Mosaic plasmids are abundant and unevenly distributed across prokaryotic taxa
Publication date: Available online 22 February 2019Source: PlasmidAuthor(s): Mitchell W. Pesesky, Rayna Tilley, David A.C. BeckAbstractMosaic plasmids, plasmids composed of genetic elements from distinct sources, are associated with the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. Transposons are considered the primary mechanism for mosaic plasmid formation, though other mechanisms have been observed in specific instances. The frequency with which mosaic plasmids have been described suggests they may play an important role in plasmid population dynamics. Our survey of the confirmed plasmid sequences available from complete and d...
Source: Plasmid - February 22, 2019 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
pCP13, a representative of a new family of conjugative toxin plasmids in Clostridium perfringens
This study has significant implications for our understanding of the movement of toxin genes both within C. perfringens, but also potentially to other pathogenic clostridia. (Source: Plasmid)
Source: Plasmid - February 18, 2019 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
Interactions between plasmids and other mobile genetic elements affect their transmission and persistence
Publication date: Available online 14 February 2019Source: PlasmidAuthor(s): Francisco Dionisio, Rita Zilhão, João Alves GamaAbstractPlasmids are genetic elements that play a role in bacterial evolution by providing new genes that promote adaptation to diverse conditions. Plasmids are also known to reduce bacterial competitiveness in the absence of selection for plasmid-encoded traits. It is easier to understand plasmid persistence when considering the evidence that plasmid maintenance can improve during co-evolution with the bacterial host, i.e. the chromosome. However, bacteria isolated from nature often harbor diverse...
Source: Plasmid - February 14, 2019 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
An improved plasmid size standard, 39R861+
Publication date: Available online 7 February 2019Source: PlasmidAuthor(s): Robert A. Moran, Sashindran Anantham, Ruth M. HallAbstractThe four plasmids in E. coli 39R861 have been used as size standards for closed-circular plasmid DNA since the 1980s. However, their sizes had only been estimated. Here, the complete sequence of the 61.3 kb cryptic FII plasmid p39R861–3 is reported, and the sizes of p39R861–4, pSa and NTP168 were determined to be 155.8, 40.1 and 6.8 kb, respectively. An improved size standard, 39R861+, was created by adding two sequenced, compatible plasmids to 39R861 via conjugation. The 94.8 kb c...
Source: Plasmid - February 8, 2019 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
Characterization of the first blaCTX-M-14/ermB-carrying IncI1 plasmid from Latin America
In this study, we characterized the first blaCTX-M-14/ermB-carrying IncI1 plasmid from Latin America, which was detected in a MDR E. coli clinical isolate from Uruguay.Plasmid pUR-EC07 was a 105,836-bp IncI1 ST80 plasmid harboring blaCTX-M-14, blaTEM-1 and ermB, and characterized by a backbone region of 92,554 bp, and a multi resistance region (MRR) of 13,282 bp, bounded by two directly-oriented IS26 elements, and inserted upstream of ResD. The MRR comprised two nested IS26-composite transposons (Tn6651 and Tn6652). Tn6651 included the ermBL-ermB operon flanked by two IS26 copies in opposite direction. Tn6652 included ...
Source: Plasmid - February 5, 2019 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
Hitchhiking on chromosomes: A persistence strategy shared by diverse selfish DNA elements
Publication date: Available online 3 February 2019Source: PlasmidAuthor(s): Soumitra Sau, Santanu Kumar Ghosh, Yen-Ting Liu, Chien-Hui Ma, Makkuni JayaramAbstractAn underlying theme in the segregation of low-copy bacterial plasmids is the assembly of a ‘segrosome’ by DNA-protein and protein-protein interactions, followed by energy-driven directed movement. Analogous partitioning mechanisms drive the segregation of host chromosomes as well. Eukaryotic extra-chromosomal elements, exemplified by budding yeast plasmids and episomes of certain mammalian viruses, harbor partitioning systems that promote their physical associ...
Source: Plasmid - February 4, 2019 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
Editorial Board
Publication date: January 2019Source: Plasmid, Volume 101Author(s): (Source: Plasmid)
Source: Plasmid - January 12, 2019 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
A high-throughput approach to the culture-based estimation of plasmid transfer rates
Publication date: Available online 29 December 2018Source: PlasmidAuthor(s): David Kneis, Teppo Hiltunen, Stefanie HeßAbstractHorizontal gene transfer is an essential component of bacterial evolution. Quantitative information on transfer rates is particularly useful to better understand and possibly predict the spread of antimicrobial resistance. A variety of methods has been proposed to estimate the rates of plasmid-mediated gene transfer all of which require substantial labor input or financial resources. A cheap but reliable method with high-throughput capabilities is yet to be developed in order to better capture the ...
