Methods for the targeted sequencing and analysis of integrons and their gene cassettes from complex microbial communities.

ABSTRACT: Integrons are microbial genetic elements that can integrate mobile gene cassettes. They are mostly known for spreading antibiotic resistance cassettes among human pathogens. However, beyond clinical settings, gene cassettes encode an extraordinarily diverse range of functions important for bacterial adaptation. The recovery and sequencing of cassettes has promising applications, including: surveillance of clinically important genes, particularly antibiotic resistance determinants; investigating the functional diversity of integron-carrying bacteria; and novel enzyme discovery. Although gene cassettes can be directly recovered using PCR, there are no standardised methods for their amplification and, importantly, for validating sequences as genuine integron gene cassettes. Here, we present r

SUBMITTER: Ghaly TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9176274 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature