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Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Published on: March 3, 2023
Mobile macrolide resistance genes in staphylococci.
Andrea T Feßler1, Yang Wang2, Congming Wu2
1Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Centre for Infection Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Macrolide resistance in staphylococci arises from four main mechanisms, including ribosomal modification and efflux pumps. These resistance genes are often mobile, facilitating their spread across bacterial populations.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Macrolide resistance in staphylococci is a significant public health concern.
- Several genetic mechanisms contribute to macrolide resistance in staphylococci.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the genetic basis and mechanisms of macrolide resistance in staphylococci.
- To review the different classes of genes responsible for macrolide resistance and their modes of action.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on macrolide resistance genes in staphylococci.
- Analysis of the different resistance mechanisms: target site modification, ribosome protection, efflux, and enzymatic inactivation.
- Examination of the genetic elements (plasmids, transposons, etc.) carrying these resistance genes.
Main Results:
- Four primary mechanisms of macrolide resistance are identified: ribosomal methylation (erm genes), ribosome protection (msr(A)), active efflux (mef(A)), and enzymatic inactivation (mph(C), ere(A/B)).
- Fourteen classes of erm genes encoding 23S rRNA methylases have been reported.
- Mobile genetic elements frequently harbor macrolide resistance genes, promoting horizontal gene transfer.
- Co-location with other resistance genes facilitates co-selection.
Conclusions:
- Macrolide resistance in staphylococci is multifactorial, involving diverse genetic mechanisms.
- The mobility of resistance genes and their association with other resistance determinants contribute to the persistence and spread of macrolide resistance.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance.
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