Source: Plasmid - December 30, 2018 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
A step forward: Compatible and dual-inducible expression vectors for gene co-expression in Corynebacterium glutamicum
Publication date: Available online 27 December 2018Source: PlasmidAuthor(s): Rahul Gauttam, Christian Desiderato, Lisa Jung, Adnan Shah, Bernhard J. EikmannsAbstractThe Gram-positive bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum represents a promising platform for the production of amino acids, organic acids, and other bio-products. However, the availability of only few expression vectors limits its use for production purposes, using metabolic engineering approaches when co-expression of several target genes is desired. To widen the scope for co-expression, the pCG1/p15A and pBL1/colE1 replicons were employed to construct the two d...
Source: Plasmid - December 27, 2018 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
The antibiotic resistance-free mammalian expression plasmid vector pPAL for development of third generation vaccines
Publication date: Available online 6 December 2018Source: PlasmidAuthor(s): Pedro J. Alcolea, Ana Alonso, Vicente LarragaAbstractDNA vaccines require a vector to replicate genes and express encoding antigens. Antibiotic resistance genes are often used as selection markers, which must not be released to the environment upon final product commercialization. For this reason, generation of antibiotic resistance-free vectors is imperative. The pPAL vector contains the cytomegalovirus enhancer and promoter for expression in mammalian cells, and the E. coli fabI chromosomal gene as a selectable marker. The fabI gene encodes the e...
Source: Plasmid - December 7, 2018 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
Contemporary IncI1 plasmids involved in the transmission and spread of antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacteriaceae
Publication date: Available online 5 December 2018Source: PlasmidAuthor(s): Alessandra Carattoli, Laura Villa, Daniela Fortini, Aurora García-FernándezAbstractIncI1 has become one of the most common plasmid families in contemporary Enterobacteriaceae from both human and animal sources. In clinical epidemiology, this plasmid type ranks first as the confirmed vehicle of transmission of extended spectrum beta-lactamase and plasmid AmpC genes in isolates from food-producing animals. In this review, we describe the epidemiology and evolution of IncI1 plasmids and closely related IncIγ plasmids. We highlight the emergence of ...
Source: Plasmid - December 6, 2018 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
Editorial Board
Publication date: November 2018Source: Plasmid, Volume 100Author(s): (Source: Plasmid)
Source: Plasmid - November 23, 2018 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
pBuzz: A cryptic rolling-circle plasmid from a commensal Escherichia coli has two inversely oriented oriTs and is mobilised by a B/O plasmid
Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018Source: PlasmidAuthor(s): Robert A. Moran, Ruth M. HallAbstractAmpicillin, streptomycin and sulphamethoxazole resistant commensal E. coli 838-3B contains five plasmids that range in size from>90 kb to <2 kb. The resistance genes blaTEM (ampicillin), strA (streptomycin) and sul2 (sulphamethoxazole) transferred along with a B/O plasmid named p838B-R. However, three plasmids smaller than 7 kb were also found in transconjugants, suggesting that they could be mobilised by the B/O plasmid. The complete sequences of p838B-R and pBuzz, a small plasmid mobilised by p838B-...
Source: Plasmid - November 22, 2018 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
Development of host strains and vector system for an efficient genetic transformation of filamentous fungi
Publication date: Available online 19 November 2018Source: PlasmidAuthor(s): Larissa A. Balabanova, Yuri N. Shkryl, Lubov V. Slepchenko, Yulia A. Yugay, Tatiana Y. Gorpenchenko, Natalia N. Kirichuk, Yulia V. Khudyakova, Irina Yu. Bakunina, Anna B. Podvolotskaya, Victor P. Bulgakov, Aleksandra V. Seitkalieva, Oksana M. Son, Liudmila A. TekutyevaAbstractAn ability to synthesize extracellular enzymes degrading a wide spectrum of plant and algae polymeric substrates makes many fungi relevant for biotechnology. The terrestrial thermophilic and marine fungal isolates capable of plant and algae degradation have been tested for an...
Source: Plasmid - November 21, 2018 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
IS26 mediated antimicrobial resistance gene shuffling from the chromosome to a mosaic conjugative FII plasmid
This study further highlights the role played by IS26 in intracellular ARGs shuffling. Moreover, attention has been focused on recombination hot spots that might play a key role in generating mosaic plasmids. (Source: Plasmid)
Source: Plasmid - October 16, 2018 Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research
