Detection of Novel Integrons in the Metagenome of Human Saliva.
Integrons are genetic elements capable of capturing and expressing open reading frames (ORFs) embedded within gene cassettes. They are involved in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in clinically important pathogens. Although the ARGs are common in the oral cavity the association of integrons and antibiotic resistance has not been reported there. In this work, a PCR-based approach was used to investigate the presence of integrons and associated gene cassettes in human oral metagenomic DNA obtained from both the UK and Bangladesh. We identified a diverse array of gene cassettes containing ORFs predicted to confer antimicrobial resistance and other adaptive traits. The predicted proteins include a putative streptogramin A O-acetyltransferase, a bleomycin binding protein, cof-like hydrolase, competence and motility related proteins. This is the first study detecting integron gene cassettes directly from oral metagenomic DNA samples. The predicted proteins are likely to carry out a multitude of functions; however, the function of the majority is yet unknown.
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD, United Kingdom.
Supathep
S
Tansirichaiya
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD, United Kingdom.|Department of Pharmacy, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
Md Ajijur
MA
Rahman
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD, United Kingdom.
Agata
A
Antepowicz
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD, United Kingdom.
Peter
P
Mullany
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD, United Kingdom.
Adam P
AP
Roberts
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001459:Bangladesh; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D032023:Integrons / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D054892:Metagenome / Q000235:genetics*; D064307:Microbiota / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial