A new sulfonamide resistance gene (sul3) in Escherichia coli is widespread in the pig population of Switzerland.

ABSTRACT: A new gene, sul3, which specifies a 263-amino-acid protein similar to a dihydropteroate synthase encoded by the 54-kb conjugative plasmid pVP440 from Escherichia coli was characterized. Expression of the cloned sul3 gene conferred resistance to sulfamethoxazole on E. coli. Two copies of the insertion element IS15Delta/26 flanked the region containing sul3. The sul3 gene was detected in one-third of the sulfonamide-resistant pathogenic E. coli isolates from pigs in Switzerland.

SUBMITTER: Perreten V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC149312 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature