Characterization of tetracycline resistance plasmids from Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli

Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria—A Review

Background: A global problem of multi-drug resistance (MDR) among bacteria is the cause of hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. In response to the significant increase of MDR bacteria, legislative measures have widely been taken to limit or eliminate the use of antibiotics, including in the form of feed additives for livestock, but also in metaphylaxis and its treatment, which was the subject of EU Regulation in 2019/6. Numerous studies have documented that bacteria use both phenotypis and gentic strategies enabling a natural defence against antibiotics and the induction of mechanisms in increasing resistance to the used antibacterial chemicals. The mechanisms presented in this review developed by the bacteria have a significant impact on reducing the ability to combat bacterial infections in humans and animals. Moreover, the high prevalence of multi-resistant strains in the environment and the ease of transmission of drug-resistance genes between the different bacterial species including commensal flora and pathogenic like foodborne pathogens (E. coli, Campylobacter spp., Enterococcus spp., Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Staphylococcus spp.) favor the rapid spread of multi-resistance among bacteria in humans and animals. Given the global threat posed by the widespread phenomenon of multi-drug resistance among bacteria which are dangerous for humans and animals, the subject of this study is the presentation of the mechanisms of resistance in most frequent bacteria called as “foodborne pathoges” isolated from human and animals. In order to present the significance of the global problem related to multi-drug resistance among selected pathogens, especially those danger to humans, the publication also presents statistical data on the percentage range of occurrence of drug resistance among selected bacteria in various regions of the world. In addition to the phenotypic characteristics of pathogen resistance, this review also presents detailed information on the detection of drug resistance genes for specific groups of antibiotics. It should be emphasized that the manuscript also presents the results of own research i.e., Campylobacter spp., E. coli or Enetrococcus spp. This subject and the presentation of data on the risks of drug resistance among bacteria will contribute to initiating research in implementing the prevention of drug resistance and the development of alternatives for antimicrobials methods of controlling bacteria.

Resistome Analysis of Campylobacter jejuni Strains Isolated from Human Stool and Primary Sterile Samples in Croatia

Campylobacteriosis represents a global health challenge due to continuously increasing trends of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter jejuni. C. jejuni can sometimes cause life-threatening and severe systematic infections (bacteremia, meningitis, and other extraintestinal infections) with very few antibiotics left as treatment options. Bearing in mind that C. jejuni is the predominant species in humans, in this paper, we present a study of the C. jejuni differences in antimicrobial resistance and genotype distribution between strains isolated from stool and primary sterile sites. We compared the genomic data obtained through whole genome sequencing (WGS) and phenotypic susceptibility data of C. jejuni strains. Once antimicrobial susceptibility testing of C. jejuni strains was carried out by the broth microdilution method for six of interest, results were compared to the identified genotypic determinants derived from WGS. The high rate of resistance to fluoroquinolones presented in this study is in accordance with national surveillance data. The proportion of strains with acquired resistance was 71% for ciprofloxacin and 20% for tetracycline. When invasive isolates were analysed separately, 40% exhibited MIC values of ciprofloxacin higher than the ECOFFs, suggesting a lower flouroquinolone resistance rate in invasive isolates. All isolates demonstrated wilde-type phenotype for chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin, and ertapenem. A special focus and review in this study was performed on a group of C.jejuni strains found in primary sterile samples. Apart from demonstrating a lower resistance rate, these isolates seem genetically more uniform, showing epidemiologically more homogenous patterns, which cluster to several clonal complexes, with CC49 being the most represented clonal complex.

Emergence of a Novel tet(L) Variant in Campylobacter spp. of Chicken Origin in China

Tetracyclines are widely used in veterinary medicine and food animal production. Campylobacter members are major foodborne pathogens, and their resistance to tetracycline has been widely reported in different countries. To date, Tet(O), a ribosomal protection protein, is the only confirmed Tet resistance determinant in Campylobacter spp. Here, we reported the detection and characterization of a novel Tet resistance element in Campylobacter spp. of chicken origin. This gene is identified to be a variant of tet(L), which encodes an efflux pump for Tet resistance. The variant was detected in 14 of the 82 tetracycline-resistant Campylobacter isolates collected from chickens in Henan, China. Cloning of the tet(L) variant into tetracycline-susceptible Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 confirmed its function in conferring resistance to tetracycline and doxycycline. In addition, this tet(L) variant elevated the MIC (4-fold increase) of tigecycline in the heterologous Escherichia coli host. Sequencing analysis indicated the tet(L) variant was located within a multidrug-resistance genomic island (MDRGI) containing tet(L) variant IS1216E-ORF1-fexA-Δtnp-IS1216E-tet(O)-tnpV-repA This MDRGI is inserted into conserved gene potB on the chromosome. Multilocus sequence type (MLST) analysis revealed that both clonal expansion and horizontal transfer were involved in the dissemination of the tet(L) variant. These findings reveal the emergence of a new Tet resistance determinant in Campylobacter spp., which may facilitate their adaptation to the antimicrobial selection pressure in chickens.

Campylobacter jejuni from Canine and Bovine Cases of Campylobacteriosis Express High Antimicrobial Resistance Rates against (Fluoro)quinolones and Tetracyclines

Campylobacter (C.) spp. from poultry is the main source of foodborne human campylobacteriosis, but diseased pets and cattle shedding Campylobacter spp. may contribute sporadically as a source of human infection. As fluoroquinolones are one of the drugs of choice for the treatment of severe human campylobacteriosis, the resistance rates of C. jejuni and C. coli from poultry against antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones, are monitored within the European program on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock. However, much less is published on the AMR rates of C.jejuni and C. coli from pets and cattle. Therefore, C. jejuni and C. coli isolated from diseased animals were tested phenotypically for AMR, and associated AMR genes or mutations were identified by whole genome sequencing. High rates of resistance to (fluoro)quinolones (41%) and tetracyclines (61.1%) were found in C. jejuni (n = 29/66). (Fluoro)quinolone resistance was associated with the known point mutation in the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of gyrA, and tetracycline resistance was mostly caused by the tet(O) gene. These high rates of resistance, especially to critically important antibiotics in C. jejuni and C. coli, are worrisome not only in veterinary medicine. Efforts to preserve the efficacy of important antimicrobial treatment options in human and veterinary medicine have to be strengthened in the future.

