A novel IncQ plasmid type harbouring a class 3 integron from Escherichia coli

Poirel, Laurent ; Carattoli, Alessandra ; Bernabeu, Sandrine ; Bruderer, Thomas ; Frei, Reno ; Nordmann, Patrice

In: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2010, vol. 65, no. 8, p. 1594-1598

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    Summary
    Objectives To determine the genetic structures at the origin of the mobilization of the extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) blaGES-1 gene in an Escherichia coli clinical isolate. Methods ESBL-encoding genes and class 1 or class 3 integron-specific motifs were screened. Conjugation experiments were performed to determine whether the plasmid-carrying blaGES-1 gene was self-transferable. Plasmid sequencing was achieved by a primer-walking approach. Results The blaGES-1 gene was located in a class 3 integron. That unusual genetic structure was itself located on an ∼9 kb plasmid, pQ7, which was not self-transferable. Sequence analysis revealed that plasmid pQ7 belonged to a novel subtype of the IncQ group. Conclusions This study identified for the first time the blaGES-1 gene in E. coli and in Switzerland. It describes a novel IncQ-type plasmid subgroup that possesses original features, in particular iteron sequences that constitute a hot spot for integration of foreign DNA