scholarly journals Integrating Conjugative Elements as Vectors of Antibiotic, Mercury, and Quaternary Ammonium Compound Resistance in Marine Aquaculture Environments

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 2619-2626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arturo Rodríguez-Blanco ◽  
Manuel L. Lemos ◽  
Carlos R. Osorio
Keyword(s):  
Quaternary Ammonium ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Tetracycline Resistance ◽  
Variable Region ◽  
Mercury Resistance ◽  
Ammonium Compound ◽  
Resistance Locus ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Marine Aquaculture ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTThe presence of SXT/R391-related integrating conjugative elements (ICEs) in bacterial strains isolated from fish obtained from marine aquaculture environments in 2001 to 2010 in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula was studied. ICEs were detected in 12 strains taxonomically related toVibrio scophthalmi(3 strains),Vibrio splendidus(5 strains),Vibrio alginolyticus(1 strain),Shewanella haliotis(1 strain), andEnterovibrio nigricans(2 strains), broadening the known host range able to harbor SXT/R391-like ICEs. Variable DNA regions, which confer element-specific properties to ICEs of this family, were characterized. One of the ICEs encoded antibiotic resistance functions in variable region III, consisting of a tetracycline resistance locus. Interestingly, hot spot 4 included genes providing resistance to rifampin (ICEVspPor2 and ICEValPor1) and quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) (ICEEniSpa1), and variable region IV included a mercury resistance operon (ICEVspSpa1 and ICEEniSpa1). The S exclusion group was more represented than the R exclusion group, accounting for two-thirds of the total ICEs. Mating experiments allowed ICE mobilization toEscherichia colistrains, showing the corresponding transconjugants' rifampin, mercury, and QAC resistance. These results show the first evidence of ICEs providing rifampin and QAC resistances, suggesting that these mobile genetic elements contribute to the dissemination of antimicrobial, heavy metal, and QAC resistance determinants in aquaculture environments.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Detection of qac Genes from Disinfectant-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Salon Tools in Ishaka Town, Bushenyi District of Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Solange Gahongayire ◽  
Adamu Almustapha Aliero ◽  
Charles Drago Kato ◽  
Alice Namatovu
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Hypochlorite ◽  
Quaternary Ammonium ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Quaternary Ammonium Compound ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
Ammonium Compound ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Microbiological Methods ◽  
Phenotypic Methods

Bacterial infections are on a rise with causal-resistant strains increasing the economic burden to both patients and healthcare providers. Salons are recently reported as one of the sources for transmission of such resistant bacterial strains. The current study aimed at the identification of the prevalent bacteria and characterization of quaternary ammonium compound (qac) genes from disinfectant-resistant S. aureus isolated from salon tools in Ishaka town, Bushenyi District of Uganda. A total of 125 swabs were collected from different salon tools (combs, brushes, scissors, clippers, and shaving machines), and prevalent bacteria were isolated using standard microbiological methods. Identification of isolated bacteria was done using standard phenotypic methods including analytical profile index (API). Susceptibility patterns of the isolated bacteria to disinfectant were determined using the agar well diffusion method. Quaternary ammonium compound (qac) genes (qacA/B and qacC) associated with disinfectant resistances were detected from disinfectant-resistant S. aureus using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing methods. Of the 125 swab samples collected from salons, 78 (62.4%) were contaminated with different bacteria species. Among the salon tools, clippers had the highest contamination of 20 (80.0%), while shaving machines had the lowest contamination of 11 (44.0%). The most prevalent bacteria identified were Staphylococcus epidermidis (28.1%) followed by S. aureus (26.5%). Of all the disinfectants tested, the highest resistance was shown with sodium hypochlorite 1%. Out of the eight (8) disinfectant-resistant S. aureus analysed for qac genes, 2 (25%) isolates (STP6 and STP9) were found to be qacA/B positive, while 2 (25%) isolates (STP8 and STP9) were found to be qacC gene positive. This study has shown that bacterial contamination of salon tools is common, coupled with resistance to disinfectants with sodium hypochlorite resistance being more common. Furthermore, observed resistance was attributed to the presence of qac genes among S. aureus isolates. A search for qac genes for disinfectant resistance from other bacteria species is recommended.

scholarly journals Novel Tetracycline Resistance Determinant Isolated from an Environmental Strain of Serratia marcescens

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (7) ◽  
pp. 2199-2206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart A. Thompson ◽  
Elizabeth V. Maani ◽  
Angela H. Lindell ◽  
Catherine J. King ◽  
J. Vaun McArthur
Keyword(s):  
Serratia Marcescens ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Tetracycline Resistance ◽  
Amino Acid Identity ◽  
Resistance Determinant ◽  
Mercury Resistance ◽  
Resistance Locus ◽  
Environmental Strain ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
E Coli

ABSTRACT Resistances to tetracycline and mercury were identified in an environmental strain of Serratia marcescens isolated from a stream highly contaminated with heavy metals. As a step toward addressing the mechanisms of coselection of heavy metal and antibiotic resistances, the tetracycline resistance determinant was cloned in Escherichia coli. Within the cloned 13-kb segment, the tetracycline resistance locus was localized by deletion analysis and transposon mutagenesis. DNA sequence analysis of an 8.0-kb region revealed a novel gene [tetA(41)] that was predicted to encode a tetracycline efflux pump. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the TetA(41) protein was most closely related to the Tet(39) efflux protein of Acinetobacter spp. yet had less than 80% amino acid identity with known tetracycline efflux pumps. Adjacent to the tetA(41) gene was a divergently transcribed gene [tetR(41)] predicted to encode a tetracycline-responsive repressor protein. The tetA(41)-tetR(41) intergenic region contained putative operators for TetR(41) binding. The tetA(41) and tetR(41) promoters were analyzed using lacZ fusions, which showed that the expression of both the tetA(41) and tetR(41) genes exhibited TetR(41)-dependent regulation by subinhibitory concentrations of tetracycline. The apparent lack of plasmids in this S. marcescens strain, as well as the presence of metabolic genes adjacent to the tetracycline resistance locus, suggested that the genes were located on the S. marcescens chromosome and may have been acquired by transduction. The cloned Tet 41 determinant did not confer mercury resistance to E. coli, confirming that Tet 41 is a tetracycline-specific efflux pump rather than a multidrug transporter.

scholarly journals Native Plasmid-Encoded Mercury Resistance Genes Are Functional and Demonstrate Natural Transformation in Environmental Bacterial Isolates

mSystems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankita Kothari ◽  
Drishti Soneja ◽  
Albert Tang ◽  
Hans K. Carlson ◽  
Adam M. Deutschbauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Transformation ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Environmental Dna ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Mercury Resistance ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Rapid Adaptation ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Native Plasmid

ABSTRACT Plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major driver of genetic diversity in bacteria. We experimentally validated the function of a putative mercury resistance operon present on an abundant 8-kbp native plasmid found in groundwater samples without detectable levels of mercury. Phylogenetic analyses of the plasmid-encoded mercury reductases from the studied groundwater site show them to be distinct from those reported in proximal metal-contaminated sites. We synthesized the entire native plasmid and demonstrated that the plasmid was sufficient to confer functional mercury resistance in Escherichia coli. Given the possibility that natural transformation is a prevalent HGT mechanism in the low-cell-density environments of groundwaters, we also assayed bacterial strains from this environment for competence. We used the native plasmid-encoded metal resistance to design a screen and identified 17 strains positive for natural transformation. We selected 2 of the positive strains along with a model bacterium to fully confirm HGT via natural transformation. From an ecological perspective, the role of the native plasmid population in providing advantageous traits combined with the microbiome’s capacity to take up environmental DNA enables rapid adaptation to environmental stresses. IMPORTANCE Horizontal transfer of mobile genetic elements via natural transformation has been poorly understood in environmental microbes. Here, we confirm the functionality of a native plasmid-encoded mercury resistance operon in a model microbe and then query for the dissemination of this resistance trait via natural transformation into environmental bacterial isolates. We identified 17 strains including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria to be naturally competent. These strains were able to successfully take up the plasmid DNA and obtain a clear growth advantage in the presence of mercury. Our study provides important insights into gene dissemination via natural transformation enabling rapid adaptation to dynamic stresses in groundwater environments.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of a New Organic Acid Anionic Surfactant Against Various Bacterial Strains

