Predicting the taxonomic and environmental sources of integron gene cassettes using structural and sequence homology of attC sites.

ABSTRACT: Integrons are bacterial genetic elements that can capture mobile gene cassettes. They are mostly known for their role in the spread of antibiotic resistance cassettes, contributing significantly to the global resistance crisis. These resistance cassettes likely originated from sedentary chromosomal integrons, having subsequently been acquired and disseminated by mobilised integrons. However, their taxonomic and environmental origins are unknown. Here, we use cassette recombination sites (attCs) to predict the origins of those resistance cassettes now spread by mobile integrons. We modelled the structure and sequence homology of 1,978 chromosomal attCs from 11 different taxa. Using these models, we show that at least 27% of resistance cassettes have attCs that are structurally conserved amo

SUBMITTER: Ghaly TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8352920 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature