High-level resistance to gentamicin: Genetic transfer between Enterococcus faecalis isolated from food of animal origin and human microbiota

• Authors: Sparo, Mónica Delfina; Urbizu, Lucia Paola; Solana, María Victoria; Pourcel, Natalia Gisela; Delpech, Gastón; Confalonieri, Alejandra; Ceci, M.; Sanchez Bruni, Sergio Fabian
• Publication Year: 2012
• Language: English
• Format: article
• Status: Published version
• Description: Aims: To investigate the in vivo gene transfer of high-level gentamicin resistance (HLRG) from Enterococcus faecalis isolated from the food of animal origin to a human isolate, using a mouse model of intestinally colonized human microbiota. Methods and Results: In vitro study: The presence of plasmids involved in HLRG coding was investigated. After the conjugation experiment, the recipient strain, Ent. faecalis JH2-SS, acquired a plasmid responsible for HLRG [minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) >800μgml -1], in a similar position to the donor cells. In vivo study: Seven BALB/c mice were dosed with ceftriaxone (400mgkg -1) and then inoculated with a dilution of 1/100 of human faeces (HFc). After 72h, Ent. faecalis JH2-SS (recipient) was inoculated and then, after a further 72h, the animals were given Ent. faecalis CS19, isolated from the food of animal origin, involved in HLRG (donor). The presence of transconjugant strains in HFc was subsequently recorded on a daily basis until the end of the experiment. The clonal relationship between Ent. faecalis and Escherichia coli in faeces was assessed by RAPD-PCR. Both the in vitro and in vivo studies showed that the receptor strain acquired a plasmid responsible for HLRG (MICs >800μgml -1), which migrated with a similar relative mobility value. Transconjugant strains were detected from 24h after the donor strain inoculation and persisted until the end of the experiment. Conclusions: The in vivo gene transfer of HLRG from Ent. faecalis strains, isolated from the food of animal origin, to human microbiota has been demonstrated in a mouse model. Significance and Impact of the Study: The complexity found on the therapeutic responses of invasive infectious diseases caused by Ent. faecalis facilitates the assessment of food of animal origin as a resistant pathogen reservoir. In addition, this study may contribute to the understanding of antimicrobials' resistance gene transfer between Ent. faecalis strains from food and human GI tract.; Fil: Sparo, Mónica Delfina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina; Fil: Urbizu, Lucia Paola. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina; Fil: Solana, María Victoria. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina; Fil: Pourcel, Natalia Gisela. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina; Fil: Delpech, Gastón. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina; Fil: Confalonieri, Alejandra. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina; Fil: Ceci, M.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina; Fil: Sanchez Bruni, Sergio Fabian. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
• Subject: CONJUGATIVE PLASMID; ENTEROCOCCUS FAECALIS; HUMAN MICROBIOTA; MICE; RESISTANCE; Otras Ciencias de la Salud; Ciencias de la Salud; CIENCIAS MÉDICAS Y DE LA SALUD
• Access level: Restricted access
• License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
• Institution: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
• OAI Identifier: oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/66997