Host range of the ermF rRNA methylase gene in bacteria of human and animalorigin

Citation
Wso. Chung et al., Host range of the ermF rRNA methylase gene in bacteria of human and animalorigin, J ANTIMICRO, 43(1), 1999, pp. 5-14
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology,Microbiology
Journal title
Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy
ISSN journal
03057453 → ACNP
Volume
43
Issue
1
Year of publication
1999
Pages
5 - 14
Database
ISI
SICI code
Abstract
We screened 183 different clinical anaerobic and aerobic bacteria isolated from humans and other animals for the presence of the ermF gene using a pol ymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The ermF gene was detected in 107 (58%) clinical isolates, including 42 (61%) of 69 Gram-positive bacteria and 65 (57%) of 114 Gram-negative bacteria. Twenty-five ATCC isolates were also te sted; 20 (80%) carried the ermF gene. The gene products from the ermF PCR f rom four isolates were sequenced and showed 95-99% nucleotide homology with the ermF gene and 98-99% amino acid homology with the gene product. Eleven (58%) of the 19 Gram-negative donors tested were able to transfer the ermF gene. All nine (100%) of the Gram-positive donors tested transferred the e rmF gene, using either Enterococcus faecalis or Haemophilus influenzae as t he recipients.