Gene pool transmission of multidrug resistance among Campylobacter from livestock, sewage and human disease

The use of antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine has coincided with a rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the food-borne pathogens Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Faecal contamination from the main reservoir hosts (livestock, especially poultry) is the principal route of human infection but little is known about the spread of AMR among source and sink populations. In particular, questions remain about how Campylobacter resistomes interact between species and hosts, and the potential role of sewage as a conduit for the spread of AMR. Here, we investigate the genomic variation associated with AMR in 168 C. jejuni and 92 C. coli strains isolated from humans, livestock and urban effluents in Spain. AMR was tested in vitro and isolate genomes were sequenced and screened for putative AMR genes and alleles. Genes associated with resistance to multiple drug classes were observed in both species and were commonly present in multidrug-resistant genomic islands (GIs), often located on plasmids or mobile elements. In many cases, these loci had alleles that were shared among C. jejuni and C. coli consistent with horizontal transfer. Our results suggest that specific antibiotic resistance genes have spread among Campylobacter isolated from humans, animals and the environment.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Campylobacter spp

Campylobacter is a major foodborne pathogen and has become increasingly resistant to clinically important antimicrobials. To cope with the selection pressure from antimicrobial use in both veterinary and human medicine, Campylobacter has developed multiple mechanisms for antibiotic resistance, including modification or mutation of antimicrobial targets, modification or inactivation of antibiotics, and reduced drug accumulation by drug efflux pumps. Some of these mechanisms confer resistance to a specific class of antimicrobials, while others give rise to multidrug resistance. Notably, new antibiotic resistance mechanisms continuously emerge in Campylobacter, and some examples include the recently discovered multidrug resistance genomic islands harboring multiple genes involved in the resistance to aminoglycosides and macrolides, a novel Cfr(C) conferring resistance to phenicols and other drugs, and a potent multidrug efflux pump CmeABC variant (RE-CmeABC) that shows a significantly enhanced function in multidrug resistance and is associated with exceedingly high-level resistance to fluoroquinolones. These newly emerged resistance mechanisms are horizontally transferable and greatly facilitate the adaptation of Campylobacter in the food-producing environments where antibiotics are frequently used. In this article, we will discuss how Campylobacter resists the action of various classes of antimicrobials, with an emphasis on newly discovered mechanisms.

Phylogenetic Relatedness Among Plasmids Harbored by Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Isolated From Retail Meats

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are two of the major causes of foodborne illness. In this study, 29 plasmids isolated from 20 retail meat isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were fully-sequenced individually or as a part of a whole genome sequencing approach. The fully-sequenced plasmids ranged in size from 3 to 119 kb. Molecular characterization of the sequenced plasmids was based on pangenomic analysis and types of genes present on these plasmids and similar ones from GenBank. The plasmids were categorized into four different groups. These groups include type-1 that consisted mainly of pTet plasmids with the tetO gene, type-2 plasmids commonly found in C. coli strains, type-3 which has pVir plasmids, and type-4 that consisted mainly of smaller plasmids. The type-2 plasmids were unique, common among C. coli strains, and carried several conjugative transfer genes. The type-2 plasmids were most similar to a plasmid from Helicobacter pullorum. Maximum parsimony analysis and NeighborNet analysis were used to assess the phylogenetic relatedness among the 29 plasmid sequences presented in this study in addition to the other 104 plasmid sequences of Campylobacter species available in GenBank to date. Results from MP analysis revealed multiple lineages among Campylobacter plasmids which was supported by NeighborNet analysis. Clustering of plasmids did not conform to species-specific clades which suggested an intra-species dissemination of plasmids among Campylobacter species. To our knowledge, this is the first extensive phylogenetic analysis of Campylobacter plasmids sequenced to date.

Novel plasmid conferring kanamycin and tetracycline resistance in the turkey-derived Campylobacter jejuni strain 11601MD

In Campylobacter spp., resistance to the antimicrobials kanamycin and tetracycline is frequently associated with plasmid-borne genes. However, relatively few plasmids of Campylobacter jejuni have been fully characterized to date. A novel plasmid (p11601MD; 44,095nt) harboring tet(O) was identified in C. jejuni strain 11601MD, which was isolated from the jejunum of a turkey produced conventionally in North Carolina. Analysis of the p11601MD sequence revealed the presence of a high-GC content cassette with four genes that included tet(O) and a putative aminoglycoside transferase gene (aphA-3) highly similar to kanamycin resistance determinants. Several genes putatively involved in conjugative transfer were also identified on the plasmid. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the distribution of potentially self-mobilizing plasmids harboring antibiotic resistance determinants in Campylobacter spp. from turkeys and other sources.

Antimicrobial resistance mechanisms among Campylobacter

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are recognized as the most common causative agents of bacterial gastroenteritis in the world. Humans most often become infected by ingesting contaminated food, especially undercooked chicken, but also other sources of bacteria have been described. Campylobacteriosis is normally a self-limiting disease. Antimicrobial treatment is needed only in patients with more severe disease and in those who are immunologically compromised. The most common antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of Campylobacter infections are macrolides, such as erythromycin, and fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin. Tetracyclines have been suggested as an alternative choice in the treatment of clinical campylobacteriosis but in practice are not often used. However, during the past few decades an increasing number of resistant Campylobacter isolates have developed resistance to fluoroquinolones and other antimicrobials such as macrolides, aminoglycosides, and beta-lactams. Trends in antimicrobial resistance have shown a clear correlation between use of antibiotics in the veterinary medicine and animal production and resistant isolates of Campylobacter in humans. In this review, the patterns of emerging resistance to the antimicrobial agents useful in treatment of the disease are presented and the mechanisms of resistance to these drugs in Campylobacter are discussed.

Chromosomal tet(O)-harboring regions in Campylobacter coli isolates from turkeys and swine

In turkey-derived Campylobacter coli isolates of a unique lineage (cluster II), the tetracycline resistance determinant tet(O) was chromosomal and was part of a gene cassette (transposon) interrupting a Campylobacter jejuni-associated putative citrate transporter gene. In contrast, the swine-derived C. coli strain 6461 harbored a chromosomal tet(O) in a different genomic location.

