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Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
Published on: May 2, 2018
Molecular analysis of closely related copper- and streptomycin-resistance plasmids in Pseudomonas syringae pv.
1Department of Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078, USA.
Abstract:
The genetic relationship of a group of copper (Cur) and streptomycin (Smr) resistance plasmids and their Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae hosts was examined. Each of these plasmids contained sequences homologous to the oriV and par sequences from pOSU900, a cryptic P. syringae pv. syringae plasmid. Analysis of restriction digest patterns of plasmid DNA indicated that the plasmids could be clustered into four groups; two of the groups contained multiple members which differed by only a few fragments. An analysis of the host P. syringae genotypes using the arbitrarily primed PCR technique and genomic DNA indicated that the host strains could be placed in groups similar to those resulting from analysis of plasmid DNA. Southern hybridization analyses of plasmid DNA indicated that each Smr plasmid contained sequences homologous to probes specific for the strA-strB Smr genes and the transposase and resolvase genes from Tn5393. All plasmids hybridized to two additional probes derived from P. syringae plasmid DNA, but none of the plasmids contained IS51 or IS801 sequences. Furthermore, Tn5393 was mobilized, presumably by transposition, between the incompatible plasmids pPSR5 and pPSR4 in P. syringae pv. syringae FF5. The variation in molecular structure of the closely related plasmids in this study is similar to that observed with antibiotic-resistance plasmids from clinical bacteria.
Insights
This study reveals that copper and streptomycin resistance plasmids in Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae share genetic similarities with their host strains. Molecular analysis clustered both plasmids and hosts into similar groups, indicating close genetic relationships.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Copper (Cur) and streptomycin (Smr) resistance plasmids are significant in bacterial genetics.
- Understanding the genetic relationship between plasmids and their hosts is crucial for microbial studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the genetic relationship between Cur and Smr resistance plasmids and their Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae hosts.
- To investigate the molecular structure and genetic relatedness of these plasmids and host strains.
Main Methods:
- Restriction digest analysis of plasmid DNA.
- Arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) for host genotyping.
- Southern hybridization with specific gene probes (strA-strB, Tn5393 transposase/resolvase).
Main Results:
- Plasmids clustered into four groups based on restriction patterns, with some groups containing closely related members.
- Host P. syringae strains grouped similarly to their plasmids based on AP-PCR analysis.
- Smr plasmids contained strA-strB genes and Tn5393 elements; all plasmids hybridized with P. syringae plasmid probes but lacked IS51/IS801.
- Transposon Tn5393 was mobilized between incompatible plasmids in P. syringae pv. syringae FF5.
Conclusions:
- The genetic relatedness of plasmids and their P. syringae hosts was demonstrated through molecular analyses.
- Structural variations in these plasmids resemble those found in antibiotic-resistance plasmids from clinical bacteria.
- The findings highlight the dynamic nature of plasmid evolution and host interactions in bacterial populations.
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