title: Characterization of tetracycline and erythromycin resistance determinants in Treponema denticola.
abstract: Treponema denticola isolates were evaluated for the presence of known tetracycline and erythromycin resistance determinants by Southern blot hybridization of whole-cell DNA and PCR assays. We examined all isolates available, which included 12 clinical and 4 American Type Culture Collection isolates. Two isolates carried the Tet B determinant, five isolates carried both the Tet B and Erm F determinants, seven isolates carried the Erm F determinant, and two did not carry any of the Tet or Erm determinants tested. Both the Tet B and Erm F determinants appeared to be associated with the chromosome. Neither of the two T. denticola donors tested could transfer the Tet B determinant, but three of four T. denticola tested transferred the Erm F determinant to an Enterococcus faecalis recipient. This extends the host range of both the tetB and ermF genes into the genus Treponema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195-7238, USA. marilynr@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Roe
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D014208:Treponema / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004917:Erythromycin