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Host range and transfer efficiency of incompatibility group HI plasmids
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Canadian Journal of Microbiology
|June 1, 1993
Summary
HI plasmids, crucial for antibiotic resistance spread, efficiently transfer at lower temperatures (14-24°C) to various bacteria, including environmental and pathogenic species. This highlights their role in resistance dissemination in diverse ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Environmental Science
Background:
- HI plasmids are known for thermosensitive conjugation and encoding multiple antibiotic resistances.
- These traits suggest HI plasmids may facilitate antibiotic resistance spread in water and soil environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the transfer efficiency and host range of HI plasmids with other plasmid groups at different temperatures.
- To investigate the potential of HI plasmids as vectors for antibiotic resistance dissemination.
Main Methods:
- Intragenic conjugations of HI plasmids and 13 other incompatibility group plasmids in Escherichia coli K-12 at 37, 24, and 14°C.
- Testing host range and transfer proficiency to Enterobacteria and other Gram-negative environmental bacteria at 24 and 14°C.
Main Results:
- HI plasmids, along with representatives from groups M, N, Pα, T, and W, were transmissible at 14°C.
- At 14°C, R478 (HI2) showed the broadest host range and transfer proficiency.
- Similar host ranges were observed for HI plasmids and other enterobacterial groups at 24°C.
Conclusions:
- HI plasmids demonstrate efficient transfer at lower temperatures (14-24°C), indicating a significant role in antibiotic resistance dissemination.
- The ability of HI plasmids to transfer to key environmental and pathogenic bacteria at low temperatures warrants further in situ investigation.