Intra- and Interspecies Conjugal Transfer of Tn 916 -Like Elements from Lactococcus lactis In Vitro and In Vivo

• DOI: 10.1128/aem.00470-09
• Publication Date: 2009-08-08T01:07:27Z
• Authors: Joanna Boguslawska; Joanna Zycka-Krze...; Andrea Wilcks; Jacek Bardowski
• Keywords: Enterococcus faecalis; Lactococcus

Tetracycline-resistant Lactococcus lactis strains originally isolated from Polish raw milk were analyzed for the ability to transfer their antibiotic resistance genes in vitro, using filter mating experiments, and vivo, germfree rats. Four of six L. isolates able tetracycline determinants vitro Bu2-60, at frequencies ranging 10(-5) 10(-7) transconjugants per recipient. Three these four could also Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2, whereas no Bacillus subtilis YBE01, Pseudomonas putida KT2442, Agrobacterium tumefaciens UBAPF2, or Escherichia coli JE2571 was observed. Rats initially inoculated with recipient E. strain after a week, IBB477 IBB487 donor introduced. The first detected fecal samples 3 days introduction donors. A subtherapeutic concentration did not have any significant effect on number transconjugants, but observed earlier animals dosed this antibiotic. Molecular analysis vivo containing tet(M) gene showed that identical localized conjugative transposon Tn916. Primer-specific PCR confirmed Tn916 complete all This is study showing Tn916-like faecalis. These data suggest certain cases food lactococci might be involved spread other lactic acid bacteria.