Open AccessMercuric resistance genes in gram‐positive oral bacteria
Author(s) -
Stapleton Paul,
Pike Rachel,
Mullany Peter,
Lucas Victoria,
Roberts Graham,
Rowbury Robin,
Wilson Michael,
Richards Hilary
Publication year - 2004
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.1574-6968.2004.tb09649.x
Subject(s) - biology , streptococcus mitis , genetics , gene , streptococcus oralis , bacillus cereus , microbiology and biotechnology , transposable element , cereus , bacteria , streptococcus , genome
Mercury‐resistant bacteria isolated from the oral cavities of children carried one of two types of merA gene that appear to have evolved from a common ancestor. Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mitis and a few other species had merA genes that were very similar to merA of Bacillus cereus strain RC607. Unlike the B. cereus RC607 merA gene, however, the streptococcal merA genes were not carried on Tn 5084 ‐like transposons. Instead, comparisons with microbial genomic sequences suggest the merA gene is located on a novel type II transposon. Coagulase‐negative staphylococci and Streptococcus parasanguis had identical merA genes that represent a new merA variant.