Nucleotide sequence of IS1542, an insertion sequence identified within VanA glycopeptide resistance elements of enterococci

IS1542 is an insertion sequence-like element which was originally identifie d in the orf2-vanR intergenic region of VanA resistance elements of glycope ptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium from hospital patients and from non-hu man sources in the UK. The nucleotide sequence of IS1542 was determined. It showed 81% homology with IS256 and contained an open reading frame suffici ent to encode a 390 amino acid peptide predicted to have 87.2% identity wit h the transposase of IS256. By PCR, IS1542 was detected in the genomes of 2 6 of 28 (93%) VanA enterococci isolated from poultry in the UK and Ireland, but in only two of 65 (3%) glycopeptide-sensitive or VanC enterococci from hospital patients in the UK and Brazil. IS1542 may be a useful marker for evolutionary and epidemiological studies of VanA glycopeptide resistance in enterococci. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Pu blished by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.