Discovery of the fourth mobile sulfonamide resistance gene

Abstract Background Over the past 75 years, human pathogens have acquired antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), often from environmental bacteria. Integrons play a major role in the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes. We therefore hypothesized that focused exploration of integron gene cassette...

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Main Authors: Mohammad Razavi, Nachiket P. Marathe, Michael R. Gillings, Carl-Fredrik Flach, Erik Kristiansson, D. G. Joakim Larsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2017-12-01
Series:Microbiome
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-017-0379-y
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spelling doaj-d5ac206f3aaa41ac9298002ec0e6ab1e2020-11-24T21:54:10ZengBMCMicrobiome2049-26182017-12-015111210.1186/s40168-017-0379-yDiscovery of the fourth mobile sulfonamide resistance geneMohammad Razavi0Nachiket P. Marathe1Michael R. Gillings2Carl-Fredrik Flach3Erik Kristiansson4D. G. Joakim Larsson5Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) at University of GothenburgCentre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) at University of GothenburgDepartment of Biological Sciences, Genes to Geoscience Research Centre, Macquarie UniversityCentre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) at University of GothenburgCentre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) at University of GothenburgCentre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) at University of GothenburgAbstract Background Over the past 75 years, human pathogens have acquired antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), often from environmental bacteria. Integrons play a major role in the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes. We therefore hypothesized that focused exploration of integron gene cassettes from microbial communities could be an efficient way to find novel mobile resistance genes. DNA from polluted Indian river sediments were amplified using three sets of primers targeting class 1 integrons and sequenced by long- and short-read technologies to maintain both accuracy and context. Results Up to 89% of identified open reading frames encode known resistance genes, or variations thereof (> 1000). We identified putative novel ARGs to aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, trimethoprim, rifampicin, and chloramphenicol, including several novel OXA variants, providing reduced susceptibility to carbapenems. One dihydropteroate synthase gene, with less than 34% amino acid identity to the three known mobile sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1–3), provided complete resistance when expressed in Escherichia coli. The mobilized gene, here named sul4, is the first mobile sulfonamide resistance gene discovered since 2003. Analyses of adjacent DNA suggest that sul4 has been decontextualized from a set of chromosomal genes involved in folate synthesis in its original host, likely within the phylum Chloroflexi. The presence of an insertion sequence common region element could provide mobility to the entire integron. Screening of 6489 metagenomic datasets revealed that sul4 is already widespread in seven countries across Asia and Europe. Conclusions Our findings show that exploring integrons from environmental communities with a history of antibiotic exposure can provide an efficient way to find novel, mobile resistance genes. The mobilization of a fourth sulfonamide resistance gene is likely to provide expanded opportunities for sulfonamide resistance to spread, with potential impacts on both human and animal health.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-017-0379-yEvolutionBioprospectingResistomeMetagenomicsPharmaceuticalEnvironment
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Mohammad Razavi
Nachiket P. Marathe
Michael R. Gillings
Carl-Fredrik Flach
Erik Kristiansson
D. G. Joakim Larsson
spellingShingle Mohammad Razavi
Nachiket P. Marathe
Michael R. Gillings
Carl-Fredrik Flach
Erik Kristiansson
D. G. Joakim Larsson
Discovery of the fourth mobile sulfonamide resistance gene
Microbiome
Evolution
Bioprospecting
Resistome
Metagenomics
Pharmaceutical
Environment
author_facet Mohammad Razavi
Nachiket P. Marathe
Michael R. Gillings
Carl-Fredrik Flach
Erik Kristiansson
D. G. Joakim Larsson
author_sort Mohammad Razavi
title Discovery of the fourth mobile sulfonamide resistance gene
title_short Discovery of the fourth mobile sulfonamide resistance gene
title_full Discovery of the fourth mobile sulfonamide resistance gene
title_fullStr Discovery of the fourth mobile sulfonamide resistance gene
title_full_unstemmed Discovery of the fourth mobile sulfonamide resistance gene
title_sort discovery of the fourth mobile sulfonamide resistance gene
publisher BMC
series Microbiome
issn 2049-2618
publishDate 2017-12-01
description Abstract Background Over the past 75 years, human pathogens have acquired antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), often from environmental bacteria. Integrons play a major role in the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes. We therefore hypothesized that focused exploration of integron gene cassettes from microbial communities could be an efficient way to find novel mobile resistance genes. DNA from polluted Indian river sediments were amplified using three sets of primers targeting class 1 integrons and sequenced by long- and short-read technologies to maintain both accuracy and context. Results Up to 89% of identified open reading frames encode known resistance genes, or variations thereof (> 1000). We identified putative novel ARGs to aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, trimethoprim, rifampicin, and chloramphenicol, including several novel OXA variants, providing reduced susceptibility to carbapenems. One dihydropteroate synthase gene, with less than 34% amino acid identity to the three known mobile sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1–3), provided complete resistance when expressed in Escherichia coli. The mobilized gene, here named sul4, is the first mobile sulfonamide resistance gene discovered since 2003. Analyses of adjacent DNA suggest that sul4 has been decontextualized from a set of chromosomal genes involved in folate synthesis in its original host, likely within the phylum Chloroflexi. The presence of an insertion sequence common region element could provide mobility to the entire integron. Screening of 6489 metagenomic datasets revealed that sul4 is already widespread in seven countries across Asia and Europe. Conclusions Our findings show that exploring integrons from environmental communities with a history of antibiotic exposure can provide an efficient way to find novel, mobile resistance genes. The mobilization of a fourth sulfonamide resistance gene is likely to provide expanded opportunities for sulfonamide resistance to spread, with potential impacts on both human and animal health.
topic Evolution
Bioprospecting
Resistome
Metagenomics
Pharmaceutical
Environment
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-017-0379-y
work_keys_str_mv AT mohammadrazavi discoveryofthefourthmobilesulfonamideresistancegene
AT nachiketpmarathe discoveryofthefourthmobilesulfonamideresistancegene
AT michaelrgillings discoveryofthefourthmobilesulfonamideresistancegene
AT carlfredrikflach discoveryofthefourthmobilesulfonamideresistancegene
AT erikkristiansson discoveryofthefourthmobilesulfonamideresistancegene
AT dgjoakimlarsson discoveryofthefourthmobilesulfonamideresistancegene
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