Prevalence and Biomolecular Characterization of Campylobacter spp. Isolated from Retail Meat

We estimated the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in retail meat (n = 352 samples; 104 chicken, 106 pork, and 142 beef) collected in Campobasso, Italy, comparing two microbiological methods. All the isolates were characterized by biomolecular techniques for epidemiological purposes. Campylobacter isolation was performed by selective culture and membrane filtration methods. Phenotypic and genotypic methods for genus and species identification were evaluated together with antimicrobial resistance and plasmid profiling. Sixty-nine (86.2%) samples were positive by selective culture, 49 (61.2%) by membrane filtration, and 38 (47.5%) by both methods. Only 74 of 80 strains were confirmed as Campylobacter spp. by PCR, and two Campylobacter coli were identified as Campylobacter jejuni . Chicken meat was more frequently contaminated than other meats. Selective culture was more sensitive than membrane filtration (85 versus 66%), and specificity of the methods was 98 and 100%, respectively. Among Campylobacter isolates from chicken meat, 86.5% were multidrug resistant. Resistance to ciprofloxacin (51.3%) and enrofloxacin (52.7%) was lower than to nalidixic acid (71.6%). C. coli strains showed the highest cross-resistance for quinolones (82.6%) and fluoroquinolones (60.9%) as well as a high resistance to tetracycline. Plasmids were isolated from six C. coli and two C. jejuni isolates, but no association was detected between antimicrobial resistance and plasmid DNA carriage. Selective culture is considered as the optimal method for Campylobacter isolation, although it was unable to detect all contaminated samples. Membrane filtration provided more specific results but with low sensitivity. A combination of both techniques may offer better results.

Antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter: emergence, transmission and persistence

Campylobacter is a leading foodborne bacterial pathogen, which causes gastroenteritis in humans. This pathogenic organism is increasingly resistant to antibiotics, especially fluoroquinolones and macrolides, which are the most frequently used antimicrobials for the treatment of campylobacteriosis when clinical therapy is warranted. As a zoonotic pathogen, Campylobacter has a broad animal reservoir and infects humans via contaminated food, water or milk. Antibiotic usage in both animal agriculture and human medicine, can influence the development of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter. This review will describe the trend in fluoroquinolone and macrolide resistance in Campylobacter, summarize the mechanisms underlying the resistance to various antibiotics and discuss the unique features associated with the emergence, transmission and persistence of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter. Special attention will be given to recent findings and emphasis will be placed on Campylobacter resistance to fluoroquinolones and macrolides. A future perspective on antibiotic resistance and potential approaches for the control of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter, will also be discussed.

Effects of orally administered tetracycline on the intestinal community structure of chickens and on tet determinant carriage by commensal bacteria and Campylobacter jejuni

There is a growing concern that antibiotic usage in animal production has selected for resistant food-borne bacteria. Since tetracyclines are common therapeutic antibiotics used in poultry production, we sought to evaluate the effects of oral administration on the resistance of poultry commensal bacteria and the intestinal bacterial community structure. The diversity indices calculated from terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA amplicons did not indicate significant changes in the cecal bacterial community in response to oxytetracycline. To evaluate its effects on cultivable commensals, Enterococcus spp., Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter spp. were isolated from the cecal droppings of broiler chickens. Enterococcus spp. and E. coli expressed tetracycline MICs of >8 microg/ml and harbored a variety of tet resistance determinants regardless of the tetracycline exposure history of the birds. The enterococcal isolates possessed tetM (61%), tetL (25.4%), and tetK (1.3%), as well as tetO (52.5%), the determinant known to confer a tetracycline resistance phenotype in Campylobacter jejuni. E. coli isolates harbored tetA (32.2%) or tetB (30.5%). Tetracycline MICs remained at <2 microg/ml for Campylobacter isolates before and after tetracycline treatment of the chickens, even though isolates expressing MICs of >16 mug/ml were commonly cultured from flocks that did not receive oxytetracycline. The results imply that complex ecological and genetic factors contribute to the prevalence of antibiotic resistance arising from resistance gene transfer in the production environment.

Restriction of DNA encoding selectable markers decreases the transformation efficiency of Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori populations recovered from the human stomach display extensive recombination and quasispecies development, and this suggests frequent exchange of DNA between different strains in vivo. In vitro, however, most H. pylori strains display restriction to the uptake of non-self DNA, as measured using selectable markers, regardless of their competency for transformation with self DNA. We have examined the effect of different selectable markers on double-crossover recombination efficiencies in three reference strains (1061, 26695 & SS1) and one clinical isolate (CHP1) of H. pylori. All strains were efficiently transformable to kanamycin or chloramphenicol resistance by using self-genomic DNA from isogenic mutants bearing the aphA3 or cat cassettes, respectively. However, strains 26695 and CHP1 showed a 3-5-log reduction in transformation efficiency by non-self recombinant DNA containing aphA3, when compared to cat. Strain 1061 readily accepted either cassette, and strain SS1 was poorly tolerant of any non-self DNA. Genome-wide random mutagenesis of these strains was only achievable with a selectable marker that allowed high transformation efficiency. Digestion of 32P-labelled cassettes by H. pylori lysates mirrored the transformation results and indicated that in some strains these cassettes are the targets of enzymatic restriction.

Mosaic structure of a multiple-drug-resistant, conjugative plasmid from Campylobacter jejuni

Partial sequence analysis of a tet(O) plasmid from a multiple-drug-resistant clinical isolate of Campylobacter jejuni revealed 10 genes or pseudogenes encoding different aminoglycoside inactivating enzymes, transposase-like genes, and multiple unknown genes from a variety of pathogenic and commensal bacteria. The plasmid could be mobilized by a P incompatibility group plasmid into Escherichia coli, where it apparently integrated into the chromosome and expressed high-level resistance to multiple aminoglycoside antibiotics. This work provides new information about both the nature of drug resistance in C. jejuni and the ability of C. jejuni to exchange genes with other bacterial species.

Tetracycline resistance of Australian Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates

OBJECTIVES

Tetracycline resistance in Campylobacter is encoded by the tet(O) gene and is usually associated with conjugative plasmids. Little was known about tetracycline resistance in Australian Campylobacter species, therefore we investigated this resistance in 41 Campylobacter jejuni and five Campylobacter coli strains from humans and healthy chickens.

METHODS

Tetracycline MICs were determined for each isolate using an agar dilution method. The distribution and localization of tet(O) on plasmid and chromosomal DNA was determined by Southern-blot experiments. The ability to transfer resistance to recipient strains was examined through conjugation studies. Identity of transconjugants was confirmed by PCR and flaA-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

RESULTS

High-level tetracycline resistance was observed, ranging from 32 to >256 mg/L. Plasmids were detected in 74% of isolates with plasmids between 30 and 40 kb in size most frequently isolated. tet(O) was present in all tetracycline-resistant isolates. In the majority of strains under study the tet(O) gene was chromosomally encoded. Tetracycline resistance of six C. jejuni strains in which tet(O) was plasmid mediated was transferred by conjugation to a C. jejuni recipient strain. Transfer did not occur between tetracycline-resistant C. jejuni strains and a C. coli recipient. No difference in MICs, plasmid carriage and tet(O) localization was detected between human and chicken isolates.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that the tet(O) gene, previously reported in Campylobacter strains throughout the world, is present in Australian Campylobacter. This study will lead to a greater understanding of antibiotic resistance distribution in Campylobacter spp. in Australia.

Evidence for natural horizontal transfer of tetO gene between Campylobacter jejuni strains in chickens

AIMS

The transfer of tetO gene conferring resistance to tetracycline was studied between Campylobacter jejuni strains, in the digestive tract of chickens.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In vitro conjugation experiments were first performed in order to select donor/recipient couples for further in vivo assay. Then, chickens were inoculated with a donor/recipient couple of C. jejuni strains displaying spontaneous in vitro tetracycline resistance gene transfer. The donor was a tetracycline-resistant ampicillin-susceptible strain, and the recipient was a tetracycline-susceptible ampicillin-resistant strain. Chicken droppings were streaked on antimicrobial selective media and bi-resistant Campylobacter isolates were further characterized according to their donor or recipient flaA gene RFLP profile. The acquisition of tetracycline-resistance gene by the recipient C. jejuni strain from the donor C. jejuni strain was confirmed by tetO PCR.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed that transfer of tetO gene occurs rapidly and without antimicrobial selection pressure between C. jejuni strains in the digestive tract of chickens.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The rapid and spontaneous transfer of tetO gene may explain the high prevalence of tetracycline resistance in chicken Campylobacter strains.

Detection of seven virulence and toxin genes of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from Danish turkeys by PCR and cytolethal distending toxin production of the isolates

A total of 117 Campylobacter jejuni isolates from Danish turkeys were tested for the presence of seven virulence and toxin genes by PCR. One hundred seventeen (100%) isolates were positive for flaA, cadF, and ceuE gene primers. One hundred three (88%) isolates were positive for cdt gene cluster PCR detection (cdt gene cluster-PCR), whereas 101 (86.3%), 102 (87.2%), and 110 (94%) isolates were positive for cdtA-, cdtB-, and cdtC-PCR, respectively. Only 39 (33.3%) isolates were positive for virB11. Of 117 isolates, 114 (97.4%) produced cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) in Vero cell assays, 105 (89.7%) in Colon 205 assays, and 109 (93.2%) in chicken embryo cell assays. The CDT titers were determined in Vero cell assays. Of 117 isolates, 50 (42.7%) produced a CDT titer of 1:100, 29 (24.8%) of 1:50, and 27 (23%) of 1:5 to 1:10; 8 (6.8%) produced a CDT titer at undiluted supernatants and 3 (2.6%) produced no toxin. Twenty-nine C. jejuni isolates that were PCR negative for one or more individual cdt toxin genes also produced low or no CDT toxin. The high prevalence of the seven virulence and toxin genes demonstrates that these putative pathogenic determinants are widespread among Campylobacter isolates from turkeys and calls for further investigation for the elimination of Campylobacter infection in industrial turkey production and in industrial food chains.

Characterization of plasmid-mediated aphA-3 kanamycin resistance in Campylobacter jejuni

A total of 254 isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and three isolates of Campylobacter coli, isolated from Sweden, Canada, and Egypt, were screened for kanamycin resistance. Eight strains of C. jejuni contained large plasmids that carried the aphA-3 kanamycin-resistance marker. In six plasmids, the aphA-3 gene was located downstream of an apparent insertion sequence, designated IS607*, which showed a considerable similarity to IS607, characterized on the chromosome of some Helicobacter pylori strains. In contrast, the other plasmids carried the aphA-3 gene as a part of a resistance cluster. This included three resistance markers encoding 6'-adenylyltransferase (aadE), streptothricin acetyltransferase (sat), and 3'-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase type III (aphA-3). The genetic organization of this resistance cluster suggests that it has been acquired by C. jejuni from a Gram-positive organism. The IS607* element was also observed in kanamycin-susceptible strains of C. jejuni on plasmids mediating tetracycline resistance. The kanamycin-resistance phenotype transferred along with tetracycline resistance by conjugation from four representative C. jejuni strains to a recipient strain of C. jejuni. The kanamycin-resistance determinant (aphA-3) was stably transferred from one of the four C. jejuni strains to a recipient strain of Escherichia coli. However, the C. jejuni plasmid, which also carries the tetO gene, was not maintained in E. coli. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed the integration of approximately 50 kb of the plasmid into the chromosome of the E. coli recipient.

Antimicrobial drug delivery in food animals and microbial food safety concerns: an overview of in vitro and in vivo factors potentially affecting the animal gut microflora

This review provides an overview of considerations particular to the delivery of antimicrobial agents to food animals. Antimicrobial drugs are used in food animals for a variety of purposes. These drugs may have therapeutic effects against disease agents, or may cause changes in the structure and/or function of systems within the target animal. Routes of administration, quantity, duration, and potency of an antimicrobial drug are all important factors affecting their action(s) and success. Not only might targeted pathogens be affected, but also bacteria residing in (or on) the treated food animals, especially in the intestines (gastrointestinal tract microflora). Resistance to antimicrobial agents can occur through a number of mechanisms. The extent to which resistance develops is greatly affected by the amount of drug [or its metabolite(s)] a bacterium is exposed to, the duration of exposure, and the interaction between an individual antimicrobial agent and a particular bacterium. The impact of antimicrobial agents on the emergence of resistance in vitro and in vivo may not readily correlate.

Disinfectant susceptibility testing of avian and swine Campylobacter isolates by a filtration method

The susceptibility testing of disinfectants against Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains from broilers and pigs was investigated. The filtration method European standard EN 1040 was adapted to Campylobacter cultures and validated with reference strains. Two disinfectants were tested: 1% benzalkonium chloride active matter, as quaternary ammonium compound, and 0.63% sodium hypochlorite as chlorine-releasing agent. Both disinfectants were effective against the 34 Campylobacter strains tested after 5 min exposure under in vitro conditions. No link between resistance to disinfectants and antibiotics could be observed.

