Shintani, M.* ; Vestergaard, G.* ; Milaković, M.* ; Kublik, S. ; Smalla, K.* ; Schloter, M. ; Udiković-Kolić, N.*
Integrons, transposons and IS elements promote diversification of multidrug resistance plasmids and adaptation of their hosts to antibiotic pollutants from pharmaceutical companies.
Plasmids are important vehicles for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) among bacteria by conjugation. Here, we determined the complete nucleotide sequences of nine different plasmids previously obtained by exogenous plasmid isolation from river and creek sediments and wastewater from a pharmaceutical company. We identified six IncP/P-1ε plasmids and single members of IncL, IncN and IncFII-like plasmids. Genetic structures of the accessory regions of the IncP/P-1ε plasmids obtained implied that multiple insertions and deletions had occurred, mediated by different transposons and Class 1 integrons with various ARGs. Our study provides compelling evidence that Class 1 integrons, Tn402-like transposons, Tn3-like transposons and/or IS26 played important roles in the acquisition of ARGs across all investigated plasmids. Our plasmid sequencing data provide new insights into how these mobile genetic elements could mediate the acquisition and spread of ARGs in environmental bacteria.
FörderungenResearch Institute of Green Science and Technology Fund for Research Project Support, Shizuoka University Consortium for the Exploration of Microbial Functions Ohsumi Frontier Science Foundation Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development Hrvatska Zaklada za Znanost Short Term Scientific Mission Grant from the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action ES1403 NEREUS Asahi Glass Foundation