scholarly journals Dogs Leaving the ICU Carry a Very Large Multi-Drug Resistant Enterococcal Population with Capacity for Biofilm Formation and Horizontal Gene Transfer

PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. e22451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anuradha Ghosh ◽  
Scot E. Dowd ◽  
Ludek Zurek
Keyword(s):  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Drug Resistant

scholarly journals Potential Risk of Spreading Resistance Genes within Extracellular-DNA-Dependent Biofilms of Streptococcus mutans in Response to Cell Envelope Stress Induced by Sub-MICs of Bacitracin

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Nagasawa ◽  
Tsutomu Sato ◽  
Nobuhiko Nomura ◽  
Tomoyo Nakamura ◽  
Hidenobu Senpuku
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Drug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Envelope Stress

ABSTRACT Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infection. The inappropriate use of antibiotics unnecessarily promotes antibiotic resistance and increases resistant bacteria, and controlling these bacteria is difficult. While the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria is a serious problem, the behavior of drug-resistant bacteria is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the behavior of Streptococcus mutans, a major etiological agent of dental caries that is resistant to bacitracin, which is a cell wall-targeting antibiotic, and focused on biofilm formation in the presence of bacitracin. S. mutans UA159 most strongly induced extracellular DNA (eDNA)-dependent biofilm formation in the presence of bacitracin at 1/8× MIC. The ΔmbrC and ΔmbrD mutant strains, which lack bacitracin resistance, also formed biofilms in the presence of bacitracin at 1/2× MIC. This difference between the wild type and the mutants was caused by the induction of atlA expression in the mid-log phase. We also revealed that certain rgp genes involved in the synthesis of rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide related to cell wall synthesis were downregulated by bacitracin. In addition, glucosyltransferase-I was also involved in eDNA-dependent biofilm formation. The biofilm led to increased transformation efficiencies and promoted horizontal gene transfer. Biofilms were also induced by ampicillin and vancomycin, antibiotics targeting cell wall synthesis, suggesting that cell envelope stress triggers biofilm formation. Therefore, the expression of the atlA and rgp genes is regulated by S. mutans, which forms eDNA-dependent biofilms, promoting horizontal gene transfer in response to cell envelope stress induced by sub-MICs of antibiotics. IMPORTANCE Antibiotics have been reported to induce biofilm formation in many bacteria at subinhibitory concentrations. Accordingly, it is conceivable that the MIC against drug-sensitive bacteria may promote biofilm formation of resistant bacteria. Since drug-resistant bacteria have spread, it is important to understand the behavior of resistant bacteria. Streptococcus mutans is bacitracin resistant, and the 1/8× MIC of bacitracin, which is a cell wall-targeted antibiotic, induced eDNA-dependent biofilm formation. The ΔmbrC and ΔmbrD strains, which are not resistant to bacitracin, also formed biofilms in the presence of bacitracin at 1/2× MIC, and biofilms of both the wild type and mutants promoted horizontal gene transfer. Another cell wall-targeted antibiotic, vancomycin, showed effects on biofilms and gene transfer similar to those of bacitracin. Thus, treatment with cell wall-targeted antibiotics may promote the spread of drug-resistant genes in biofilms. Therefore, the behavior of resistant bacteria in the presence of antibiotics at sub-MICs should be investigated when using antibiotics.

Bap-dependent biofilm formation by pathogenic species of Staphylococcus: evidence of horizontal gene transfer?

Microbiology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (7) ◽  
pp. 2465-2475 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ángeles Tormo ◽  
Erwin Knecht ◽  
Friedrich Götz ◽  
Iñigo Lasa ◽  
José R. Penadés
Keyword(s):  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Pathogenicity Island ◽  
Alternative Mechanism ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
High Sequence Similarity ◽  
Staphylococcus Simulans

The biofilm-associated protein (Bap) is a surface protein implicated in biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus isolated from chronic mastitis infections. The bap gene is carried in a putative composite transposon inserted in SaPIbov2, a mobile staphylococcal pathogenicity island. In this study, bap orthologue genes from several staphylococcal species, including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus simulans and Staphylococcus hyicus, were identified, cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis comparison of the bap gene from these species revealed a very high sequence similarity, suggesting the horizontal gene transfer of SaPIbov2 amongst them. However, sequence analyses of the flanking region revealed that the bap gene of these species was not contained in the SaPIbov2 pathogenicity island. Although they did not contain the icaADBC operon, all the coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates harbouring bap were strong biofilm producers. Disruption of the bap gene in S. epidermidis abolished its capacity to form a biofilm, whereas heterologous complementation of a biofilm-negative strain of S. aureus with the Bap protein from S. epidermidis bestowed the capacity to form a biofilm on a polystyrene surface. Altogether, these results demonstrate that Bap orthologues from coagulase-negative staphylococci induce an alternative mechanism of biofilm formation that is independent of the PIA/PNAG exopolysaccharide.

scholarly journals The interconnection between biofilm formation and horizontal gene transfer

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Stenløkke Madsen ◽  
Mette Burmølle ◽  
Lars Hestbjerg Hansen ◽  
Søren Johannes Sørensen
Keyword(s):  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Biofilm Formation

scholarly journals Computational Model to Quantify the Growth of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Wastewater

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Sutradhar ◽  
C. Ching ◽  
D. Desai ◽  
M. Suprenant ◽  
M. H. Zaman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Antibiotic Residues ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Resistant Population ◽  
Resistant Infection ◽  
Quantitative Understanding

AbstractThough wastewater and sewage systems are known to be a significant reservoir of antibiotic resistant bacterial populations and periodic outbreaks of drug resistant infection, there is little quantitative understanding of the drivers behind resistant population growth in these settings. In order to fill this gap in quantitative understanding of outbreaks of antibiotic resistant infections in wastewater, we have developed a mathematic model synthesizing many of the known drivers of antibiotic resistance in these settings in order to predict the growth of resistant populations in different environmental scenarios. A number of these drivers of drug resistant infection outbreak including antibiotic residue concentration, antibiotic interaction and synergy, chromosomal mutation and horizontal gene transfer, have not previously been integrated into a single computational model. Our integrated model shows that low levels of antibiotic residues present in wastewater can lead to the increased development of resistant populations, and the dominant mechanism of resistance acquisition in these populations is horizontal gene transfer rather than chromosomal mutations. Additionally, we found that synergistic antibiotic interactions can cause increased resistant population growth. Our study shows that the effects of antibiotic interaction are observable even at the low antibiotic concentrations present in wastewater settings. These findings, consistent with recent experimental and field studies, provide new quantitative knowledge on the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacterial reservoirs, and the model developed herein can be adapted for use as a prediction tool in public health policy making, particularly in low income settings where water sanitation issues remain widespread and disease outbreaks continue to undermine public health efforts.SignificanceThe rate at which antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has developed and spread throughout the world has increased in recent years, and it is suggested that at the current rate, several million people may die by 2050 due to AMR. One major reservoir of resistant bacterial populations that has been linked to outbreaks of drug resistant bacterial infections, but is not well understood, is in wastewater settings, where antibiotic pollution is often present. Using ordinary differential equations incorporating several known drivers of resistance in wastewater, we find that interactions between antibiotic residues and horizontal gene transfer significantly affect the growth of resistant bacterial reservoirs.

scholarly journals Safety of Food and Water Supplies in the Landscape of Changing Climate

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliyar Cyrus Fouladkhah ◽  
Brian Thompson ◽  
Janey Smith Camp
Keyword(s):  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Processing Conditions ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Changing Climate ◽  
Transfer Mechanisms

In response to evolving environmental, production, and processing conditions, microbial communities have tremendous abilities to move toward increased diversity and fitness by various pathways such as vertical and horizontal gene transfer mechanisms, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing [...]

scholarly journals Distinct evolutionary dynamics of horizontal gene transfer in drug resistant and virulent clones of Klebsiella pneumoniae

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. e1008114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly L. Wyres ◽  
Ryan R. Wick ◽  
Louise M. Judd ◽  
Roni Froumine ◽  
Alex Tokolyi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Drug Resistant

scholarly journals Genetic characterization of AmpC and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) phenotypes in Escherichia coli and Salmonella from Alberta poultry

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tam Tran ◽  
Sylvia Checkley ◽  
Niamh Caffrey ◽  
Rashed Cassis ◽  
Chunu Mainali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Beta Lactamase ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Extended Spectrum ◽  
Class 1

AbstractHorizontal gene transfer is an important mechanism which facilitates bacterial populations in overcoming antimicrobial treatment. In this study, a total of 120 Escherichia coli and 62 Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica isolates were isolated from poultry farms in Alberta. Fourteen serovars were identified among Salmonella isolates. Thirty one percent of E. coli isolates were multiclass drug resistant (resistant to ≥ 3 drug classes), while only about 16% of Salmonella isolates were multiclass drug resistant. Among those, eight E. coli isolates had an AmpC-type phenotype, and one Salmonella isolate had an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-type β-lactamase phenotype. We identified both AmpC-type (blaCMY-2) and ESBL-type (blaTEM) genes in both E. coli and Salmonella isolates. Plasmids from eight of nine E. coli and Salmonella isolates were transferred to recipient strain E. coli J53 through conjugation. Transferable plasmids in above total eight E. coli and Salmonella isolates were also transferred into a lab-made sodium azide-resistant Salmonella recipient through conjugation. The class 1 integrase gene, int1, was detected on plasmids from two E. coli isolates. Further investigation of class 1 integron cassette regions revealed the presence of an aadA gene encoding streptomycin 3”-adenylyltransferase, an aadA1a/aadA2 gene encoding aminoglycoside 3”-O-adenyltransferase, and a putative adenylyltransferase gene. This study provides some insight into potential horizontal gene transfer events of antimicrobial resistance genes between E. coli and Salmonella in poultry production.

scholarly journals Genetic Characterization of AmpC and Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Phenotypes in Escherichia coli and Salmonella From Alberta Broiler Chickens

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tam Tran ◽  
Sylvia Checkley ◽  
Niamh Caffrey ◽  
Chunu Mainali ◽  
Sheryl Gow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Broiler Chicken ◽  
Beta Lactamase ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Class 1

Horizontal gene transfer is an important mechanism which facilitates bacterial populations in overcoming antimicrobial treatment. In this study, a total of 120 Escherichia coli and 62 Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica isolates were isolated from broiler chicken farms in Alberta. Fourteen serovars were identified among Salmonella isolates. Thirty one percent of E. coli isolates (37/120) were multiclass drug resistant (resistant to ≥ 3 drug classes), while only about 16% of Salmonella isolates (10/62) were multiclass drug resistant. Among those, eight E. coli isolates had an AmpC-type phenotype, and one Salmonella isolate had an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-type beta-lactamase phenotype. We identified both AmpC-type (blaCMY-2) and ESBL-type (blaTEM) genes in both E. coli and Salmonella isolates. Plasmids from eight of nine E. coli and Salmonella isolates were transferred to recipient strain E. coli J53 through conjugation. Transferable plasmids in the eight E. coli and Salmonella isolates were also transferred into a lab-made sodium azide-resistant Salmonella recipient through conjugation. The class 1 integrase gene, int1, was detected on plasmids from two E. coli isolates. Further investigation of class 1 integron cassette regions revealed the presence of an aadA gene encoding streptomycin 3’’-adenylyltransferase, an aadA1a/aadA2 gene encoding aminoglycoside 3’’-O-adenyltransferase, and a putative adenylyltransferase gene. This study provides some insight into potential horizontal gene transfer events of antimicrobial resistance genes between E. coli and Salmonella in broiler chicken production.

scholarly journals Biofilm Formation Drives Transfer of the Conjugative Element ICEBs1inBacillus subtilis

mSphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Lécuyer ◽  
Jean-Sébastien Bourassa ◽  
Martin Gélinas ◽  
Vincent Charron-Lamoureux ◽  
Vincent Burrus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Conjugative Transfer ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTHorizontal gene transfer by integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) is a very important mechanism for spreading antibiotic resistance in various bacterial species. In environmental and clinical settings, most bacteria form biofilms as a way to protect themselves against extracellular stress. However, much remains to be known about ICE transfer in biofilms. Using ICEBs1fromBacillus subtilis, we show that the natural conjugation efficiency of this ICE is greatly affected by the ability of the donor and recipient to form a biofilm. ICEBs1transfer considerably increases in biofilm, even at low donor/recipient ratios. Also, while there is a clear temporal correlation between biofilm formation and ICEBs1transfer, biofilms do not alter the level of ICEBs1excision in donor cells. Conjugative transfer appears to be favored by the biophysical context of biofilms. Indeed, extracellular matrix production, particularly from the recipient cells, is essential for biofilms to promote ICEBs1transfer. Our study provides basic new knowledge on the high rate of conjugative transfer of ICEs in biofilms, a widely preponderant bacterial lifestyle in the environment, which could have a major impact on our understanding of horizontal gene transfer in natural and clinical environments.IMPORTANCETransfer of mobile genetic elements from one bacterium to another is the principal cause of the spread of antibiotic resistance. However, the dissemination of these elements in environmental contexts is poorly understood. In clinical and environmental settings, bacteria are often found living in multicellular communities encased in a matrix, a structure known as a biofilm. In this study, we examined how forming a biofilm influences the transmission of an integrative and conjugative element (ICE). Using the model Gram-positive bacteriumB. subtilis, we observed that biofilm formation highly favors ICE transfer. This increase in conjugative transfer is due to the production of extracellular matrix, which creates an ideal biophysical context. Our study provides important insights into the role of the biofilm structure in driving conjugative transfer, which is of major importance since biofilm is a widely preponderant bacterial lifestyle for clinically relevant bacterial strains.

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