title: Conjugative co-transfer of penicillin tolerance and high-level resistance to kanamycin in group A streptococci.
abstract: To understand further the association between high-level resistance to kanamycin and penicillin tolerance in group A streptococci, high-level resistance to kanamycin was transferred from a penicillin-tolerant group A streptococcal strain possessing a high-level resistance to kanamycin to a penicillin non-tolerant, kanamycin-susceptible group A streptococcal strain and transconjugants were examined for penicillin tolerance. Transfer of high-level resistance to kanamycin occurred at a frequency of 10(-6). Transconjugants carrying high-level resistance to kanamycin exhibited characteristics of penicillin tolerance. These findings suggest that the genetic basis for penicillin tolerance is related to that for high-level resistance to kanamycin in group A streptococci. Further studies are needed to characterize the transferable genetic element(s).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lakshmi
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D005672:Fusidic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007613:Kanamycin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D010403:Penicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005672:Fusidic Acid; D012293:Rifampin