Integrase-Mediated Recombination of the bel-1 Gene Cassette Encoding the Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase BEL-1

Integrons are genetic elements that can acquire and rearrange gene cassettes. The bla_BEL-1 gene encodes an extended-spectrum β-lactamase, BEL-1, that is present at the second position of the variable region of class 1 integrons identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa The mobility of the bel-1 gene cassette was analyzed under physiological conditions and with the integrase gene being overexpressed. Cassette mobility in Escherichia coli was detected by excision/integration into the recipient integron In3 on the conjugative plasmid R388 with the overproduced integrase. Despite several antibiotic pressures, the bel-1 cassette remained at the second position in the integron, highlighting its stability in P. aeruginosa Overexpression of the integrase gene in E. coli induced bel-1 cassette recombination. However, cassettes containing two genes (bla_BEL-1 and smr2 or bla_BEL-1 and aacA4) were excised, suggesting that the bel-1 cassette attC site was defective. We show that bel-1 is a stable gene cassette under physiological growth conditions, irrespective of the selective antibiotic pressure, that may be mobilized upon overexpression of the integrase gene.