1994 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 496-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAWRENCE RESTAINO ◽  
ELON W. FRAMPTON ◽  
RICHARD L. BLUESTEIN ◽  
JENIFER B. HEMPHILL ◽  
ROBERT R. REGUTTI
Keyword(s):  
Organic Acid ◽  
Anionic Surfactant ◽  
Quaternary Ammonium ◽  
Organic Material ◽  
Quaternary Ammonium Compound ◽  
Ammonium Compound ◽  
Peroxyacetic Acid ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Organic Chlorine ◽  
Number Of Bacteria

The surface sanitizing properties of a buffered organic acid anionic surfactant (BOAAS) was compared with six traditional sanitizers (organic chlorine - 100 ppm, two iodophors - 25 ppm, peroxyacetic acid - 483 ppm, acid anionic - 230 ppm, and a quaternary ammonium compound - 150 ppm) in its ability to reduce Staphylococcus aureus on an inoculated Formica surface. In the absence of organic material, the traditional sanitizers were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from water in reducing S. aureus at time 0. whereas ≥ 1.2% of the BOAAS reduced a significantly greater (P < 0.05) number of bacteria. When compared with water over 60 min, only the BOAAS significantly reduced (P < 0.05) S. aureus cells. Sixty minutes after exposure, a 1.75% concentration of the BOAAS was > 100× more effective than organic chlorine. Overall, the organic material reduced the effectiveness of the traditional sanitizers and BOAAS. In the presence of 0.5% protein, BOAAS levels ≥ 0.6% significantly (P < 0.05) reduced more S. aureus cells than the quaternary ammonium sanitizer immediately after application. BOAAS concentrations ≥ 0.6% were significantly (P < 0.05) more effective in reducing S. aureus during a 60 min exposure than the organic chlorine sanitizer. In a separate efficacy study, a BOAAS concentration of 0.6% killed >5 logs of S. aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes cells after 30 s exposure.

scholarly journals Riboswitch-Associated Guanidinium-Selective Efflux Pumps Frequently Transmitted on Proteobacterial Plasmids Increase Escherichia coli Biofilm Tolerance to Disinfectants

2020 ◽  
Vol 202 (23) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmine J. Slipski ◽  
Taylor R. Jamieson ◽  
George G. Zhanel ◽  
Denice C. Bay
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Quaternary Ammonium ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Efflux Pumps ◽  
Cloning And Expression ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Ammonium Compound ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Small Multidrug Resistance

ABSTRACT Members of the small multidrug resistance (SMR) efflux pump family known as SugE (recently renamed Gdx) are known for their narrow substrate selectivity to small guanidinium (Gdm+) compounds and disinfectant quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs). Gdx members have been identified on multidrug resistance plasmids in Gram-negative bacilli, but their functional role remains unclear, as few have been characterized. Here, we conducted a survey of sequenced proteobacterial plasmids that encoded one or more SugE/Gdx sequences in an effort to (i) identify the most frequently represented Gdx member(s) on these plasmids and their sequence diversity, (ii) verify if Gdx sequences possess a Gdm+ riboswitch that regulates their translation similarly to chromosomally encoded Gdx members, and (iii) determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the most predominate Gdx member to various QACs and antibiotics in Escherichia coli strains BW25113 and KAM32. The results of this study determined 14 unique SugE sequences, but only one Gdx sequence, annotated as “SugE(p),” predominated among the >140 plasmids we surveyed. Enterobacterales plasmids carrying sugE(p) possessed a guanidine II riboswitch similar to the upstream region of E. coli gdx. Cloning and expression of sugE(p), gdx, and emrE sequences into a low-copy-number expression vector (pMS119EH) revealed significant increases in QAC resistance to a limited range of detergent-like QACs only when gdx and sugE(p) transformants were grown as biofilms. These findings suggest that sugE(p) presence on proteobacterial plasmids may be driven by species that frequently encounter Gdm+ and QAC exposure. IMPORTANCE This study characterized the function of antimicrobial-resistant phenotypes attributed to plasmid-encoded guanidinium-selective small multidrug resistance (Gdm/SugE) efflux pumps. These sequences are frequently monitored as biocide resistance markers in antimicrobial resistance surveillance studies. Our findings reveal that enterobacterial gdm sequences transmitted on plasmids possess a guanidine II riboswitch, which restricts transcript translation in the presence of guanidinium. Cloning and overexpression of this gdm sequence revealed that it confers higher resistance to quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) disinfectants (which possess guanidium moieties) when grown as biofilms. Since biofilms are commonly eradicated with QAC-containing compounds, the presence of this gene on plasmids and its biofilm-specific resistance are a growing concern for clinical and food safety prevention measures.

