title: The VanE operon in Enterococcus faecalis N00-410 is found on a putative integrative and conjugative element, Tn6202.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To date no complete genetic structure of acquired DNA harbouring a d-Ala-d-Ser operon in an Enterococcus is known. We wished to characterize the acquired DNA harbouring the vanE operon located in the Enterococcus faecalis N00-410 chromosome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole genome sequencing of E. faecalis N00-410 was conducted by massively parallel sequencing. Two sequence contigs harbouring the vanE region were linked by PCR and the acquired DNA harbouring the vanE operon was completely characterized. Excision/integration of the region was determined by PCR and transfer attempted by conjugation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The regions flanking the vanE operon were analysed and a total of 42 open reading frames were identified in a region flanked by inverted terminal and direct repeats (Tn6202). Tn6202 could be excised from the chromosome, circularized and the target site rejoined, but transfer could not be demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vanE operon was found on the putative integrative and conjugative element Tn6202 in the E. faecalis N00-410 chromosome. This represents the first characterization of acquired DNA harbouring a D-Ala-D-Ser operon.
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial Resistance and Nosocomial Infections, National Microbiology Laboratory,  Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba,  Canada.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mulvey
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000235:genetics*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008025:Ligases / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009876:Operon; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008025:Ligases; C469907:VanE protein, Enterococcus faecalis