Plasmid toxins CcdB and ParE are part of addiction systems promoting plasmid maintenance. Both target host DNA gyrase, as do quinolones and plasmid-determined Qnr proteins that protect gyrase from quinolone inhibition. We cloned qnrB4, qnrS1, ccdB, parE, and the antitoxin-encoding genes ccdA and parD on compatible plasmids and tested them in combination. CcdB and ParE had no specific effect on ...

INTRODUCTION At the time of the study, 3 plasmid-borne qnr determinants (qnrA, qnrB and qnrS) and 1 plasmid-borne aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme determinant that confers quinolone resistance (aac(6')-Ib-cr) had been described in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied the prevalence of the 3 qnr determinants in a total of 117 nalidixic acid-resistant urinary isolates of Klebsiella p...

OBJECTIVE Quinolone resistance is usually caused by various chromosomal mutations, but has been more recently associated with plasmids which carry the qnr determinant. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of qnr genes in clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae in Jamaica. METHODS A total of 255 non-duplicate fluoroquinolone-resistant Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates, com...

OBJECTIVES To characterize the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants qnr and aac(6')-Ib-cr in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. METHODS qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, aac(6')-Ib-cr and ESBL-encoding genes were detected by PCR. MICs of 10 antimicrobial agents were determined by Etest. PFGE was used to investigate the clo...

Quinolones inhibit bacterial type II DNA topoisomerases (e.g. DNA gyrase) and are among the most important antibiotics in current use. However, their efficacy is now being threatened by various plasmid-mediated resistance determinants. Of these, the pentapeptide repeat-containing (PRP) Qnr proteins are believed to act as DNA mimics and are particularly prevalent in gram-negative bacteria. Predi...

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the spread of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants [qnr-like, aac(6')-Ib-cr and qepA genes] among nalidixic acid-resistant enterobacterial strains isolated from outpatients from Southeast Brazil, their transferability and the genetic structures associated with the qnr genes. METHODS The qnrA, qnrB and qnrS genes were screened by ...

We screened 313 ceftazidime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates obtained in the United States from 1999 to 2004 for all three known qnr genes. A qnr gene was present in 20% of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, 31% of Enterobacter sp. isolates, and 4% of Escherichia coli isolates. qnrA and qnrB occurred with equivalent frequencies and, except for qnrB in enterobacters, were stable over time. qnr...