Open AccessCloning and expression of methicillin resistance from Staphylococcus epidermidis in Staphylococcus carnosus
Author(s) -
W Tesch,
A Strässle,
Brigitte BergerBächi,
Denise M O’Hara,
Peter E. Reynolds,
Fritz H. Kayser
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.32.10.1494
Subject(s) - staphylococcus epidermidis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , plasmid , staphylococcus aureus , recombinant dna , molecular cloning , penicillin binding proteins , staphylococcus , dna , penicillin , gene , bacteria , antibiotics , genetics , peptide sequence
A 6.2-kilobase chromosomal DNA fragment from a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis strain was cloned into Staphylococcus carnosus by using staphylococcal plasmid pCA44 as the vector. The recombinant plasmid obtained, pBBB21, conferred methicillin resistance on its host and was responsible for the synthesis of a low-affinity penicillin-binding protein (PBP), PBP 2'. PBP 2' determined by the S. epidermidis DNA and expressed as a membrane-bound PBP in S. carnosus reacted with monoclonal antibodies directed against PBP 2' of Staphylococcus aureus origin, and the cloned S. epidermidis DNA hybridized to the methicillin (mec)-specific DNA from S. aureus. These findings point to a common origin of the methicillin resistance determinant in staphylococci.