High-level plasmid-mediated gentamicin resistance and pheromone response of plasmids present in clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis.
Eleven pheromone-responding plasmids encoding erythromycin or gentamicin resistance were isolated from multiresistant clinical Enterococcus faecalis isolates. The plasmids were classified into six types with respect to their pheromone responses. The three erythromycin resistance plasmids responded to different pheromones. Of the eight gentamicin resistance plasmids, four plasmids responded to same pheromone. Southern hybridization studies showed that the genes involved in regulation of the pheromone response were conserved in the drug resistance plasmids.
Shiojima
M
M
Department of Microbiology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Japan.
Tomita
H
H
Tanimoto
K
K
Fujimoto
S
S
Ike
Y
Y
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000235:genetics*; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D010675:Pheromones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D010675:Pheromones