Association of different mobile elements to generate novel integrative elements.
Among the more important problems in modern hospitals is the prevalence of bacterial pathogens expressing resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents. The frequency of multiresistance suggests mechanisms by which bacterial species can concentrate and efficiently exchange a variety of resistance determinants. Mechanisms by which this occurs include insertion of transposons within transposons, coalescence through the activity of insertion sequences and the employment of integrons. In some instances, more than one of these mechanisms is involved in creating large multiresistance genetic elements. The association of the elements with transferable elements or transposons may promote rapid dissemination among clinical strains, and create further opportunities for inclusion of additional resistance determinants.
Rice
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LB
Medical Service 111(W), Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, 10701 East Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA. louis.rice@med.va.gov
D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D032023:Integrons; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D018626:Retroelements / Q000235:genetics
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D018626:Retroelements