Biomaterial Database

Transferable antibiotic resistance in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli between 1948 and 1968. 1973

B Slocombe, and R Sutherland

Enteropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli which had been isolated in the United Kingdom during three periods between 1948 and 1968, namely 1948 to 1951, 1957 to 1960, and 1967 to 1968, were tested for susceptibility to ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and sulphonamides. Antibiotic-resistant strains were tested for their ability to transfer antibiotic resistance to an antibiotic-susceptible strain of E. coli K-12. A relatively high proportion of strains isolated between 1948 and 1951 was resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, or sulphonamides. None of these strains transferred ampicillin or streptomycin resistance, but sulphonamide resistance was R-factor-mediated in three out of 14 sulphonamide-resistant strains. Resistance to tetracycline and chloramphenicol was rare before 1951 but had become common among enteropathogenic E. coli by 1957. Much of the antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated between 1957 and 1960 was R-factor-mediated, and transferable resistance was about as prevalent among E. coli isolated between 1957 and 1960 as among strains isolated in 1967 and 1968. Nevertheless, there was no appreciable increase in the overall incidence of antibiotic resistance among these enteropathogenic strains of E. coli between 1957 and 1968, although transferable antibiotic resistance was common during this period. These results do not suggest that the emergence of transferable antibiotic resistance will inevitably lead to the rapid development of antibiotic resistance among this group of bacteria.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003227	Conjugation, Genetic	A parasexual process in BACTERIA; ALGAE; FUNGI; and ciliate EUKARYOTA for achieving exchange of chromosome material during fusion of two cells. In bacteria, this is a uni-directional transfer of genetic material; in protozoa it is a bi-directional exchange. In algae and fungi, it is a form of sexual reproduction, with the union of male and female gametes.	Bacterial Conjugation,Conjugation, Bacterial,Genetic Conjugation
D004352	Drug Resistance, Microbial	The ability of microorganisms, especially bacteria, to resist or to become tolerant to chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobial agents, or antibiotics. This resistance may be acquired through gene mutation or foreign DNA in transmissible plasmids (R FACTORS).	Antibiotic Resistance,Antibiotic Resistance, Microbial,Antimicrobial Resistance, Drug,Antimicrobial Drug Resistance,Antimicrobial Drug Resistances,Antimicrobial Resistances, Drug,Drug Antimicrobial Resistance,Drug Antimicrobial Resistances,Drug Resistances, Microbial,Resistance, Antibiotic,Resistance, Drug Antimicrobial,Resistances, Drug Antimicrobial
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D005111	Extrachromosomal Inheritance	Vertical transmission of hereditary characters by DNA from cytoplasmic organelles such as MITOCHONDRIA; CHLOROPLASTS; and PLASTIDS, or from PLASMIDS or viral episomal DNA.	Cytoplasmic Inheritance,Extranuclear Inheritance,Inheritance, Cytoplasmic,Inheritance, Extrachromosomal,Inheritance, Extranuclear
D000900	Anti-Bacterial Agents	Substances that inhibit the growth or reproduction of BACTERIA.	Anti-Bacterial Agent,Anti-Bacterial Compound,Anti-Mycobacterial Agent,Antibacterial Agent,Antibiotics,Antimycobacterial Agent,Bacteriocidal Agent,Bacteriocide,Anti-Bacterial Compounds,Anti-Mycobacterial Agents,Antibacterial Agents,Antibiotic,Antimycobacterial Agents,Bacteriocidal Agents,Bacteriocides,Agent, Anti-Bacterial,Agent, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agent, Antibacterial,Agent, Antimycobacterial,Agent, Bacteriocidal,Agents, Anti-Bacterial,Agents, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agents, Antibacterial,Agents, Antimycobacterial,Agents, Bacteriocidal,Anti Bacterial Agent,Anti Bacterial Agents,Anti Bacterial Compound,Anti Bacterial Compounds,Anti Mycobacterial Agent,Anti Mycobacterial Agents,Compound, Anti-Bacterial,Compounds, Anti-Bacterial