Faecal Escherichia coli mediating transferable multi-antibiotic resistance and undesirable extra-chromosomal genes.
A conjugative R-plasmid PE004, Inc F11, conferring resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin, kanamycin and trimethoprim was obtained from an E. coli serotype 026 isolate from the stool of a child with acute diarrhoea. The R-plasmid PE004 also co-transfers an enteropathogenicity antigen without the production of enterotoxins or manifestation of invasiveness. It is not yet known whether this transferable antigen mediates enterocyte damage with consequent diarrhoea. The R-plasmid was of molecular weight 2.4 megadaltons (3.7 kilobase) with a transfer frequency of 6 x 10(-4) cfu/ml E. coli J53-1. The uncontrolled mediation with antibiotics in cases of acute diarrhoea could select gut bacteria not only possessing R-plasmids conferring resistance to several antibiotics but with associated undesirable extrachromosomal genes.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D007612:Kanamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011815:R Factors; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000494:pharmacology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007612:Kanamycin; D000667:Ampicillin; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013752:Tetracycline; D013307:Streptomycin