Genetic diversity of Tn916-related transposons among drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates colonizing healthy children in Venezuela

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2011 Oct;55(10):4930-2. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00242-11. Epub 2011 Jul 25.

Abstract

Among a collection of 48 multidrug-resistant pneumococcal strains colonizing healthy children in a small municipality of Mérida, Venezuela, we identified sequence types (STs) related to a variety of internationally spreading drug-resistant clones, as well as ST135, thus far isolated only in Europe. The clones invariably harbored one or more of the Tn916-related transposons Tn3872, Tn5253, Tn6002, Tn2009, and Tn2010. Finally, our data suggest both structural rearrangements in certain transposons and occurrence of novel transposable elements.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Child
  • Conjugation, Genetic
  • DNA Transposable Elements / genetics*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / drug effects*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / genetics*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • Venezuela

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA, Bacterial