blaNDM-1 is a chimera likely constructed in Acinetobacter baumannii.
Alignment of DNA sequences found upstream of aphA6 and all bla(NDM-1) genes displays 100% identity. This identity continues 19 bp into the bla(NDM-1) gene such that the first 6 amino acids of aphA6 and bla(NDM-1) are the same. Furthermore, the percent GC content (GC%) of aphA6 is considerably lower than that of bla(NDM-1) and the GC% within the bla(NDM-1) structural gene changes dramatically after the first 19 bp. This is unequivocal evidence that bla(NDM-1) is a chimera.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection, the Heath Hospital, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom. Tolemanma@Cardiff.ac.uk
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Toleman
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Spencer
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Jones
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Walsh
D024506:5' Flanking Region; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000235:genetics*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D050506:Mutant Chimeric Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015780:Carbapenems; D050506:Mutant Chimeric Proteins; D001618:beta-Lactamases