Open AccessTransfer of a conjugative transposon, Tn 5397 in a model oral biofilm
Author(s) -
Roberts Adam P,
Pratten Jonathan,
Wilson Michael,
Mullany Peter
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1999.tb13714.x
Subject(s) - tetracycline , microbiology and biotechnology , transposable element , biology , biofilm , industrial fermentation , bacillus subtilis , antibiotic resistance , genetics , antibiotics , bacteria , gene , food science , mutant , fermentation
A tetracycline resistance profile was established from a microcosm dental plaque in a constant depth film fermenter. The fermenter was inoculated with a Bacillus subtilis strain which contained the conjugative transposon, Tn 5397 , which confers tetracycline resistance upon its host. After 6 hour and 24 hour the tetracycline resistance profile of the biofilm was re‐determined and a tetracycline resistant Streptococcus species was isolated. A molecular analysis of this strain confirmed that Tn 5397 was present in the genomic DNA of the isolate. These data represent the first report, to our knowledge, of intergeneric transfer of a conjugative transposon in a mixed species biofilm and demonstrates the ability of conjugative transposons to disseminate antibiotic resistance genes in a mixed species environment.