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Abstract

The potential of Lactobacillus reuteri as a donor of antibiotic resistance genes in the human gut was investigated by studying the transferability of the tetracycline resistance gene tet(W) to faecal enterococci, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. In a double-blind clinical study, seven subjects consumed L. reuteri ATCC 55730 harbouring a plasmid-encoded tet(W) gene (tet(W)-reuteri) and an equal number of subjects consumed L. reuteri DSM 17938 derived from the ATCC 55730 strain by the removal of two plasmids, one of which contained the tet(W) gene. Faecal samples were collected before, during and after ingestion of 5 x 10(8) CFU of L. reuteri per day for 14 days. Both L. reuteri strains were detectable at similar levels in faeces after 14 days of intake but neither was detected after a two-week wash-out period. After enrichment and isolation of tetracycline resistant enterococci, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli from each faecal sample, DNA was extracted and analysed for presence of tet(W)-reuteri using a real-time PCR allelic discrimination method developed in this study. No tet(W)-reuteri signal was produced from any of the DNA samples and thus gene transfer to enterococci, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli during intestinal passage of the probiotic strain was non-detectable under the conditions tested, although transfer at low frequencies or to the remaining faecal bacterial population cannot be excluded.

Keywords

Allelic discrimination; Gene transferability; Human gut; Lactobacillus reuteri; Tetracycline resistance; tet(W) gene

Published in

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
2010, volume: 97, number: 2, pages: 189-200
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

Associated SLU-program

AMR: Bacteria

Global goals (SDG)

SDG3 Good health and well-being

UKÄ Subject classification

Food Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-009-9401-0

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/59460