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Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
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Tn916-like genetic elements: a diverse group of modular mobile elements conferring antibiotic resistance

Adam P Roberts1, Peter Mullany

  • 1Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews
|June 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Mobile genetic elements like conjugative transposons facilitate the spread of antibiotic resistance genes among Gram-positive bacteria. This transfer mechanism contributes to the rise of multidrug-resistant pathogens in healthcare settings.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria cause significant morbidity and mortality in healthcare.
  • Key pathogens like Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae display multidrug resistance.
  • Clostridium difficile may develop multidrug resistance through mobile genetic element acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of conjugative transposons in the spread of antibiotic resistance.
  • To understand the mechanism of mobile genetic element transfer between bacteria.
  • To highlight the contribution of these elements to multidrug resistance emergence.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of conjugative transposons (Tn916/Tn1545 family) and their antibiotic resistance determinants.
  • Description of the conjugative transfer mechanism involving excision, circularization, cell-cell contact, and site-specific insertion.
  • Examination of mobile genetic elements like plasmids and transposons.

Main Results:

  • Conjugative transposons are transmissible between different bacterial species.
  • These transposons carry major antibiotic resistance genes.
  • The acquisition of additional resistance genes by these transposons enhances multidrug resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Conjugative transposons are key drivers of multidrug resistance in Gram-positive bacteria.
  • The horizontal gene transfer mediated by these elements poses a significant threat in healthcare.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for combating antibiotic resistance.

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