The Peril and Promise of Integrons: Beyond Antibiotic Resistance

Timothy M Ghaly; Jemma L Geoghegan; Sasha G Tetu; Michael R Gillings

doi:10.1016/j.tim.2019.12.002

The Peril and Promise of Integrons: Beyond Antibiotic Resistance

Trends Microbiol. 2020 Jun;28(6):455-464. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.12.002. Epub 2020 Jan 13.

Authors

Timothy M Ghaly¹, Jemma L Geoghegan², Sasha G Tetu³, Michael R Gillings⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia. Electronic address: timothy.ghaly@mq.edu.au.
² Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
³ Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
⁴ Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.

PMID: 31948729
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.12.002

Abstract

Integrons are bacterial genetic elements that can capture, rearrange, and express mobile gene cassettes. They are best known for their role in disseminating antibiotic-resistance genes among pathogens. Their ability to rapidly spread resistance phenotypes makes it important to consider what other integron-mediated traits might impact human health in the future, such as increased virulence, pathogenicity, or resistance to novel antimicrobial strategies. Exploring the functional diversity of cassettes and understanding their de novo creation will allow better pre-emptive management of bacterial growth, while also facilitating development of technologies that could harness integron activity. If we can control integrons and cassette formation, we could use integrons as a platform for enzyme discovery and to construct novel biochemical pathways, with applications in bioremediation or biosynthesis of industrial and therapeutic molecules. Integron activity thus holds both peril and promise for humans.

Keywords: biotechnology; evolution; pathogenicity; synthetic biology; virulence.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Bacteria / genetics*
Biotechnology
Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
Evolution, Molecular
Humans
Integrons / genetics*
Synthetic Biology
Virulence / genetics