scholarly journals Ecological Importance of Cross-Feeding of the Intermediate Metabolite 1,2-Propanediol between Bacterial Gut Symbionts

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. Cheng ◽  
Rebbeca M. Duar ◽  
Xiaoxi Lin ◽  
Maria Elisa Perez-Munoz ◽  
Stephanie Tollenaar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trophic Interactions ◽  
Lactobacillus Reuteri ◽  
Trophic Interaction ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bifidobacterium Breve ◽  
Gut Symbionts ◽  
Gnotobiotic Mice ◽  
Ecological Importance ◽  
Isogenic Mutants

ABSTRACT Cross-feeding based on the metabolite 1,2-propanediol has been proposed to have an important role in the establishment of trophic interactions among gut symbionts, but its ecological importance has not been empirically established. Here, we show that in vitro growth of Lactobacillus reuteri (syn. Limosilactobacillus reuteri) ATCC PTA 6475 is enhanced through 1,2-propanediol produced by Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 and Escherichia coli MG1655 from the metabolization of fucose and rhamnose, respectively. Work with isogenic mutants showed that the trophic interaction is dependent on the pduCDE operon in L. reuteri, which encodes the ability to use 1,2-propanediol, and the l-fucose permease (fucP) gene in B. breve, which is required for 1,2-propanediol formation from fucose. Experiments in gnotobiotic mice revealed that, although the pduCDE operon bestows a fitness burden on L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 in the mouse digestive tract, the ecological performance of the strain was enhanced in the presence of B. breve UCC2003 and the mucus-degrading species Bifidobacterium bifidum. The use of the respective pduCDE and fucP mutants of L. reuteri and B. breve in the mouse experiments indicated that the trophic interaction was specifically based on 1,2-propanediol. Overall, our work established the ecological importance of cross-feeding relationships based on 1,2-propanediol for the fitness of a bacterial symbiont in the vertebrate gut. IMPORTANCE Through experiments in gnotobiotic mice that employed isogenic mutants of bacterial strains that produce (Bifidobacterium breve) and utilize (Lactobacillus reuteri) 1,2-propanediol, this study provides mechanistic insight into the ecological ramifications of a trophic interaction between gut symbionts. The findings improve our understanding on how cross-feeding influences the competitive fitness of L. reuteri in the vertebrate gut and revealed a putative selective force that shaped the evolution of the species. The findings are relevant since they provide a basis to design rational microbial-based strategies to modulate gut ecosystems, which could employ mixtures of bacterial strains that establish trophic interactions or a personalized approach based on the ability of a resident microbiota to provide resources for the incoming microbe.

scholarly journals Electroactivity of Phototrophic River Biofilms and Constitutive Cultivable Bacteria

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (15) ◽  
pp. 5394-5401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie Lyautey ◽  
Amandine Cournet ◽  
Soizic Morin ◽  
Stéphanie Boulêtreau ◽  
Luc Etcheverry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Cyclic Voltammetry ◽  
Oxygen Reduction ◽  
Saturated Calomel Electrode ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Phenotypic Properties ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Population Scale ◽  
River Biofilm ◽  
Biofilm Development

ABSTRACTElectroactivity is a property of microorganisms assembled in biofilms that has been highlighted in a variety of environments. This characteristic was assessed for phototrophic river biofilms at the community scale and at the bacterial population scale. At the community scale, electroactivity was evaluated on stainless steel and copper alloy coupons used both as biofilm colonization supports and as working electrodes. At the population scale, the ability of environmental bacterial strains to catalyze oxygen reduction was assessed by cyclic voltammetry. Our data demonstrate that phototrophic river biofilm development on the electrodes, measured by dry mass and chlorophyllacontent, resulted in significant increases of the recorded potentials, with potentials of up to +120 mV/saturated calomel electrode (SCE) on stainless steel electrodes and +60 mV/SCE on copper electrodes. Thirty-two bacterial strains isolated from natural phototrophic river biofilms were tested by cyclic voltammetry. Twenty-five were able to catalyze oxygen reduction, with shifts of potential ranging from 0.06 to 0.23 V, cathodic peak potentials ranging from −0.36 to −0.76 V/SCE, and peak amplitudes ranging from −9.5 to −19.4 μA. These isolates were diversified phylogenetically (Actinobacteria,Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes, andAlpha-,Beta-, andGammaproteobacteria) and exhibited various phenotypic properties (Gram stain, oxidase, and catalase characteristics). These data suggest that phototrophic river biofilm communities and/or most of their constitutive bacterial populations present the ability to promote electronic exchange with a metallic electrode, supporting the following possibilities: (i) development of electrochemistry-based sensors allowingin situphototrophic river biofilm detection and (ii) production of microbial fuel cell inocula under oligotrophic conditions.

