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Analysis of two Staphylococcus epidermidis plasmids coding for resistance to streptogramin A
1Unité des Staphylocoques, Centre National de Référence des Staphylocoques, Paris Cedex 15, 75724, France.
Plasmid
|November 10, 1998
Summary
Two Staphylococcus epidermidis plasmids, pIP1629 and pIP1630, carry the streptogramin A resistance gene (vga). Plasmid pIP1630 likely formed from recombination of two distinct resistance-carrying plasmids.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common cause of nosocomial infections.
- Plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA elements that can carry antibiotic resistance genes.
- The vga gene confers resistance to streptogramin A antibiotics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the genetic makeup of two S. epidermidis plasmids, pIP1629 and pIP1630.
- To investigate the origins and dissemination of these plasmids within S. epidermidis populations.
Main Methods:
- DNA sequencing and comparative analysis of plasmids pIP1629, pIP1630, and pSK639.
- Identification of shared and unique genetic elements, including resistance genes and replication mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Both pIP1629 and pIP1630 contain the vga gene for streptogramin A resistance.
- pIP1630 shares significant sequence homology with pIP1629 and the mobilizable plasmid pSK639.
- Replication-mobilization elements of pIP1629 and pSK639 are highly similar, indicating wide geographic dispersal.
Conclusions:
- Plasmid pIP1630 likely resulted from the recombination of two ancestral plasmids, each carrying different resistance determinants.
- The widespread distribution of similar replication-mobilization elements suggests efficient plasmid transfer and maintenance in S. epidermidis.