Premium
Bacteriophage‐mediated transduction of antibiotic resistance in enterococci
Author(s) -
Mazaheri Nezhad Fard R.,
Barton M.D.,
Heuzenroeder M.W.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2011.03043.x
Subject(s) - transduction (biophysics) , enterococcus faecalis , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , enterococcus faecium , antibiotic resistance , enterococcus , bacteriophage , bacteria , virulence , enterococcus hirae , antibiotics , escherichia coli , gene , genetics , staphylococcus aureus , biochemistry
Aims: Temperate bacteriophages are bacterial viruses that transfer genetic information between bacteria. This phenomenon is known as transduction, and it is important in acquisition of bacterial virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance determinants. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the role of bacteriophages in gene transfer (antibiotic resistance) in enterococci. Methods and Results: Three bacteriophages from environmental samples isolated on pig host strains of Enterococcus gallinarum and Enterococcus faecalis were evaluated in transduction experiments. Antibiotic resistance was transferred from Ent. gallinarum to Ent. faecalis (tetracycline resistance) and from Ent. faecalis to Enterococcus faecium , Enterococcus hirae/durans and Enterococcus casseliflavus (gentamicin resistance) . Conclusions: Bacteriophages play a role in transfer of antibiotic resistance determinants in enterococci. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study confirms previous suggestions on transduction in enterococci, in particular on interspecies transduction. Interspecies transduction is significant because it widens the range of recipients involved in antimicrobial resistance transfer.