scholarly journals Copper Ions Facilitate the Conjugative Transfer of SXT/R391 Integrative and Conjugative Element Across Bacterial Genera

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou Song ◽  
Lei Zuo ◽  
Cui Li ◽  
Yiming Tian ◽  
Hongning Wang
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Copper Ions ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Atp Synthesis ◽  
Cell Membrane Permeability ◽  
Conjugative Transfer ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Phenotypic Tests ◽  
Integrative And Conjugative Element

Copper can persist stably in the environment for prolonged periods. Except for inducing antibiotic resistance in bacteria, copper ions (Cu2+) can facilitate the horizontal transfer of plasmid DNA. However, whether and how Cu2+ can accelerate the conjugative transfer of SXT/R391 integrative and conjugative element (ICE) is still largely unknown. In this study, Proteus mirabilis ChSC1905, harboring an SXT/R391 ICE that carried 21 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), was used as a donor, and Escherichia coli EC600 was used as a recipient. Cu2+, at subinhibitory and environmentally relevant concentrations (1–10 μmol/L), significantly accelerated the conjugative transfer of SXT/R391 ICE across bacterial genera (from P. mirabilis to E. coli) (p < 0.05). The combined analyses of phenotypic tests and genome-wide sequencing indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell membrane permeability were critical in the enhanced conjugative transfer of SXT/R391 ICE. Furthermore, the expression of genes related to cell adhesion and ATP synthesis was also significantly upregulated on exposure to Cu2+ at a concentration of 5 μmol/L. This study clarified the potential mechanisms of Cu2+ to promote the conjugative transfer of SXT/R391 ICE, revealing the potential risk imposed by Cu2+ on the horizontal transfer of SXT/R391 ICE-mediated ARGs.

scholarly journals Antibiotic Resistance Gene Was Increased via Horizontal Transfer in Single and Two-Chamber Microbial Electrolysis Cells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao-Bing Guo ◽  
Wen-Long Sun ◽  
Xiao-Jun Zuo ◽  
Hai-Liang Song ◽  
Hao Ling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Gene ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
Cell Membrane Permeability ◽  
Anode Chamber ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis

Abstract Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), have been applied for antibiotic degradation, but simultaneously induced antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), thus representing a risk to disseminate antibiotic resistance. However, there were few studies on the potential and risk of ARGs transmission in the MECs. In this work, conjugative transfer of ARGs was assessed under three tested conditions (voltages, cell concentration, and donor/recipient ratio) in both single and two-chamber MECs. The results indicated that voltages (> 0.9 V) facilitate the frequency in single-chamber the MECs and two-chamber the MECs (in anode chamber). The donor cell number (donor/recipient ratio was 2:1) showed more favor on the transfer frequency. Furthermore, voltages ranged from 0.9 V to 2.5 V increased ROS production and cell membrane permeability in MECs. These findings offer new insights into the roles of ARGs transfer under different applied voltages in the MECs, which should not be ignored for horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance.

scholarly journals Modified U-Tube for Ruling out Naked DNA Transfer during Conjugation and Application in Antibiotic Resistance Genes Transfer Research

Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1313
Author(s):  
Ning Zhang ◽  
Xiang Liu ◽  
Bing Li ◽  
Limei Han ◽  
Xuejiao Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Conjugative Transfer ◽  
Donor Strain ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Pseudomonas Putida Kt2440 ◽  
Naked Dna

Antibiotic resistance is currently a major global public health issue. In particular, the emergence and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is a matter of primary concern. This study presented a method for ruling out the transfer of naked DNA (plasmid RP4 lysed from donor cells) during the cell-to-cell conjugation, using a modified “U-tube”. A series of gene transfer assays was conducted in both flask and modified U-tube, using Pseudomonas putida KT2440 (P. putida (RP4)) harboring the RP4 plasmid as the donor strain, Escherichia coli (E. coli, ATCC 25922) in pure culture as sole recipient, and bacteria from reclaimed water microcosms as multi-recipients. The verification experiments showed that the U-tube device could prevent direct contact of bacteria without affecting the exchange of free plasmid. In the experiments involving a sole recipient, the transconjugants were obtained in flask samples, but not in modified U-tube. Furthermore, in experiments involving multi-recipients, transfer of naked DNA in the modified U-tube accounted for 5.18% in the transfer frequency of the flask transfer experiment. The modified U-tube proved to be useful for monitoring the interference of naked DNA in the research of conjugative transfer and calculating the exact conjugative transfer rate. This device is identified as a promising candidate for distinguishing different gene transfers in practical application because of its convenient use and easy and simple manufacture.

scholarly journals 702. Zinc Blockade of SOS Response Inhibits Horizontal Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Enteric Bacteria

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S253-S253
Author(s):  
John Crane ◽  
Mark Sutton ◽  
Muhammad Cheema ◽  
Michael Olyer
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Sos Response ◽  
Enteric Bacteria ◽  
Extracellular Dna ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
E Coli

Abstract Background The SOS response is a conserved response to DNA damage that is found in Gram negative and Gram-positive bacteria. When DNA damage is sustained and severe, activation of error-prone DNA polymerases can induce a higher mutation rate then normally observed, which is called the mutator phenotype or hypermutation. We previously showed that zinc blocked the hypermutation response induced by quinolone antibiotics and mitomycin C in E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Bunnell BE, Escobar JF, Bair KL, Sutton MD, Crane JK (2017). Zinc blocks SOS-induced antibiotic resistance via inhibition of RecA in Escherichia coli. PLoS ONE 12(5): e0178303. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178303.) In addition to causing copying errors in DNA replication, Beaber et al. showed that induction of the SOS response increased the frequency of horizontal gene transfer into Vibrio cholerae, an organism naturally competent at uptake of extracellular DNA. (Beaber JW, Hochhut B, Waldor MK. 2003. SOS response promotes horizontal dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. Nature 427:72–74.) Methods. In this study, we tested whether induction of the SOS response could induce transfer of antibiotic resistance from Enterobacter cloacae into E. coli, and whether zinc could inhibit that inter-species transfer of antibiotic resistance. Results. Ciprofloxacin, an inducer of the SOS response, increased the rate of transfer of an extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) gene from Enterobacter into a susceptible E. coli strain. Zinc blocked SOS-induced horizontal transfer of §-lactamase into E. coli. Other divalent metals, such as iron and manganese, failed to inhibit these responses. Conclusion. In vitro assays showed that zinc blocked the ability of RecA to bind to ssDNA, an early step in the SOS response, suggesting the mechanism by which zinc blocks the SOS response. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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