scholarly journals Natural Disruption of Two Regulatory Networks in Serotype M3 Group A Streptococcus Isolates Contributes to the Virulence Factor Profile of This Hypervirulent Serotype

2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 1744-1754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tram N. Cao ◽  
Zhuyun Liu ◽  
Tran H. Cao ◽  
Kathryn J. Pflughoeft ◽  
Jeanette Treviño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virulence Factor ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Small Regulatory Rna ◽  
Group A

ABSTRACTDespite the public health challenges associated with the emergence of new pathogenic bacterial strains and/or serotypes, there is a dearth of information regarding the molecular mechanisms that drive this variation. Here, we began to address the mechanisms behind serotype-specific variation between serotype M1 and M3 strains of the human pathogenStreptococcus pyogenes(the group AStreptococcus[GAS]). Spatially diverse contemporary clinical serotype M3 isolates were discovered to contain identical inactivating mutations within genes encoding two regulatory systems that control the expression of important virulence factors, including the thrombolytic agent streptokinase, the protease inhibitor-binding protein-G-related α2-macroglobulin-binding (GRAB) protein, and the antiphagocytic hyaluronic acid capsule. Subsequent analysis of a larger collection of isolates determined that M3 GAS, since at least the 1920s, has harbored a 4-bp deletion in thefasCgene of thefasBCAXregulatory system and an inactivating polymorphism in therivRregulator-encoding gene. ThefasCandrivRmutations in M3 isolates directly affect the virulence factor profile of M3 GAS, as evident by a reduction in streptokinase expression and an enhancement of GRAB expression. Complementation of thefasCmutation in M3 GAS significantly enhanced levels of the small regulatory RNA FasX, which in turn enhanced streptokinase expression. Complementation of therivRmutation in M3 GAS restored the regulation ofgrabmRNA abundance but did not alter capsule mRNA levels. While important, thefasCandrivRmutations do not provide a full explanation for why serotype M3 strains are associated with unusually severe invasive infections; thus, further investigation is warranted.

scholarly journals Pathovar Transcriptomes

mSystems ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Platenkamp ◽  
Jay L. Mellies
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Virulence Gene ◽  
Model System ◽  
Genomic Sequences ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Virulence Gene Expression ◽  
Link Type

ABSTRACT Archetypal pathogenic bacterial strains are often used to elucidate regulatory networks of an entire pathovar, which encompasses multiple lineages and phylogroups. With enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) as a model system, Hazen and colleagues (mSystems 6:e00024-17, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00024-17 ) used 9 isolates representing 8 lineages and 3 phylogroups to find that isolates with similar genomic sequences exhibit similarities in global transcriptomes under conditions of growth in medium that induces virulence gene expression, and they found variation among individual isolates. Archetypal pathogenic bacterial strains are often used to elucidate regulatory networks of an entire pathovar, which encompasses multiple lineages and phylogroups. With enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) as a model system, Hazen and colleagues (mSystems 6:e00024-17, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00024-17 ) used 9 isolates representing 8 lineages and 3 phylogroups to find that isolates with similar genomic sequences exhibit similarities in global transcriptomes under conditions of growth in medium that induces virulence gene expression. They also found variation among individual isolates. Their work illustrates the importance of moving beyond observing regulatory phenomena of a limited number of regulons in a few archetypal strains, with the possibility of correlating clinical symptoms to key transcriptional pathways across lineages and phylogroups.

Building a Better Quaternary Ammonium Compound (QAC): Branched Tetracationic Antiseptic Amphiphiles

ChemMedChem ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 1401-1405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan E. Forman ◽  
Megan C. Jennings ◽  
William M. Wuest ◽  
Kevin P. C. Minbiole
Keyword(s):  
Quaternary Ammonium ◽  
Quaternary Ammonium Compound ◽  
Ammonium Compound
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