Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026
06:06
Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43
Published on: September 11, 2020
Diversity of putative Tn5253-like elements in Streptococcus pneumoniae
S K Henderson-Begg1, A P Roberts, L M C Hall
1School of Health and Biosciences, University of East London, London, UK. S.Henderson-Begg@uel.ac.uk
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
|December 23, 2008
Summary
Conjugative transposons like Tn5253 contribute to antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae. This study reveals significant variability in Tn5253 elements within clinical pneumococcal isolates, highlighting a need for further research.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is a growing public health concern.
- Conjugative transposons, particularly the Tn916 family, are known to confer resistance to antibiotics like tetracycline and erythromycin.
- The composite transposon Tn5253, comprising Tn916-like and Tn5252 elements, is associated with resistance but less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the carriage of Tn5253-associated genes (Tn5252 integrase, Tn5252-encoded umuC/D homologues, Tn916 integrase) in antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- To analyze the diversity and variability of Tn5253-related elements within clinical isolates.
Main Methods:
- Detection of specific genes (int(5252), umuC/D homologues, int(916)) in 55 clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Analysis of Tn5253-related elements in five selected isolates, including sequence and restriction site analysis.
Main Results:
- Tn5253-associated genes were frequently found in antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae, including international clones.
- A diverse spectrum of genes and resistances was observed.
- Analysis of five isolates showed Tn5253-related elements inserted at the same chromosomal locus but exhibited sequence and restriction site diversity.
- This study demonstrates significant variability of Tn5253-related elements in clinical pneumococcal isolates.
Conclusions:
- Tn5253-related elements are common and diverse in antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- The prevalence of these variable elements in pandemic clones warrants further investigation into their role in antibiotic resistance dissemination.
More Related Videos
11:32Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
09:12Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae
Published on: January 17, 2014
Related Concept Videos
01:14Atypical Pneumonia
Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
01:24Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes
The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
01:29Cytoskeletal Proteins in Bacteria
Bacterial cells were initially considered simple, randomly organized structures lacking a cytoskeleton. However, the discovery of cytoskeleton homologs in bacteria led to the change of this opinion. Bacterial cytoskeletal filaments regulate the cell shape, cell polarity, cell division, and partitioning of plasmids during cell division. It was later discovered that bacterial cytoskeletal proteins, mainly actin and tubulin homologs, are diverse compared to their eukaryotic counterparts. On the...
01:27Streptococcal Pharyngitis
Streptococcal pharyngitis, commonly known as “strep throat,” is an acute infection of the oropharyngeal tissues caused by the Gram‑positive Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes). Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, or talking.Mechanisms of Host Entry and Immune EvasionUpon entering the host, S. pyogenes adheres to the mucosal epithelial cells of the pharynx via surface proteins, notably lipoteichoic acid and the antiphagocytic...
01:30Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria
Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
01:30Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes
Spirochetes, unique bacteria in the phylum Spirochaetes, are gram-negative, motile, tightly coiled, slender, and flexible. They inhabit aquatic sediments and animals, with some causing diseases like syphilis. Spirochetes are classified into eight genera based on habitat, pathogenicity, phylogeny, and characteristics.Their distinctive motility arises from endoflagella, located within the cell’s periplasm. These endoflagella anchor at the cell poles and extend along the cell length, encased by a...