In vivo Imaging and Tracking of VRE-microbiota Interactions via Anaerobic Fluorescent Reporters in Extremely Drug-resistant Bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) has emerged as a major nosocomial pathogen, but studying its host and microbiome interactions remains challenging due to limited genetic tools. Current obstacles include extensive intrinsic and acquired resistance that precludes use of conventional selection markers, poor plasmid maintenance, and oxygen-dependent reporters unsuitable for gut environments. Here we present an integrated toolkit that enables robust genetic manipulation and in vivo tracking of VREfm. We developed a universal puromycin selection system effective across diverse clinical isolates and an enhanced pheS** counterselection marker for stable genomic integration. We identified two neutral genomic loci that support reporter genes insertion without fi

SUBMITTER: Treat BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11839097 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature