title: Host range of the ermF rRNA methylase gene in bacteria of human and animal origin.
abstract: We screened 183 different clinical anaerobic and aerobic bacteria isolated from humans and other animals for the presence of the ermF gene using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The ermF gene was detected in 107 (58%) clinical isolates, including 42 (61%) of 69 gram-positive bacteria and 65 (57%) of 114 gram-negative bacteria. Twenty-five ATCC isolates were also tested; 20 (80%) carried the ermF gene. The gene products from the ermF PCR from four isolates were sequenced and showed 95-99% nucleotide homology with the ermF gene and 98-99% amino acid homology with the gene product. Eleven (58%) of the 19 gram-negative donors tested were able to transfer the ermF gene. All nine (100%) of the gram-positive donors tested transferred the ermF gene, using either Enterococcus faecalis or Haemophilus influenzae as the recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Werckenthin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000235:genetics; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D012359:tRNA Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C074162:RteA protein, Bacteriodes; C074163:RteB protein, Bacteriodes; D008780:Methyltransferases; D012359:tRNA Methyltransferases