Intercontinental spread of promiscuous mercury-resistance transposons in environmental bacteria

Molecular Microbiology
O V YurievaV Nikiforov

Abstract

We demonstrate that horizontal spread of mer operons similar to worldwide spread of antibiotic-resistance genes in medically important bacteria occurred in bacteria found in ores, soils and waters. The spread was mediated by different transposons and plasmids. Some of the spreading transposons were damaged in different ways but this did not prevent their further spread. Certain transposons are mosaics composed of segments belonging to distinct sequence types. These mosaics arose as a result of homologous and site-specific recombination. Our data suggest that the mercury-resistance operons of Gram-negative environmental bacteria can be considered as a worldwide population composed of a relatively small number of distinct recombining clones shared, at least partially, by environmental and clinical bacteria.

Citations

Sep 28, 2007·Microbial Ecology·R Cary Tuckfield, J Vaun McArthur
May 30, 2001·Gene·G Kholodii
Jun 30, 2000·Research in Microbiology·G KholodiiV Nikiforov
Aug 13, 2010·Microbial Drug Resistance : MDR : Mechanisms, Epidemiology, and Disease·Amy K CainRuth M Hall
Mar 21, 2001·Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·S R PartridgeR M Hall
Feb 27, 2003·Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·Ashraf M M EssaJon L Hobman
Jan 27, 2006·Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·Aránzazu ValverdeTeresa M Coque
Aug 31, 2000·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·J V McArthur, R C Tuckfield
May 24, 2001·Journal of Bacteriology·R W Eaton
Jul 8, 2008·Journal of Biotechnology·Andreas SchlüterAlfred Pühler
May 14, 2011·FEMS Microbiology Reviews·Sally R Partridge
Jun 28, 2003·FEMS Microbiology Reviews·Tamar BarkayAnne O Summers
Dec 6, 2011·FEMS Microbiology Letters·Gustavo G Caballero-FloresCarlos Cervantes
Apr 14, 1999·Molecular Microbiology·D O GostickJ R Guest
Sep 8, 1999·Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR·C A LiebertA O Summers

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Allergy & Infectious Diseases

Allergies result from the hyperreactivity of the immune system to some environmental substance and can be life-threatening. Infectious diseases are caused by organisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. They can be transmitted different ways, such as person-to-person. Here is the latest research on allergy and infectious diseases.

Bacterial Respiration

This feed focuses on cellular respiration in bacteria, known as bacterial respiration. Discover the latest research here.

Antimicrobial Resistance (ASM)

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to the continued successful use of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to the continued successful use of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Allergy & Infectious Diseases (ASM)

Allergies result from the hyperreactivity of the immune system to some environmental substance and can be life-threatening. Infectious diseases are caused by organisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. They can be transmitted different ways, such as person-to-person. Here is the latest research on allergy and infectious diseases.