The novel and transferable erm(51) gene confers macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins B (MLSB ) resistance to clonal Rhodococcus equi in the environment.
Environ Microbiol, 2020/07;22(7):2858-2869.
Huber L[1], Giguère S[1], Slovis NM[2], Álvarez-Narváez S[1], Hart KA[1], Greiter M[2], Morris ERA[3], Cohen ND[3]
Affiliations
PMID: 32291839DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15020
Impact factor: 5.476
Abstract
The use of mass antimicrobial treatment has been linked to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in human and animal pathogens. Using whole-genome single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing, we characterized genomic variability of multidrug-resistant Rhodococcus equi isolated from soil samples from 100 farms endemic for R. equi infections in Kentucky. We discovered the novel erm(51)-encoding resistance to MLSB in R. equi isolates from soil of horse-breeding farms. Erm(51) is inserted in a transposon (TnErm51) that is associated with a putative conjugative plasmid (pRErm51), a mobilizable plasmid (pMobErm51), or both enabling horizontal gene transfer to susceptible organisms and conferring high levels of resistance against MLSB in vitro. This new resistant genotype also carries a previously unidentified rpoB mutation conferring resistance to rifampicin. Isolates carrying both vapA and erm(51) were rarely found, indicating either a recent acquisition of erm(51) and/or impaired survival when isolates carry both genes. Isolates carrying erm(51) are closely related genetically and were likely selected by antimicrobial exposure in the environment.
MeSH terms
Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; DNA Transposable Elements; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Farms; Gene Transfer, Horizontal; Genome, Bacterial; Horses; Lincosamides; Macrolides; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plasmids; Rhodococcus equi; Streptogramin B; Streptogramin Group B; Virginiamycin
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