Open AccessHorizontal transfer of tet (M) and erm (B) resistance plasmids from food strains of Lactobacillus plantarum to Enterococcus faecalis JH2‐2 in the gastrointestinal tract of gnotobiotic rats
Author(s) -
Jacobsen Louise,
Wilcks Andrea,
Hammer Karin,
Huys Geert,
Gevers Dirk,
Andersen Sigrid Rita
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2006.00212.x
Subject(s) - enterococcus faecalis , biology , plasmid , microbiology and biotechnology , lactobacillus plantarum , streptococcaceae , escherichia coli , feces , enterococcus , gastrointestinal tract , bacteria , antibiotics , lactic acid , biochemistry , gene , genetics
Two wild‐type strains of Lactobacillus plantarum previously isolated from fermented dry sausages were analysed for their ability to transfer antibiotic resistance plasmids in the gastrointestinal tract. For this purpose, we used gnotobiotic rats as an in vivo model. Rats were initially inoculated with the recipient Enterococcus faecalis JH2‐2 at a concentration of 10 10 CFU mL −1 . After a week, either of the two donors L. plantarum DG 522 (harbouring a tet (M)‐containing plasmid of c . 40 kb) or L. plantarum DG 507 [harbouring a tet (M)‐containing plasmid of c . 10 kb and an erm (B)‐containing plasmid of c . 8.5 kb] was introduced at concentrations in the range of 10 8 –10 10 CFU mL −1 . Two days after donor introduction, the first transconjugants (TCs) were detected in faecal samples. The detected numbers of tet (M)‐TCs were comparable for the two donors. In both cases, this number increased to c . 5 × 10 2 CFU g −1 faeces towards the end of the experiment. For erm (B)‐TCs, the number was significantly higher and increased to c . 10 3 CFU g −1 faeces. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing in vivo transfer of wild‐type antibiotic resistance plasmids from L. plantarum to E. faecalis .