BIOCHARGE
Investigation into the Biological Cost and Adaptation of the Host to Antibiotic Resistance on mobile Genetic Elements in Enterococcus species
| Coordinatore | UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Organization address
address: GOWER STREET contact info |
| Nazionalità Coordinatore | United Kingdom [UK] |
| Totale costo | 210˙092 € |
| EC contributo | 210˙092 € |
| Programma | FP7-PEOPLE
Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) |
| Code Call | FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF |
| Funding Scheme | MC-IEF |
| Anno di inizio | 2012 |
| Periodo (anno-mese-giorno) | 2012-06-06 - 2014-06-05 |
Partecipanti
| # | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Organization address
address: GOWER STREET contact info |
UK (LONDON) | coordinator | 210˙092.80 |
Mappa
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Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)
'Conjugative transposons (cTns) are mobile genetic elements that mediate the transfer of antibiotic resistance to a wide range of bacteria including enterococci. Preliminary data revealed that the cTns, Tn6000, confer negligible burden or biological cost on enterococcal hosts. Our hypothesis is therefore: cTns have evolved regulatory mechanisms that can minimize their transcription. This leads to minimal biological cost to the host cell and stability of the mobile element within the population, explaining why they persist in bacteria from environments without selective pressure. In addition, we hypothesize that when two or more elements are in the same cell they may recombine to form a single element, again reducing their biological cost and ensuring their propagation. The aims of the project are: to determine if the cTns isolated from E. faecalis affect the fitness of their host and to test the hypothesis that the transcriptional regulation of these mobile elements determines their stability and persistence. Additionally, to determine if different elements can recombine in vivo, potentially forming new, more fit mobile elements and contributing to the evolution of antibiotic resistance development in pathogens. Experimental approach: The stability of the cTns and their recombination potential in enterococci will be assessed in the presence and absence of selective pressure (antibiotics). The absolute and relative fitness of the cTn containing strains will be evaluated and any compensatory mutations in the host will be determined by high throughput sequencing technologies and whole transcriptome shotgun sequencing. Mutagenesis of the regulatory region within the cTns will be carried out to understand the impact on stability of the element and fitness upon the host and to determine if this influences intracellular recombination and the evolution of the mobile elements.'
Introduzione (Teaser)
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is one of the greatest challenges to modern medicine. An EU project has investigated the effects of carrying resistance genes on the bacteria themselves and its significance for antimicrobial resistance management.