Competence for Natural Transformation Is Common among Clinical Strains of Resistant <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp.
Horizontal gene transfer events provide the basis for extensive dissemination of antimicrobial resistance traits between bacterial populations. Conjugation is considered to be the most frequent mechanism behind new resistance acquisitions in clinical pathogens but does not fully explain the resistan...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/2/30 |
| _version_ | 1818449483021680640 |
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| author | Sara Domingues Natasha Rosário Ângela Cândido Daniela Neto Kaare M. Nielsen Gabriela J. Da Silva |
| author_facet | Sara Domingues Natasha Rosário Ângela Cândido Daniela Neto Kaare M. Nielsen Gabriela J. Da Silva |
| author_sort | Sara Domingues |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Horizontal gene transfer events provide the basis for extensive dissemination of antimicrobial resistance traits between bacterial populations. Conjugation is considered to be the most frequent mechanism behind new resistance acquisitions in clinical pathogens but does not fully explain the resistance patterns seen in some bacterial genera. Gene transfer by natural transformation has been described for numerous clinical isolates, including some <i>Acinetobacter</i> species. The main aim of this study was to determine to what extent clinical, resistant <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp. isolates, express competence for natural transformation. Twenty-two clinical <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp. isolates collected over a 16-year time period, from five different geographical separated and/or distinct Portuguese Hospitals were tested for natural transformability. Fourteen isolates, including 11 <i>A. baumannii</i>, 2 <i>A. nosocomialis</i> and 1 <i>Acinetobacter</i> sp., were identified as competent on semisolid media facilitating surface-motility. Competent <i>Acinetobacter</i> isolates were found in all the hospitals tested. Furthermore, osmolarity was shown to influence the uptake of exogenous DNA by competent <i>A. baumannii</i> A118. Our study demonstrates that natural competence is common among clinical isolates of <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp., and hence likely an important trait for resistance acquisition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T20:36:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0956f1ad3978434cbe9b726eca1a37eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T20:36:07Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-0956f1ad3978434cbe9b726eca1a37eb2022-12-21T22:48:23ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072019-01-01723010.3390/microorganisms7020030microorganisms7020030Competence for Natural Transformation Is Common among Clinical Strains of Resistant <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp.Sara Domingues0Natasha Rosário1Ângela Cândido2Daniela Neto3Kaare M. Nielsen4Gabriela J. Da Silva5Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-458 Coimbra, PortugalFaculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-458 Coimbra, PortugalFaculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-458 Coimbra, PortugalFaculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-458 Coimbra, PortugalDepartment of Life Sciences and Health, Oslo Metropolitan University, N-0130 Oslo, NorwayFaculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-458 Coimbra, PortugalHorizontal gene transfer events provide the basis for extensive dissemination of antimicrobial resistance traits between bacterial populations. Conjugation is considered to be the most frequent mechanism behind new resistance acquisitions in clinical pathogens but does not fully explain the resistance patterns seen in some bacterial genera. Gene transfer by natural transformation has been described for numerous clinical isolates, including some <i>Acinetobacter</i> species. The main aim of this study was to determine to what extent clinical, resistant <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp. isolates, express competence for natural transformation. Twenty-two clinical <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp. isolates collected over a 16-year time period, from five different geographical separated and/or distinct Portuguese Hospitals were tested for natural transformability. Fourteen isolates, including 11 <i>A. baumannii</i>, 2 <i>A. nosocomialis</i> and 1 <i>Acinetobacter</i> sp., were identified as competent on semisolid media facilitating surface-motility. Competent <i>Acinetobacter</i> isolates were found in all the hospitals tested. Furthermore, osmolarity was shown to influence the uptake of exogenous DNA by competent <i>A. baumannii</i> A118. Our study demonstrates that natural competence is common among clinical isolates of <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp., and hence likely an important trait for resistance acquisition.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/2/30<i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i><i>Acinetobacter nosocomialis</i>clinical isolateshorizontal gene transfernatural transformationcompetenceosmolarity |
| spellingShingle | Sara Domingues Natasha Rosário Ângela Cândido Daniela Neto Kaare M. Nielsen Gabriela J. Da Silva Competence for Natural Transformation Is Common among Clinical Strains of Resistant <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp. Microorganisms <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> <i>Acinetobacter nosocomialis</i> clinical isolates horizontal gene transfer natural transformation competence osmolarity |
| title | Competence for Natural Transformation Is Common among Clinical Strains of Resistant <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp. |
| title_full | Competence for Natural Transformation Is Common among Clinical Strains of Resistant <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp. |
| title_fullStr | Competence for Natural Transformation Is Common among Clinical Strains of Resistant <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Competence for Natural Transformation Is Common among Clinical Strains of Resistant <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp. |
| title_short | Competence for Natural Transformation Is Common among Clinical Strains of Resistant <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp. |
| title_sort | competence for natural transformation is common among clinical strains of resistant i acinetobacter i spp |
| topic | <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> <i>Acinetobacter nosocomialis</i> clinical isolates horizontal gene transfer natural transformation competence osmolarity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/2/30 |
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