A novel group of IncQ1 plasmids conferring multidrug resistance

Publication date: Available online 1 December 2016 Source:Plasmid Author(s): M. Oliva, R. Monno, P. D'Addabbo, G. Pesole, A.M. Dionisi, M. Scrascia, M. Chiara, D.S. Horner, C. Manzari, I. Luzzi, C. Calia, A.M. D'Erchia, C. Pazzani The IncQ is a group of non-conjugative but mobilisable plasmids that are stably maintained and found in a wide range of bacteria, contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes and to the insurgence of multidrug resistant bacteria. Here we report the identification, in clinical Salmonella Typhimurium strains, of an IncQ1 plasmid (pNUC) conferring resistance to sulfamethoxazole, streptomycin and tetracycline encoded by sul2, strAB and tetA, respectively. pNUC was detected in five multidrug resistant S. Typhimurium strains collected in Southern Italy from various hospitals and year of isolation. Bioinformatics analysis highlighted the presence of pNUC-like plasmids in pathogenic bacteria of various Enterobacteriaceae genera or species. This novel group of IncQ1 plasmids might have originated through independent recombination events between a tetR-tetA gene cluster (possibly derived from a Tn1721) and a recipient IncQ1 plasmid related to RSF1010. Taken together, our findings raise concerns for the contribution that this identified new group of IncQ1 plasmids might play in the diffusion of tetracycline resistance.
Source: Plasmid - Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research