Evolution of IncP-1α Plasmids by Acquisition of Antibiotic and Mercuric Ion Resistance Transposons

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the IncP-1α plasmid RP1 (representing RP4, RK2, R68, and R18) and two plasmids, R1033 and R934, that are known to be related to RP1. The region containing most of the antibiotic resistance genes in R1033 and R934 was mapped using polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Both plasmids contained a copy of the class II transposon Tn1, but it was located at different sites between the position of Tn1 and the tet(A) determinant in RP1. Thus, Tn1 and the ampicillin resistance gene contained in it were acquired by the IncP1-α backbone on three separate occasions. In R1033, Tn1696 is located nearby, between Tn1 and the tet(A) determinant, and an IS186 insertion sequence was also found in this region. In R934, a defective class II transposon carrying a partial mercuric ion resistance (mer) module was found within the Tn1. These findings show that R1033 is not derived directly from RP1/RP4, refining the evolutionary pathways previously predicted for the IncP-1α plasmid family.

Sequences of Two Related Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Virulence Plasmids Sharing a Unique IS26-Related Molecular Signature Isolated from Different Escherichia coli Pathotypes from Different Hosts

“…In both plasmids the oriV sequence found in Tn 21 -RD1-ΔTn 1721 is not expected to be functional as a replication feature because the trfA gene is missing [48]. Nonetheless, plasmids that carry oriV -type sequences are likely to gain an evolutionary advantage by virtue of the propensity of this region to serve as a hotspot for the acquisition of exogenous DNA [51,71]. …”

Coexistence of two novel resistance plasmids, blaKPC-2-carrying p14057A and tetA(A) -carrying p14057B, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

“… 8 At least 38 different classes (A, B, etc) of tet efflux have been identified, giving the designations tetA (A)- tetR (A), tetA (B)- tetR (B), etc. 8 In P. aeruginosa , the class A tetracycline resistance module tetA(A)-tetR(A) has been detected in only IncP-1α plasmids, including RP1/RP4/R18/R68/RK2 (identical to each other; accession number L27758) from United Kingdom, 9 pBS228 (accession number AM261760) from Russia, 10 and R1033 (accession number HM804085) from Spain; 11 among them RP1/RP4/R18/R68/RK2 and pBS228 were fully sequenced. This study dealt with detailed genomic characterization of two novel plasmids p14057A and p14057B found in a single clinical P. aeruginosa isolate.…”

Complete Nucleotide Sequence and Analysis of Two Conjugative Broad Host Range Plasmids from a Marine Microbial Biofilm

“…We find no DR or IR as signs of a recent insertion. Insertions of transposons in the klcA / klcB region are seen also in IncP-1 plasmid RP1/RK2 [61].…”