Recovery of diverse genes for class 1 integron-integrases from environmental DNA samples

Michael R. Gillings, Samyuktha Krishnan, Paul J. Worden, Simon A. Hardwick

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    61 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Class 1 integrons are an important vector for the spread of antibiotic resistance. The core of this genetic element is highly conserved in all class 1 integrons recovered from clinical contexts. Recently, bacteria containing more divergent class 1 integrons have been isolated from environmental samples, suggesting undiscovered diversity in these elements. We performed a culture-independent survey of the class 1 integron-integrase gene (intI1) from environmental DNA, assessing sequence variation using capillary electrophoresis single-strand conformation polymorphism. This analysis allowed informed selection of environments for further investigation based on the diversity of intI1 targets that were present. IntI1 was common in environmental samples and exhibited previously unsuspected sequence diversity. The method allowed discrimination between clinical and environmental variants of intI1.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)56-62
    Number of pages7
    JournalFEMS Microbiology Letters
    Volume287
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2008

    Keywords

    • CE-SSCP
    • class 1 integron
    • intI1
    • environmental DNA
    • gene diversity
    • bioprospecting

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