Integration of a transposon Tn1-encoded inhibitor-resistant beta-lactamase gene, bla(TEM-67) from Proteus mirabilis, into the Escherichia coli chromosome

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2003 Jan;47(1):19-26. doi: 10.1128/AAC.47.1.19-26.2003.

Abstract

Proteus mirabilis NEL-1 was isolated from a urine sample of a patient hospitalized in a long-term care facility. Strain NEL-1 produced a beta-lactamase with a pI of 5.2 conferring resistance to amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Sequencing of a PCR amplicon by using TEM-specific primers revealed a novel bla(TEM) gene, bla(TEM-67). TEM-67 was an IRT-1-like TEM derivative related to TEM-65 (Lys39, Cys244) with an additional Leu21Ile amino acid substitution in the leader peptide. The biochemical properties of TEM-67 were equivalent to those described for TEM-65. Analysis of sequences surrounding bla(TEM-67) revealed that it was located on a transposon, Tn1, which itself was located on a 48-kb non-self-transferable plasmid, pANG-1. Electroporation of plasmid pANG-1 into Escherichia coli DH10B resulted in the integration of bla(TEM-67) into the chromosome, whereas it remained episomal in the P. mirabilis CIP103181 reference strain. Further characterization of pANG-1 revealed the presence of two identical sequences on both sides of Tn1 that contained an IS26 insertion sequence followed by a novel colicin gene, colZ, which had 20% amino acid identity with other colicin genes. The characterization of this novel TEM derivative provides further evidence for the large diversity of plasmid-encoded beta-lactamases produced in P. mirabilis and for their spread to other enterobacterial species through transposable-element-mediated events.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Plasmids
  • Proteus mirabilis / drug effects
  • Proteus mirabilis / genetics*
  • Proteus mirabilis / isolation & purification
  • beta-Lactamases / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • beta-Lactamases