49-bp fragment upstream of mobI(M) was found to serve as the minimal origin of transfer (oriT) of MGIVchHai6. The direction of transfer initiated at oriT was determined using IncC plasmid-driven mobilization of chromosomal markers via MGIVchHai6. In addition, IncC plasmid-encoded factors, including the relaxase TraI, were found to be required for GI transfer. Finally, in silico exploration of Gammaproteobacteria genomes identified 47 novel related and potentially AcaCD-responsive GIs in 13 different genera. Despite sharing conserved features, these GIs integrate at trmE, yicC, or dusA and carry a diverse cargo of genes involved in phage resistance.IMPORTANCE The increasing association of the etiological agent of cholera, Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 and O139, with multiple antibiotic resistance threatens to deprive health practitioners of this effective tool. Drug resistance in cholera results mainly from acquisition of mobile genetic elements. Genomic islands conferring multidrug resistance and mobilizable by IncC conjugative plasmids were reported to circulate in non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae clinical strains isolated from the 2010 Haitian cholera outbreak. As these genomic islands can be transmitted to pandemic V. cholerae serogroups, their mechanism of transmission needed to be investigated. Our research revealed plasmid- and genomic island-encoded factors required for the resistance island excision, mobilization, and integration, as well as regulation of these functions. The discovery of related genomic islands carrying diverse phage resistance genes but lacking antibiotic resistance-conferring genes in a wide range of marine dwelling bacteria suggests that these elements are ancient and recently acquired drug resistance genes.202032848007
820120.9958Nucleotide sequence analysis of a transposon (Tn5393) carrying streptomycin resistance genes in Erwinia amylovora and other gram-negative bacteria. A class II Tn3-type transposable element, designated Tn5393 and located on plasmid pEa34 from streptomycin-resistant strain CA11 of Erwinia amylovora, was identified by its ability to move from pEa34 to different sites in plasmids pGEM3Zf(+) and pUCD800. Nucleotide sequence analysis reveals that Tn5393 consists of 6,705 bp with 81-bp terminal inverted repeats and generates 5-bp duplications of the target DNA following insertion. Tn5393 contains open reading frames that encode a putative transposase (tnpA) and resolvase (tnpR) of 961 and 181 amino acids, respectively. The two open reading frames are separated by a putative recombination site (res) consisting of 194 bp. Two streptomycin resistance genes, strA and strB, were identified on the basis of their DNA sequence homology to streptomycin resistance genes in plasmid RSF1010. StrA is separated from tnpR by a 1.2-kb insertion element designated IS1133. The tnpA-res-tnpR region of Tn5393 was detected in Pseudomonas syringae pv. papulans Psp36 and in many other gram-negative bacteria harboring strA and strB. Except for some strains of Erwinia herbicola, these other gram-negative bacteria lacked insertion sequence IS1133. The prevalence of strA and strB could be accounted for by transposition of Tn5393 to conjugative plasmids that are then disseminated widely among gram-negative bacteria.19938380801
3017130.9957The ancient small mobilizable plasmid pALWED1.8 harboring a new variant of the non-cassette streptomycin/spectinomycin resistance gene aadA27. The small mobilizable plasmid pALWED1.8 containing a novel variant of the streptomycin/spectinomycin resistance gene aadA27 was isolated from the permafrost strains of Acinetobacter lwoffii. The 4135bp plasmid carries mobА and mobC genes that mediate its mobilization by conjugative plasmids. The nucleotide sequences of mobА and mobC are similar to those of mobilization genes of the modern plasmid pRAY* and its variants, which contain aadB gene, and are widespread among the pathogenic strains of Acinetobacter baumannii. Almost identical pALWED1.8 variants were detected in modern environmental Аcinetobacter strains. A highly similar plasmid was revealed in a strain of Acinetobacter parvus isolated from mouse intestine. Furthermore, we discovered six previously unidentified variants of plasmids related to pALWED1.8 and pRAY* in public databases. In contrast to most known variants of aadA which are cassette genes associated with integrons, the aadA27 variant harbored by pALWED1.8 is a non-cassette, autonomously transcribed gene. Non-cassette aadA genes with 96% sequence identity to aadA27 were detected in the chromosomes of Acinetobacter gyllenbergii and several uncharacterized strains of Аcinetobacter sp. Moreover, we revealed that the autonomous aadA-like genes are present in the chromosomes of many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The phylogenetic analysis of amino acid sequences of all identified AadA proteins showed the following: (i) cassette aadA genes form a separate monophyletic group and mainly reside on plasmids and (ii) chromosomal non-cassette aadA genes are extremely diverse and can be inherited both vertical and via horizontal gene transfer.201626896789
3024140.9957Identification of ISVlu1-derived translocatable units containing optrA and/or fexA genes generated by homologous or illegitimate recombination in Lactococcus garvieae of porcine origin. The optrA gene encodes an ABC-F protein which confers cross-resistance to oxazolidinones and phenicols. Insertion sequence ISVlu1, a novel ISL3-family member, was recently reported to be involved in the transmission of optrA in Vagococcus lutrae. However, the role of ISVlu1 in mobilizing resistance genes has not yet fully explored. In this study, two complete and three truncated copies of ISVlu1 were found on plasmid pBN62-optrA from Lactococcus garvieae. Analysis of the genetic context showed that both optrA and the phenicols resistance gene fexA were flanked by the complete or truncated ISVlu1 copies. Moreover, three different-sized ISVlu1-based translocatable units (TUs) carrying optrA and/or fexA, were detected from pBN62-optrA. Sequence analysis revealed that the TU-optrA was generated by homologous recombination while TU-fexA and TU-optrA+fexA were the products of illegitimate recombinations. Importantly, conjugation assays confirmed that pBN62-optrA was able to successfully transfer into the recipient Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2. To our knowledge, this is the first report about an optrA-carrying plasmid in L. garvieae which could horizontally transfer into other species. More importantly, the ISVlu1-flanked genetic structures containing optrA and/or fexA were also observed in bacteria of different species, which underlines that ISVlu1 is highly active and plays a vital role in the transfer of some important resistance genes, such as optrA and fexA.202438479301
417150.9956Site-specific integration of genes into hot spots for recombination flanking aadA in Tn21 transposons. Tn21-related transposons are widespread among bacteria and carry various resistance determinants at preferential sites, hs1 and hs2. In an in vivo integrative recombination assay it was demonstrated that these hot spots direct the integration of aminoglycoside resistance genes like aadB from Klebsiella pneumoniae and aacAI from Serratia marcescens, in a recA- background. The maximum required recognition sequence which must be present in both the donor and recipient plasmids is 5' CTAAAACAAAGTTA 3' (hs2). The double-site-specific recombination occurred with a frequency of 10(-5)-10(-6). The resulting structures include not only replicon fusion products but also more complex structures carrying two copies of the donor plasmid or simply the donor gene flanked by hs elements. hs1 and hs2 are thought to act as recognition sites for a transacting site-specific recombinase. By the use of Tn21 deletion derivatives, it has been shown that the recombinase is not encoded by Tn21. This new integrative recombination system is involved in the acquisition of new genes by Tn21-related transposons and their spread among bacterial populations.19911654505
3003160.9956IS26-Mediated Formation of Transposons Carrying Antibiotic Resistance Genes. The IS26 transposase, Tnp26, catalyzes IS26 movement to a new site and deletion or inversion of adjacent DNA via a replicative route. The intramolecular deletion reaction produces a circular molecule consisting of a DNA segment and a single IS26, which we call a translocatable unit or TU. Recently, Tnp26 was shown to catalyze an additional intermolecular, conservative reaction between two preexisting copies of IS26 in different plasmids. Here, we have investigated the relative contributions of homologous recombination and Tnp26-catalyzed reactions to the generation of a transposon from a TU. Circular TUs containing the aphA1a kanamycin and neomycin resistance gene or the tet(D) tetracycline resistance determinant were generated in vitro and transformed into Escherichia coli recA cells carrying R388::IS26. The TU incorporated next to the IS26 in R388::IS26 forms a transposon with the insertion sequence (IS) in direct orientation. Introduction of a second TU produced regions containing both the aphA1a gene and the tet(D) determinant in either order but with only three copies of IS26. The integration reaction, which required a preexisting IS26, was precise and conservative and was 50-fold more efficient when both IS26 copies could produce an active Tnp26. When both ISs were inactivated by a frameshift in tnp26, TU incorporation was not detected in E. coli recA cells, but it did occur in E. coli recA (+) cells. However, the Tnp-catalyzed reaction was 100-fold more efficient than RecA-dependent homologous recombination. The ability of Tnp26 to function in either a replicative or conservative mode is likely to explain the prominence of IS26-bounded transposons in the resistance regions found in Gram-negative bacteria. IMPORTANCE In Gram-negative bacteria, IS26 recruits antibiotic resistance genes into the mobile gene pool by forming transposons carrying many different resistance genes. In addition to replicative transposition, IS26 was recently shown to use a novel conservative movement mechanism in which an incoming IS26 targets a preexisting one. Here, we have demonstrated how IS26-bounded class I transposons can be produced from translocatable units (TUs) containing only an IS26 and a resistance gene via the conservative reaction. TUs were incorporated next to an existing IS26, creating a class I transposon, and if the targeted IS26 is in a transposon, the product resembles two transposons sharing a central IS26, a configuration observed in some resistance regions and when a transposon is tandemly duplicated. Though homologous recombination could also incorporate a TU, Tnp26 is far more efficient. This provides insight into how IS26 builds transposons and brings additional transposons into resistance regions.201627303727
3060170.9955Integron mobilization unit as a source of mobility of antibiotic resistance genes. Antibiotic resistance genes are spread mostly through plasmids, integrons (as a form of gene cassettes), and transposons in gram-negative bacteria. We describe here a novel genetic structure, named the integron mobilization unit (IMU), that has characteristics similar to those of miniature inverted transposable elements (MITEs). Two IMUs (288 bp each) were identified from a carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae isolate that formed a composite structure encompassing a defective class 1 integron containing the carbapenem resistance gene bla(GES-5). This beta-lactamase gene was located on a 7-kb IncQ-type plasmid named pCHE-A, which was sequenced completely. The plasmid pCHE-A was not self conjugative but was mobilizable, and it was successfully transferred from E. cloacae to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The in silico analysis of the extremities of the IMU elements identified similarities with those of insertion sequence ISSod9 from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. The mobilization of the IMU composite structure was accomplished by using the transposase activity of ISSod9 that was provided in trans. This is the first identification of MITE-type structures as a source of gene mobilization, implicating here a clinically relevant antibiotic resistance gene.200919332679
9872180.9955pCTX-M3-Structure, Function, and Evolution of a Multi-Resistance Conjugative Plasmid of a Broad Recipient Range. pCTX-M3 is the archetypic member of the IncM incompatibility group of conjugative plasmids (recently referred to as IncM2). It is responsible for the worldwide dissemination of numerous antibiotic resistance genes, including those coding for extended-spectrum β-lactamases and conferring resistance to aminoglycosides. The IncM plasmids acquired during evolution diverse mobile genetic elements found in one or two multiple resistance regions, MRR(s), grouping antibiotic resistance genes as well as mobile genetic elements or their remnants. The IncM plasmids can be found in bacteria inhabiting various environments. The information on the structure and biology of pCTX-M3 is integrated in this review. It focuses on the functional modules of pCTX-M3 responsible for its replication, stable maintenance, and conjugative transfer, indicating that the host range of the pCTX-M3 replicon is limited to representatives of the family Enterobacteriaceae (Enterobacterales ord. nov.), while the range of recipients of its conjugation system is wide, comprising Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria, and also Firmicutes.202133925677
3007190.9955Analysis of the complete nucleotide sequence of an Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae streptomycin-sulfonamide resistance plasmid, pMS260. pMS260 is an 8.1-kb non-conjugative but mobilizable plasmid that was isolated from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and encodes streptomycin (SM) and sulfonamide (SA) resistances. The analysis of the complete nucleotide sequence of the plasmid revealed a high degree of similarity between pMS260 and the broad-host-range IncQ family plasmids. pMS260 had a single copy of an origin of vegetative replication (oriV). This sequence was identical to a functional oriV of the IncQ-like plasmid pIE1130 that had been exogenously isolated from piggery manure. However, pMS260 did not carry the second IncQ plasmid RSF1010-like oriV region present in pIE1130. A pIE1130-identical transfer origin was also found in pMS260. In addition, the deduced amino acid sequences from 10 open reading frames identified in pMS260 were entirely or nearly identical to those from genes for the replication, mobilization, and SM-SA resistance of pIE1130, indicating that pMS260 belongs to the IncQ-1 gamma subgroup. pMS260 is physically indistinguishable from pIE1130 apart from two DNA regions that contain the chloramphenicol and kanamycin resistance genes (catIII and aphI, respectively) and the second oriV-like region of pIE1130. The codon bias analysis of each gene of pIE1130 and the presence of potential recombination sites in the sulII-strA intergenic regions suggest that pIE1130 seems to have acquired the catIII and aphI genes more recently than the other genes of pIE1130. Therefore, pMS260 may be the ancestor of pIE1130. Information regarding the broad-host-range replicon of pMS260 will be useful in the development of genetic systems for a wide range of bacteria including A. pleuropneumoniae.200414711528