Sequence analysis of a cryptic plasmid pCJ419 from Campylobacter jejuni and construction of an Escherichia coli-Campylobacter shuttle vector

A small cryptic plasmid, pCJ419, was identified in a human clinical isolate of Campylobacter jejuni, cloned and sequenced. pCJ419 is a circular molecule of 4013 bp with a G+C content of 27.1%. The products of four open reading frames (ORFs) share significant sequence similarity with putative proteins from known C. jejuni and Campylobacter coli plasmids. ORF-1 encodes a putative mobilisation protein (Mob). ORF-2 and ORF-3 encode proteins that have high identity to putative RepA and RepB proteins, respectively, of known C. jejuni and C. coli plasmids. ORF-4 encodes a protein that has high identity to a hypothetical protein of unknown function, Cjp32, previously described in a pVir plasmid of C. jejuni. Tandem repeating 22-bp sequences typical of a plasmid replication origin (ori) were identified upstream of the DNA sequences encoding putative replication initiation proteins. An Escherichia coli-Campylobacter shuttle cloning vector, pGU0202, was constructed using plasmid pMW2 that harbours a Campylobacter-derived kanamycin resistance gene [aph(3')-III]. The sequences encoding pCJ419 mob, RepA and RepB proteins were inserted upstream of aph(3')-III resulting in a stable construct of 6174 bp that was used to transform both E. coli and Campylobacter.

Epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibilities of 111 Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus strains isolated in Québec, Canada, from 1983 to 2000

The epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibilities of 111 Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus strains isolated from 103 patients from 1983 to 2000 in Québec, Canada, were determined. The median number of patients infected annually with this bacteria was seven, with an incidence of 0.1 per 100,000 population. The male-to-female ratio was 1.1 to 1.0. The patients originated from 13 of the 18 Québec socioeconomic regions. The age range of the patients was 6 months to 90 years old, 53% being > or = 70 years old and 2% being <20 years old. The isolation site was blood for 69% of the patients, stools for 20%, and other body fluids for 11% of them. Three patients suffered a relapse, with the same strain being isolated from the same site at different times as confirmed by pulse-field gel electrophoresis. All isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, gentamicin, meropenem, and imipenem, with 90% minimal inhibitory concentrations of 4, 1, 0.12, and < or = 0.06 microg/ml, respectively. Three percent and two percent of the strains were, respectively, resistant and intermediate to ciprofloxacin. Thirty-four percent of the strains were resistant to tetracycline. There was a nonsignificant increase in resistance to ciprofloxacin (P = 0.27) and to tetracycline (P = 0.65) in recent years. The percentages of intermediate and resistant MICs were, respectively, 12 and 1% for cefotaxime and 71 and 0% for erythromycin. All strains were beta-lactamase negative.

An integron cassette carrying dfr1 with 90-bp repeat sequences located on the chromosome of trimethoprim-resistant isolates of Campylobacter jejuni

The frequent occurrence of high-level trimethoprim resistance in clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni was shown to be related to the acquisition of foreign resistance genes (dfrl or dfr9 or both) coding for resistant variants of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, the target of trimethoprim. The dfr1 gene detected on the chromosome of 40 different clinical strains of C. jejuni was studied further regarding structure and genetic organization. Most of the dfr1 genes were found as integron cassettes inserted in the chromosome. In 36% of the examined isolated, the dfr1 gene showed identity to that previously characterized in trimethoprim-resistant Escherichia coli. In 40% of the cases, however, a variant of the dfr1 gene containing a 90-bp direct repeat was detected, and in 5% of the isolates, the repeat-containing dfr1 variant was found to occur in the form of two cassettes in tandem in an integron context. The existence of the 90-bp repeat within the coding sequence of the dfr1gene was found to play a role in the adaptation of C. jejuni to ambient concentrations of trimethoprim.

Involvement of a plasmid in virulence of Campylobacter jejuni 81-176

Campylobacter jejuni strain 81-176 contains two, previously undescribed plasmids, each of which is approximately 35 kb in size. Although one of the plasmids, termed pTet, carries a tetO gene, conjugative transfer of tetracycline resistance to another strain of C. jejuni could not be demonstrated. Partial sequence analysis of the second plasmid, pVir, revealed the presence of four open reading frames which encode proteins with significant sequence similarity to Helicobacter pylori proteins, including one encoded by the cag pathogenicity island. All four of these plasmid-encoded proteins show some level of homology to components of type IV secretion systems. Mutation of one of these plasmid genes, comB3, reduced both adherence to and invasion of INT407 cells to approximately one-third that seen with wild-type strain 81-176. Mutation of comB3 also reduced the natural transformation frequency. A mutation in a second plasmid gene, a virB11 homolog, resulted in a 6-fold reduction in adherence and an 11-fold reduction in invasion compared to the wild type. The isogenic virB11 mutant of strain 81-176 also demonstrated significantly reduced virulence in the ferret diarrheal disease model. The virB11 homolog was detected on plasmids in 6 out of 58 fresh clinical isolates of C. jejuni, suggesting that plasmids are involved in the virulence of a subset of C. jejuni pathogens.

High-level resistance to trimethoprim in clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni by acquisition of foreign genes (dfr1 and dfr9) expressing drug-insensitive dihydrofolate reductases

The pathogenic bacterium Campylobacter jejuni has been regarded as endogenously resistant to trimethoprim. The genetic basis of this resistance was characterized in two collections of clinical isolates of C. jejuni obtained from two different parts of Sweden. The majority of these isolates were found to carry foreign dfr genes coding for resistant variants of the dihydrofolate reductase enzyme, the target of trimethoprim. The resistance genes, found on the chromosome, were dfr1 and dfr9. In about 10% of the strains, the dfr1 and dfr9 genes occurred simultaneously. About 10% of the examined isolates were found to be negative for these dfr genes and showed a markedly lower trimethoprim resistance level than the other isolates. The dfr9 and dfr1 genes were located in the context of remnants of a transposon and an integron, respectively. Two different surroundings for the dfr9 gene were characterized. One was identical to the right-hand end of the transposon Tn5393, and in the other, the dfr9 gene was flanked by only a few nucleotides of a Tn5393 sequence. The insertion of the dfr9 gene into the C. jejuni chromosome could have been mediated by Tn5393. The frequent occurrence of high-level trimethoprim resistance in clinical isolates of C. jejuni could be related to the heavy exposure of food animals to antibacterial drugs, which could lead to the acquisition of foreign resistance genes in naturally transformable strains of C. jejuni.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 59 strains of Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus

The susceptibilities of 59 Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus isolates to eight antibiotics were studied by the agar dilution, E-test, and disk diffusion methods. None of the isolates were beta-lactamase producers. All were susceptible to ampicillin, gentamicin, imipenem, and meropenem as determined by the three methods, with MICs at which 90% of the isolates are inhibited (MIC90s) (determined by agar dilution) of 2, 1, < or = 0.06, and 0.12 microgram/ml, respectively. Twenty-seven percent of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline, with complete agreement between the agar dilution and disk diffusion results. The MIC90s determined by agar dilution were 2 micrograms/ml for erythromycin, 1 microgram/ml for ciprofloxacin, and 8 micrograms/ml for cefotaxime.

