Characterization of Tetracycline-Resistant Genes of Staphylococci isolates from Human and Marine Environment

Abstract

For comparison of tetracycline-resistant (Tc R) genes, we obtained 21 and 14 Tc R Staphylococcus spp. from marine environment and human patient, respectively. Although all isolates from human were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, higher proportion of Tc R isolates (12 out of 14) from human were utilizing tet(M) gene compared to that of Tc R isolates (6 out of 21) from marine environment. Additionally, collaborated utilization of tet(M) and erm(A) in Tc R-Em R S. aureus in human patient, but not in Tc R Staphylococcus spp. isolates from marine environment was also characterized. Based on the nucleotide sequence of transposon related to Tc R gene, we confirmed the origin of tet(M) gene in Tc R Staphylococci isolated from marine environments and human are derived from Tn916/1545-like and Tn5801 transposon, respectively. It is the first report showing the presence of Tn5801 in all Tc R S. aureus carrying tet(M) in human patient. Alignment of the fully sequenced tet(M) from marine environmental isolates was also agreed with the determined transposons by showing the genomic mosaic structure composed with three genomic parts from Tn916/1545 and unknown transposons. Genetic characteristics of these tet(M) in environmental isolates were similar to each other but different from those in isolates from human showing only tet(M) from Tn916/5801 type. It may imply the presence of less dramatic communication of antibiotic resistant genes between Staphylococci isolated from marine environment and human.

Antibiotic Susceptibility of Bacterial Pathogens That Infect Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) Cultivated in Korea

“…In particular, there is a lack of research on antibiotic resistance and antibiotic resistance genes in the marine environment, so systematic study is needed. Cho et al (2016) [41] confirmed the transfer characteristics of the resistance gene by the filter mating method. As a result, it was suggested that the resistance gene of Staphylococci isolated from the marine environment could be transferred to other bacteria including fish disease bacteria.…”