Biomaterial Database

Enterococcal transposon Tn5384: evolution of a composite transposon through cointegration of enterococcal and staphylococcal plasmids. 1997

M E Bonafede, and L L Carias, and L B Rice

Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.

Mechanisms for the possible transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes between staphylococci and enterococci remain poorly defined. We have previously reported the transfer between Enterococcus faecalis strains of a multiresistance chromosomal element (beta-lactamase positive and resistance to erythromycin, gentamicin, mercuric chloride, streptomycin, and tetracycline) which we have tentatively designated Tn5385. Tn5385 is a composite of several smaller transposable elements, including Tn5384, a 26-kb composite transposon conferring resistance to erythromycin, gentamicin, and mercuric chloride. Analyses of 7 kb within Tn5384 and flanking sequences within the larger element revealed sequences characteristic of staphylococcal beta-lactamase and small, mobilizable plasmids flanking a region with a sequence identical to those of the replication genes previously described for enterococcal and streptococcal broad-host-range plasmids. These diverse regions are linked by insertion sequences IS256 and IS257 in a manner which suggests a series of cointegration events as the genesis of the current relationship. Taken together, these data suggest that Tn5384 and the larger element within which it is incorporated (Tn5385) evolved at least in part as a result of cointegration between an enterococcal broad-host-range plasmid and staphylococcal beta-lactamase and small mobilizable plasmids. These results implicate broad-host-range plasmids in the transfer of resistance determinants from staphylococci to enterococci.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008627	Mercuric Chloride	Mercury chloride (HgCl2). A highly toxic compound that volatizes slightly at ordinary temperature and appreciably at 100 degrees C. It is corrosive to mucous membranes and used as a topical antiseptic and disinfectant.	Mercury Dichloride,Corrosive Sublimate,HgCl2,Mercuric Perchloride,Mercury Bichloride,Mercury Perchloride,Sublimate,Bichloride, Mercury,Chloride, Mercuric,Dichloride, Mercury,Perchloride, Mercuric,Perchloride, Mercury,Sublimate, Corrosive
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D009876	Operon	In bacteria, a group of metabolically related genes, with a common promoter, whose transcription into a single polycistronic MESSENGER RNA is under the control of an OPERATOR REGION.	Operons
D010957	Plasmids	Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS.	Episomes,Episome,Plasmid
D003001	Cloning, Molecular	The insertion of recombinant DNA molecules from prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic sources into a replicating vehicle, such as a plasmid or virus vector, and the introduction of the resultant hybrid molecules into recipient cells without altering the viability of those cells.	Molecular Cloning
D004251	DNA Transposable Elements	Discrete segments of DNA which can excise and reintegrate to another site in the genome. Most are inactive, i.e., have not been found to exist outside the integrated state. DNA transposable elements include bacterial IS (insertion sequence) elements, Tn elements, the maize controlling elements Ac and Ds, Drosophila P, gypsy, and pogo elements, the human Tigger elements and the Tc and mariner elements which are found throughout the animal kingdom.	DNA Insertion Elements,DNA Transposons,IS Elements,Insertion Sequence Elements,Tn Elements,Transposable Elements,Elements, Insertion Sequence,Sequence Elements, Insertion,DNA Insertion Element,DNA Transposable Element,DNA Transposon,Element, DNA Insertion,Element, DNA Transposable,Element, IS,Element, Insertion Sequence,Element, Tn,Element, Transposable,Elements, DNA Insertion,Elements, DNA Transposable,Elements, IS,Elements, Tn,Elements, Transposable,IS Element,Insertion Element, DNA,Insertion Elements, DNA,Insertion Sequence Element,Sequence Element, Insertion,Tn Element,Transposable Element,Transposable Element, DNA,Transposable Elements, DNA,Transposon, DNA,Transposons, DNA
D004261	DNA Replication	The process by which a DNA molecule is duplicated.	Autonomous Replication,Replication, Autonomous,Autonomous Replications,DNA Replications,Replication, DNA,Replications, Autonomous,Replications, DNA
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
D001483	Base Sequence	The sequence of PURINES and PYRIMIDINES in nucleic acids and polynucleotides. It is also called nucleotide sequence.	DNA Sequence,Nucleotide Sequence,RNA Sequence,DNA Sequences,Base Sequences,Nucleotide Sequences,RNA Sequences,Sequence, Base,Sequence, DNA,Sequence, Nucleotide,Sequence, RNA,Sequences, Base,Sequences, DNA,Sequences, Nucleotide,Sequences, RNA
D013210	Staphylococcus	A genus of gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, coccoid bacteria. Its organisms occur singly, in pairs, and in tetrads and characteristically divide in more than one plane to form irregular clusters. Natural populations of Staphylococcus are found on the skin and mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals. Some species are opportunistic pathogens of humans and animals.