Susceptibilities to 10 antimicrobial agents of 1,220 Campylobacter strains isolated from 1987 to 1993 from feces of pediatric patients

We report the in vitro antibiotic susceptibility of 1,220 strains belonging to the thermotolerant Campylobacter species, isolated from the feces of pediatric patients with diarrhea in the period from 1987 to 1993. The strains were identified as 1,148 C. jejuni isolates and 72 C. coli isolates. The overall results show that the strains showed drug resistance as follows: 51.8% to ampicillin, 4.4% to clindamycin, 2.6% to chloramphenicol, 21.2% to tetracycline, and 1% to gentamicin. Twenty-one strains (1.7%) displayed resistance to the combination of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and 3.2% of the strains were resistant to erythromycin (MIC of > or = 4 micrograms/ml), with a notable difference according to the species under consideration. While C. jejuni remained stable at 0.9 to 4% resistance to erythromycin, for C. coli the percentages detected ranged from 0 to 33%, with overall rates of 2.5 and 15.2% for the two species, respectively. Resistance to nalidixic acid (MIC of > or = 32 micrograms/ml) was found in 27.2% of the strains (27.8% for C. jejuni and 18% for C. coli), and resistance to ciprofloxacin (MIC of > or = 4 micrograms/ml) was found in 24.2% of the strains for C. jejuni and 15.2% for C. coli). Cross-resistance between nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin was found in 89.1% of the strains (type 1 mutants), while 10.9% were resistant to nalidixic acid but susceptible to ciprofloxacin (type 2 mutants).

Plasmid profiles and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from Israeli children with diarrhea

Thirty Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) strains isolated from stools of Israeli children with enteritis were tested for sensitivity to eight antimicrobial agents (MIC) and the presence of plasmids. It was found that all the isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, furazolidone and erythromycin. Of the 30 strains tested, 21 (70%) were found to be tetracycline-resistant, a relatively high resistance rate as compared with data from other countries and previous reports from Israel. Plasmids were detected in 17 out of 30 C. jejuni isolates (55.6%). A total of nine different plasmid profiles could be distinguished; six profiles were represented by one strain each. Of the 21 tetracycline-resistant strains, plasmids were found in 17 isolates (80%) carrying from 1-2 to 5 plasmids of various sizes. No plasmids were found in tetracycline-sensitive strains, with the exception of one isolate which contained a 24.4 MDa plasmid and was co-trimoxazole-resistant. Our studies indicate a relatively high percentage of tetracycline-resistant C. jejuni isolates in the Tel Aviv area. In 80% of these strains, various plasmid profiles were detected.

Isolation of a restriction-less mutant and development of a shuttle vector for the genetic analysis of Campylobacter hyointestinalis

A cosmid shuttle cloning vector, pCHI15, was constructed which could be mobilized from Escherichia coli K-12 to a putative restriction-less mutant of Campylobacter hyointestinalis, C. fetus subsp. fetus, and C. fetus subsp. venerealis at a frequency of 10(-4) transconjugants per donor. A previously described C. coli shuttle vector, pILL550, could not be mobilized into the C. hyointestinalis restriction-less mutant, implying that the C. coli replicon was not functional in a C. hyointestinalis host. The type strains of C. jejuni, C. coli, C. fetus subsp. fetus, and C. hyointestinalis were analysed for their ability to be transformed by plasmid DNA which had been modified by other Campylobacter species. Each Campylobacter species was found to be most efficiently transformed by plasmid DNA that had been previously passaged in the same species. pCHI15 could be mobilized from C. coli into C. fetus subsp. fetus and the putative restriction-less mutant of C. hyointestinalis at a frequency of 3.0 x 10(-4) and 2.5 x 10(-3) transconjugants per donor, respectively.

Characterization of the replication region of the small cryptic plasmid of Campylobacter hyointestinalis

The complete nucleotide sequence of a 2.5-kb cryptic plasmid from Campylobacter hyointestinalis was determined. Only one open reading frame (ORF), encoding a polypeptide of M(r) 39,667, designated RepA, could be identified within the sequence. This was confirmed by minicell analysis. Analysis of the region upstream from the ORF showed an A+T-rich region followed by four 19-bp direct repeats. Together, these features are characteristic of other replication origins (ori(s)). The promoter sequence of the repA gene was identified by primer extension analysis and both the putative -10 and -35 regions were found to lie within two potential hairpin-loop structures. RepA showed marked amino acid sequence homology to a replication-initiation protein from the Neisseria gonorrhoeae plasmid, pFA3, and with other replication-initiation proteins over two conserved motifs. A putative partitioning (par) locus was identified upstream from the ori and consisted of a perfect 9-bp inverted repeat and six putative DNA gyrase-binding sites. A putative mobilization origin (oriT) region was identified. This featured a 19-bp imperfect inverted repeat adjacent to a sequence of 12 bp which showed strong homology to the consensus sequence of the 'nick regions' in a variety of oriTs of other plasmids.

Genome maps of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli

Little information concerning the genome of either Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter coli is available. Therefore, we constructed genomic maps of C. jejuni UA580 and C. coli UA417 by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The genome sizes of C. jejuni and C. coli strains are approximately 1.7 Mb, as determined by SalI and SmaI digestion (N. Chang and D. E. Taylor, J. Bacteriol. 172:5211-5217, 1990). The genomes of both species are represented by single circular DNA molecules, and maps were constructed by partial restriction digestion and hybridization of DNA fragments extracted from low-melting-point agarose gels. Homologous DNA probes, encoding the flaAB and 16S rRNA genes, as well as heterologous DNA probes from Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Haemophilus influenzae, were used to identify the locations of particular genes. C. jejuni and C. coli contain three copies of the 16S and 23S rRNA genes. However, they are not located together within an operon but show a distinct split in at least two of their three copies. The positions of various housekeeping genes in both C. jejuni UA580 and C. coli UA417 have been determined, and there appears to be some conservation of gene arrangement between the two species.

Use of pulsed-field agarose gel electrophoresis to size genomes of Campylobacter species and to construct a SalI map of Campylobacter jejuni UA580

To determine the physical length of the chromosome of Campylobacter jejuni, the genome was subjected to digestion by a series of restriction endonucleases to produce a small number of large restriction fragments. These fragments were then separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with the contour-clamped homogeneous electric field system. The DNA of C. jejuni, with its low G+C content, was found to have no restriction sites for enzymes NotI and SfiI, which cut a high-G+C regions. Most of the restriction enzymes that were used resulted in DNA fragments that were either too numerous or too small for genome size determination, with the exception of the enzymes SalI (5' ... G decreases TCGAG ... 3'), SmaI (5' .... CCC decreases GGG .... 3'), and KpnI (5' ... GGTAC decreases C .... 3'). With SalI, six restriction fragments with average values of 48.5, 80, 110, 220, 280, and 980 kilobases (kb) were obtained when calibrated with both a lambda DNA ladder and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome markers. The sum of these fragments yielded an average genome size of 1.718 megabases (Mb). With SmaI, nine restriction fragments with average values ranging from 39 to 371 kb, which yielded an average genome size of 1.726 Mb were obtained. With KpnI, 11 restriction fragments with sizes ranging from 35 to 387.5 kb, which yielded an average genome size of 1.717 Mb were obtained. A SalI restriction map was derived by partial digestion of the C. jejuni DNA. The genome sizes of C. laridis, C. coli, and C. fetus were also determined with the contour-clamped homogeneous electric field system by SalI, SmaI, and KpnI digestion. Average genome sizes were found to be 1.714 Mb for C. coli, 1.267 Mb for C. fetus subsp. fetus, and 1.451 Mb for C. laridis.

Molecular studies on the mechanism of tetracycline resistance mediated by Tet(O)

The mechanism of resistance to tetracycline in Escherichia coli mediated by the Campylobacter jejuni-derived resistance determinant Tet(O) was investigated. The cloned Tet(O) protein had no detectable effect on the intracellular accumulation of tetracycline. The presence of Tet(O) markedly diminished the inhibitory effect of tetracycline on protein synthesis both in vivo and in vitro. Ribosomes prepared from tetracycline-resistant and susceptible E. coli cells bound almost identical amounts of radiolabeled tetracycline. Thus, a reduction in the binding of the antibiotic to its target site on the ribosome is not the primary mechanism of resistance. Poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis revealed that an S-100 fraction prepared from tetracycline-resistant cells made the ribosomes prepared from susceptible cells considerably more resistant to the inhibitory action of tetracycline. The N-terminal portion (1 to 150 residues) of Tet(O) is highly homologous to the GTP-binding domain of elongation factor Tu and to elongation factor G, indicating that the Tet(O) protein has the potential to bind GTP. These data suggest that the Tet(O) protein could function either as a tetracycline-resistant analog of this elongation factor(s) or by modifying the target sites on the ribosomes in a catalytic fashion.

Characterization of the porins of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli and implications for antibiotic susceptibility

The major outer membrane protein was extracted from Campylobacter coli by Triton X-100/EDTA fractionation of cell envelopes. This heat-modifiable protein was shown to have pore-forming activity in black lipid bilayers. The C. coli porin formed a relatively small cation-selective pore with a mean single-channel conductance of 0.53 +/- 0.16 nS in 1.0 M KCl. There was no evidence of oligomer formation, which suggested that each protein monomer formed a pore. Pore-forming activity of the C. coli porin and similarly prepared Campylobacter jejuni porin was also measured in liposome-swelling assays. These results confirmed the cation selectivity of both pores. The C. coli porin formed a small pore, which hindered the penetration of solutes with a molecular weight of 262, and a larger pore, which hindered the penetration of solutes with a molecular weight of 340, in a protein-concentration-dependent manner. C. jejuni formed one size of pore that was slightly larger than the C. coli pore and just permitted the passage of solutes, with a molecular weight of 340. A review of the literature concerning in vitro screening of antimicrobial agents tended to confirm the low permeability of the C. jejuni outer membrane to hydrophilic antimicrobial agents except when the molecules had molecular weights of less than 360. The porins of C. jejuni and C. coli may contribute to intrinsic resistance to antimicrobial agents, whereas alternative (nonporin) routes of antimicrobial agent uptake may be more important determinants of susceptibility to antimicrobial agents.

Occurrence of the Campylobacter resistance gene tetO in Enterococcus and Streptococcus spp

The distribution of nucleotide sequences related to tetK, tetL, tetM, and tetO was studied by dot blot hybridization in 178 strains of Streptococcus and Enterococcus spp. that were resistant to tetracycline. The tetO gene, which is responsible for tetracycline resistance in Campylobacter spp., was detected in six Streptococcus strains and two Enterococcus strains, in which it was borne by similar plasmids. This observation confirms our previous proposal that tetO originated in gram-positive cocci. tetM, the most prevalent resistance gene, was present alone in 109 strains and associated with tetL in 33 strains in which the two genes contributed cooperatively to high-level tetracycline resistance. tetL was present alone in five Enterococcus strains, and tetK was detected in a single Streptococcus strain. The existence of 22 strains that did not hybridize to the probes suggest that tetracycline resistance in streptococci and enterococci involves additional gene classes as well.

Genetic characterization of kanamycin resistance in Campylobacter coli

The restriction map of plasmid pIP1433 from Campylobacter coli BM2509, isolated in France, was constructed and the location of the kanamycin (Km) and tetracycline (Tc) resistance markers determined using probes for aphA-3 and tetO genes, respectively. These DNA probes were used to study a second Km- and Tc-resistant strain C. coli UA696, isolated in Canada. In this strain, the Km resistance determinant was located in the chromosome. Like pIP1433, the Km resistance determinant in C. coli UA696 specified a 3'-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase of type III whereas the tetO gene was located on a non-transmissible plasmid.

Nucleotide sequence analysis of tetracycline resistance gene tetO from Streptococcus mutans DL5

Streptococcus mutans DL5, isolated from the dental plaque of a pig, was resistant to high levels of streptomycin (Sm, 20 mg/ml), erythromycin (Em, 1 mg/ml), and tetracycline (Tc, greater than 100 micrograms/ml), but contained no detectable plasmid DNA. The Smr and Emr determinants were cloned from cellular DNA on the self-replicating 5-kilobase-pair (kbp) EcoRI fragment of pAM beta 1 and the 4.2-kbp cryptic plasmid pVA380-1, respectively, by transformation of Streptococcus sanguis Challis. Helper plasmid cloning, with a Challis host containing pVA380-1, was required to clone the Tcr determinant of strain DL5 on this vector. A single-colony isolate of the original Tcr clone contained a hybrid plasmid, pDL421, composed of 2.6 kbp of vector DNA and 11.4 kbp of S. mutans DNA. Plasmid pDL421 did not hybridize to plasmids containing the streptococcal Tcr determinants tetL, tetM, and tetN. A shortened derivative of this hybrid plasmid, pDL422, missing a 4.9-kbp HincII fragment from the S. mutans DNA but still encoding Tcr, was obtained by subcloning in S. sanguis Challis. The Tcr gene was located in a 1,917-base-pair open reading frame (ORF) corresponding to a 72-kilodalton protein. The ORF exhibited 99.4% sequence identity with the 1,917-base-pair tetO gene from a strain of Campylobacter coli (W. Sougakoff, B. Papadopoulou, P. Nordmann, and P. Courvalin, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 44:153-160, 1987). A 1.67-kbp NdeI fragment, internal to the ORF from strain DL5, as well as pDL421 hybridized under stringent conditions to DNA from 10 of 10 Tcr strains of C. coli and Campylobacter jejuni from human and animal sources, but not to DNA from Tcs isolates of these two species.

Detection of two different kanamycin resistance genes in naturally occurring isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli

A total of 225 isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and 54 isolates of Campylobacter coli were screened for resistance to kanamycin. Among these, five resistant isolates of C. jejuni and six resistant isolates of C. coli, all with different plasmid patterns, were identified. Each contained at least one plasmid greater than or equal to 41 kilobases in size. The MIC of kanamycin for all 11 strains was determined to be greater than or equal to 256 micrograms/ml by an agar dilution method. In addition, all of the strains exhibited resistance to tetracycline (greater than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml). Eight of the 11 strains transferred the kanamycin resistance phenotype to other Campylobacter strains by conjugation. DNA from 9 of the 11 strains hybridized to a DNA probe specific for the 3'-O-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase type III gene. The remaining two strains also failed to show homology with DNA probes specific for the genes encoding 3'-O-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase types I, II, and III. The novel kanamycin resistance gene was cloned into the vector pBR322 and was expressed in Escherichia coli. Phosphocellulose paper binding assays on sonicates of the E. coli strain carrying the cloned kanamycin determinant demonstrated significant activity against kanamycin, neomycin, and amikacin but not against butirosin, gentamicin, tobramycin, or lividomycin, suggesting that the enzyme is the product of a 3'-O-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase type of aminoglycoside resistance gene.

Dispersal in Campylobacter spp. of aphA-3, a kanamycin resistance determinant from gram-positive cocci

DNA annealing studies indicated that kanamycin resistance in Campylobacter strains from various geographical areas is encoded by a gene structurally related to aphA-3 of gram-positive cocci. This finding confirms the transfer of genetic material between gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria under natural conditions.

Use of plasmid profiles in epidemiologic surveillance of disease outbreaks and in tracing the transmission of antibiotic resistance

Plasmids are circular deoxyribonucleic acid molecules that exist in bacteria, usually independent of the chromosome. The study of plasmids is important to medical microbiology because plasmids can encode genes for antibiotic resistance or virulence factors. Plasmids can also serve as markers of various bacterial strains when a typing system referred to as plasmid profiling, or plasmid fingerprinting is used. In these methods partially purified plasma deoxyribonucleic acid species are separated according to molecular size by agarose gel electrophoresis. In a second procedure, plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid which has been cleaved by restriction endonucleases can be separated by agarose gel electrophoresis and the resulting pattern of fragments can be used to verify the identity of bacterial isolates. Because many species of bacteria contain plasmids, plasmid profile typing has been used to investigate outbreaks of many bacterial diseases and to trace inter- and intra-species spread of antibiotic resistance.

Nucleotide sequence analysis and expression of a tetracycline-resistance gene from Campylobacter jejuni

Resistance to tetracycline in the microaerophilic Gram-negative bacterium Campylobacter jejuni is plasmid-mediated. A 6.9-kb HindIII DNA fragment containing the tetracycline-resistance (TcR) gene (designated tetO) from the C. jejuni conjugative plasmid pUA466 was cloned into pUC8, and the resultant plasmid pUOA1 was used to transform Escherichia coli to Tc resistance. The tetO gene was localized at a 2.0-kb region comprising 0.2-kb and 1.8-kb HincII fragments, and the nucleotide sequences were determined. The protein coding region of tetO contained a 1911-bp open reading frame which corresponded to a 72.3-kDa protein. Upstream from the start codon were hexanucleotides that resembled the canonical sequences found at the -10 region, -35 region and the ribosome-binding site of the prokaryotic promoter. The tetO gene product was expressed utilizing an E. coli-derived in vitro transcription/translation system. The polypeptide had an apparent Mr of 68,000. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of TetO to those of TetM (derived from the Gram-positive Streptococcus pneumoniae) revealed 76% homology. Hydrophilicity plot analyses of TetO and TetM proteins provided almost identical profiles. These results clearly support our earlier [Taylor et al., J. Bacteriol. 169 (1987) 2984-2989] suggestion that TcR determinants found in Gram-positive bacteria and in C. jejuni may have a common ancestry.

DNA probes for identification of tetracycline resistance genes in Campylobacter species isolated from swine and cattle

Tetracycline-resistant strains of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from swine and cattle colons were isolated and characterized by hybridization with DNA probes. A probe consisting of the 1.8-kilobase (kb) HincII fragment from pUA466 was highly specific for the detection of tetracycline resistance (Tcr) in C. jejuni and C. coli. The 5-kb tetM DNA probe from Streptococcus agalactiae plasmid pJI3 which has homology with the 1.8-kb HincII fragment from pUA466 could also be used to detect Tcr Campylobacter strains. However, the tetM probe had a much lower sensitivity and required a lower stringency of hybridization. Therefore, the 1.8-kb HincII fragment appeared to be more appropriate for the classification of Tcr in Campylobacter spp. No homology was detected between the Tcr determinant from Campylobacter spp. and the tetL and tetN probes from Streptococcus spp. DNA homology was demonstrated between pUA649, a derivative of plasmid pUA466 which had lost most of the Tcr region, and Tcr plasmids from C. jejuni and C. coli isolated from animal and human sources. There was also homology between pUA649 and the chromosomes of C. jejuni and C. coli strains. In this study, all but one of the tetracycline-resistant C. coli and C. jejuni strains contained plasmids of approximately 50 kb which hybridized with the 1.8-kb HincII probe. In one C. coli strain (UA703), Tcr appeared to be chromosomally mediated.