Mobile lincosamide resistance genes in staphylococci

Publication date: Available online 19 June 2018Source: PlasmidAuthor(s): Andrea T. Feßler, Yang Wang, Congming Wu, Stefan SchwarzAbstractLincosamide resistance in staphylococci is based on the expression of a number of genes which specify three major resistance mechanisms: (i) enzymatic inactivation by lincosamide nucleotidyltransferases, (ii) ribosome protection by ABC-F proteins, and (iii) methylation of the ribosomal target sites in the 23S rRNA by Cfr or Erm methylases. So far, only two lnu genes, lnu(A) and lnu(B), which code for different types of lincosamide nucleotidyltransferases, have been found in staphylococci. The ABC-F proteins are encoded by genes of the vga, lsa and sal classes. The corresponding proteins exhibit ATP-binding domains, but lack transmembrane regions. So far, vga(A) genes – including the variant genes vga(A)V and vga(A)LC –, vga(C) genes and vga(E) genes – including the variant gene vga(E)V –, the lsa genes lsa(B) and lsa(E), as well as the sal(A) gene have been identified in staphylococci. The aforementioned genes, except lsa(B), confer resistance not only to lincosamides, but also to pleuromutilins and streptogramin A. The cfr and erm genes code for methylases which target the adenine residues at positions 2503 and 2048 in the 23S rRNA, respectively. While the cfr gene confers resistance to phenicols, lincosamides, oxazolidinones, pleuromutilins and streptogramin A, the erm genes mediate resistance to macrolides, lincosamides and strep...
Source: Plasmid - Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research