Release and Constancy of an Antibiotic Resistance Gene in Seawater under Grazing Stress by Ciliates and Heterotrophic Nanoflagellates

• Bien Thi Lan Thanh

  Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Ehime University Department of Biotechnology, Nong Lam University

• Thao Ngo Vy

  Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University Faculty of Environment and Resources, Nong Lam University

• Kitamura Shin-Ichi

  Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University

• Obayashi Yumiko

  Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University

• Suzuki Satoru

  Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University

Abstract

Extracellular DNA (exDNA) is released from bacterial cells through various processes. The antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) coded on exDNA may be horizontally transferred among bacterial communities by natural transformation. We quantitated the released/leaked tetracycline resistance gene, tet(M) over time under grazing stress by ciliates and heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNFs), and found that extracellular tet(M) (ex-tetM) increased with bacterial grazing. Separate microcosms containing tet(M)-possessing bacteria with ciliates or HNFs were prepared. The copy number of ex-tetM in seawater in the ciliate microcosm rapidly increased until 3 d after the incubation, whereas that in the HNF microcosm showed a slower increase until 20 d. The copy number of ex-tetM was stable in both cases throughout the incubation period, suggesting that extracellular ARGs are preserved in the environment, even in the presence of grazers. Additionally, ARGs in bacterial cells were constant in the presence of grazers. These results suggest that ARGs are not rapidly extinguished in a marine environment under grazing stress.

Journal

• Microbes and Environments

  Microbes and Environments 32 (2), 174-179, 2017

  Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology / Japanese Society of Soil Microbiology / Taiwan Society of Microbial Ecology / Japanese Society of Plant Microbe Interactions / Japanese Society for Extremophiles

Keywords

• antibiotic resistance gene
• grazing
• ciliate
• heterotrophic nanoflagellate

Details

• CRID: 1390001204344318336
• NII Article ID: 40021235172
• NII Article ID: 130006789877
• NII Book ID: AA11551577
• DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me17042
• ISSN: 13474405
• ISSN: 13426311
• NDL BIB ID: 028315513
• PubMed: 28592722
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I028315513
• Web Site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jsme2/32/2/32_ME17042/_pdf
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • NDL
  • Crossref
  • PubMed
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed