title: Mechanisms of chloramphenicol resistance in Haemophilus influenzae in the United Kingdom.
abstract: Of 2458 isolates of Haemophilus influenzae examined in a recent British survey, 42 were resistant to chloramphenicol. Two resistant isolates were of type b and 40 were non-capsulate. Spectrophotometric assay showed that all the resistant isolates produced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). CAT activity did not increase following growth on heated blood agar containing chloramphenicol 2 mg/L but was reduced by 84-98% when extracts were treated for 30 min with 5', 5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoate. These data suggest that H. influenzae CATs resemble the Type-II CATs produced by enterobacteria. Extrachromosomal DNA was detected in five only of the 42 resistant isolates and cured derivatives of two plasmid-containing strains retained their chloramphenicol resistance. These results suggest that the CAT gene is located on the chromosome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, London Hospital Medical College.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Livermore
mesh_terms: D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002702:Chloramphenicol Resistance; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D011815:R Factors; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase