Broad diversity of conjugative plasmids in integron-carrying bacteria from wastewater environments

Moura, Alexandra; Oliveira, Cybelle Pereira de; Henriques, Isabel; Smalla, Kornelia; Correia, António

doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2012.02544.x

Cited by 42 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…It has been shown that the persistence of antibiotics in the environment at sub-therapeutic concentrations contributes to the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes between different strains, mediated by integrons, as a result of the activation of bacterial SOS responses (Baharoglu et al, 2010; Andersson and Hughes, 2011). In addition, integrons are often associated with conjugative plasmids which contribute to their mobilization and wide dissemination (Moura et al, 2012a). The spread of such determinants can constitute serious environmental risks, compromising both ecosystem and human health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The contribution of Escherichia coli from human and animal sources to the integron gene pool in coastal waters

et al. 2014

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To understand the contribution of animal- and human-derived fecal pollution sources in shaping integron prevalence and diversity in beach waters, 414 Escherichia coli strains were collected from beach waters (BW, n = 166), seagull feces (SF, n = 179), and wastewaters (WW, n = 69), on the World Biosphere Reserve of the Berlenga Island, Portugal. Statistical differences were found between the prevalence of integrons in BW (21%) and WW (10%), but not between BW and SF (19%). The majority of integrase-positive (intI+)-strains affiliated to commensal phylogroups B1 (37%), A0 (24%), and A1 (20%). Eighteen different gene cassette arrays were detected, most of them coding for resistances to aminoglycosides, trimethoprim, chloramphenicol, and quaternary ammonia compounds. Common arrays were found among strains from different sources. Multi-resistance to three or more different classes of antibiotics was observed in 89, 82, and 57% of intI+-strains from BW, SF and WW, respectively. Plasmids were detected in 79% of strains (60/76) revealing a high diversity of replicons in all sources, mostly belonging to IncF (Frep, FIA, and FIB subgroups), IncI1, IncN, IncY, and IncK incompatibility groups. In 20% (15/76) of strains, integrons were successfully mobilized through conjugation to E. coli CV601. Results obtained support the existence of a diverse integron pool in the E. coli strains from this coastal environment, associated with different resistance traits and plasmid incompatibility groups, mainly shaped by animal fecal pollution inputs. These findings underscore the role of wild life in dissemination of integrons and antibiotic resistance traits in natural environments.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The contribution of Escherichia coli from human and animal sources to the integron gene pool in coastal waters

et al. 2014

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“…In addition to the potential clinical consequences of increasing antibiotic resistance of Aeromonas, their ubiquitous nature may make them a reservoir and ecological vehicle for spreading anti- biotic resistance to other bacteria, including E. coli (35). Antibiotic resistance genes among Aeromonas organisms have been associated with integron-associated R plasmids, and tetracycline resistance, in particular, has been associated with an array of different plasmids within A. hydrophila isolates (36).…”

Section: Fig 2 Prevalences Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas veronii Predominate among Potentially Pathogenic Ciprofloxacin- and Tetracycline-Resistant Aeromonas Isolates from Lake Erie

Skwor

Shinko

Augustyniak

et al. 2014

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Members of the genus Aeromonas are ubiquitous in nature and have increasingly been implicated in numerous diseases of humans and other animal taxa. Although some species of aeromonads are human pathogens, their presence, density, and relative abundance are rarely considered in assessing water quality. The objectives of this study were to identify Aeromonas species within Lake Erie, determine their antibiotic resistance patterns, and assess their potential pathogenicity. Aeromonas strains were isolated from Lake Erie water by use of Aeromonas selective agar with and without tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. All isolates were analyzed for hemolytic ability and cytotoxicity against human epithelial cells and were identified to the species level by using 16S rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphisms and phylogenetic analysis based on gyrB gene sequences. A molecular virulence profile was identified for each isolate, using multiplex PCR analysis of six virulence genes. We demonstrated that Aeromonas comprised 16% of all culturable bacteria from Lake Erie. Among 119 Aeromonas isolates, six species were identified, though only two species (Aeromonas hydrophila and A. veronii) predominated among tetracycline-and ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates. Additionally, both of these species demonstrated pathogenic phenotypes in vitro. Virulence gene profiles demonstrated a high prevalence of aerolysin and serine protease genes among A. hydrophila and A. veronii isolates, a genetic profile which corresponded with pathogenic phenotypes. Together, our findings demonstrate increased antibiotic resistance among potentially pathogenic strains of aeromonads, illustrating an emerging potential health concern.

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“…Consequently, in such environments, lateral gene transfer is promoted and there are opportunities for complex interactions between various mobile elements. These interactions can generate ever more complex mosaic molecules that carry a growing armory of genes encoding resistance to diverse selective agents (229)(230)(231)(232).…”

Section: Selection In Natural Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrons: Past, Present, and Future

Gillings

2014

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

561

472

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SUMMARY Integrons are versatile gene acquisition systems commonly found in bacterial genomes. They are ancient elements that are a hot spot for genomic complexity, generating phenotypic diversity and shaping adaptive responses. In recent times, they have had a major role in the acquisition, expression, and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. Assessing the ongoing threats posed by integrons requires an understanding of their origins and evolutionary history. This review examines the functions and activities of integrons before the antibiotic era. It shows how antibiotic use selected particular integrons from among the environmental pool of these elements, such that integrons carrying resistance genes are now present in the majority of Gram-negative pathogens. Finally, it examines the potential consequences of widespread pollution with the novel integrons that have been assembled via the agency of human antibiotic use and speculates on the potential uses of integrons as platforms for biotechnology.

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Broad diversity of conjugative plasmids in integron-carrying bacteria from wastewater environments

Cited by 42 publications

References 37 publications

The contribution of Escherichia coli from human and animal sources to the integron gene pool in coastal waters

The contribution of Escherichia coli from human and animal sources to the integron gene pool in coastal waters

Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas veronii Predominate among Potentially Pathogenic Ciprofloxacin- and Tetracycline-Resistant Aeromonas Isolates from Lake Erie

Integrons: Past, Present, and Future

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