Abstract
Antibiotics and organoarsenical compounds are frequently used as feed additives in many countries. However, these compounds can cause serious antibiotic and arsenic (As) pollution in the environment, and the spread of antibiotic and As resistance genes from the environment. In this report, we characterized the 28.5 kb genomic island (GI), named as ICERspD18B, as a novel chromosomal integrative and conjugative element (ICE) in multidrug-resistant Rheinheimera sp. D18. Notably, ICERspD18B contains six antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and an arsenic tolerance operon, as well as genes encoding conjugative transfer proteins of a type IV secretion system, relaxase, site-specific integrase, and DNA replication or partitioning proteins. The transconjugant strain 25D18-B4 was generated using Escherichia coli 25DN as the recipient strain. ICERspD18B was inserted into 3'-end of the guaA gene in 25D18-B4. In addition, 25D18-B4 had markedly higher minimum inhibitory concentrations for arsenic compounds and antibiotics when compared to the parental E. coli strain. These findings demonstrated that the integrative and conjugative element ICERspD18B could mediate both antibiotic and arsenic resistance in Rheinheimera sp. D18 and the transconjugant 25D18-B4.
Highlights
IntroductionThe indiscriminate use of chemical additives and antimicrobials (especially antibiotics) as preventative and curative measures for diseases has resulted in antimicrobial resistance among bacteria (Buschmann et al, 2012; Sun et al, 2016; Nakayama et al, 2017; Rico et al, 2017)
In aquaculture systems, the indiscriminate use of chemical additives and antimicrobials as preventative and curative measures for diseases has resulted in antimicrobial resistance among bacteria (Buschmann et al, 2012; Sun et al, 2016; Nakayama et al, 2017; Rico et al, 2017)
The genomic island (GI) contains three identical copies of a relaxase-encoding gene (E0Z06_RS12465, E0Z06_RS12485, and E0Z06_RS12505) related to a type IV secretion system; three conjugative transfer protein-encoding genes; four genes associated with DNA replication or partitioning; and genes encoding a site-specific integrase and its transcriptional regulator (E0Z06_RS12590)
Summary
The indiscriminate use of chemical additives and antimicrobials (especially antibiotics) as preventative and curative measures for diseases has resulted in antimicrobial resistance among bacteria (Buschmann et al, 2012; Sun et al, 2016; Nakayama et al, 2017; Rico et al, 2017). The transfer of antibiotic resistance elements from aquaculture facilities into the environment could have negative impacts on environmental biodiversity and human health as a result of further antimicrobial resistance development (Garcia-Aljaro et al, 2014; Xu et al, 2017). The aquaculture environment poses a potential risk for the dissemination of arsenic resistance genes as well as antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through mobile genetic elements (Abdelhamed et al, 2019). The transferability of ARGs and arsenic resistance genes in Rheinheimera has not been well characterized
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
