Characterization of the Tn916 conjugative transposon in a food-borne strain of Lactobacillus paracasei.

ABSTRACT: Food-borne antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacteria have received growing attention in the past few years. We have recently identified tetracycline-resistant Lactobacillus paracasei in samples of milk and natural whey starter cultures employed in the manufacturing process of a typical Italian fermented dairy product, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana. In the present study, we have characterized at the molecular level the genetic context of tetracycline resistance determinants in these natural strains, which we have identified as tet(M). This gene was present in 21 independent isolates, whose fingerprinting profiles were distributed into eight different repetitive extragenic palindromic groups by cluster analysis. We provide evidence that the gene is associated with the broad-host, conjugative

SUBMITTER: Devirgiliis C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2698359 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature