Transfer of antibiotic resistance by transformation with eDNA within oral biofilms
Saad Hannan
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorDerren Ready
Department of Microbial Diseases, Eastman Dental Hospital, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAzmiza S. Jasni
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorMichelle Rogers
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorJonathan Pratten
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAdam P. Roberts
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorSaad Hannan
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorDerren Ready
Department of Microbial Diseases, Eastman Dental Hospital, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAzmiza S. Jasni
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorMichelle Rogers
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorJonathan Pratten
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAdam P. Roberts
Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorEditor: John Costerton
Present addresses: Saad Hannan, Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.Michelle Rogers, 4.28 Royal School of Mines, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
Abstract
We demonstrate that live donor Veillonella dispar cells can transfer the conjugative transposon Tn916 to four different Streptococcus spp. recipients in a multispecies oral consortium growing as a biofilm in a constant depth film fermentor. Additionally, we demonstrate that purified V. dispar DNA can transform Streptococcus mitis to tetracycline resistance in this experimental system. These data show that transfer of conjugative transposon-encoded antibiotic resistance can occur by transformation in addition to conjugation in biofilms.
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