Conjugal transfer of aminoglycoside and macrolide resistance between Enterococcus faecium isolates in the intestine of streptomycin-treated mice.
The purpose was to study conjugal transfer of resistance genes between a multi-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolate and a sensitive E. faecium isolate. Co-transfer of erm(B)-Tn5405-like element and aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'')-Ia was obtained in both in vivo and in vitro. Plasmid profiles and Southern blots showed that both the erm(B)-Tn5405-like element and aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'')-Ia were placed on the same large plasmid (>147 kb). These data show to our knowledge the first co-transfer of the erm(B)-Tn5405-like element and aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'')-Ia. The in vivo study also indicates that transfer of resistance genes between enterococci might occur under natural conditions in the gut of animals.
Lester
Camilla H
CH
National Center for Antimicrobials and Infection Control, Statens Serum Institut, 5 Artillerivej, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark.
Frimodt-Moller
Niels
N
Hammerum
Anette M
AM
D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D018942:Macrolides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018942:Macrolides; D013307:Streptomycin