Conjugative transfer of ICESde3396 between three β-hemolytic streptococcal species

Danielle J Smyth; Josephine Shera; Michelle J Bauer; Ainslie Cameron; Celia L McNeilly; Kadaba S Sriprakash; David J McMillan

doi:10.1186/1756-0500-7-521

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Conjugative transfer of ICESde3396 between three β-hemolytic streptococcal species

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Conjugative transfer of ICESde3396 between three β-hemolytic streptococcal species

Danielle J Smyth, Josephine Shera, Michelle J Bauer, Ainslie Cameron, Celia L McNeilly, Kadaba S Sriprakash and David J McMillan

BMC Research Notes, Vol.7, 521

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-7-521

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Abstract

integrative conjugative element

conjugation

streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis

streptococcus pyogenes

streptococcus agalactiae

Background: Integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) are mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that possess all genes necessary for excision, transfer and integration into recipient genome. They also carry accessory genes that impart new phenotypic features to recipient strains. ICEs therefore play an important role in genomic plasticity and population structure. We previously characterised ICESde3396, the first ICE identified in the β-hemolytic Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp equisimilis (SDSE) and demonstrated its transfer to single isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus, GAS) and Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS). While molecular studies found the ICE in multiple SDSE and GBS isolates, it was absent in all GAS isolates examined. Results Here we demonstrate that ICESde3396:km is transferable from SDSE to multiple SDSE, GAS and GBS isolates. However not all strains of these species were successful recipients under the same growth conditions. To address the role that host factors may have in conjugation we also undertook conjugation experiments in the presence of A549 epithelial cells and DMEM. While Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) occurred, conjugation efficiencies were no greater than when similar experiments were conducted in DMEM. Additionally transfer to GAS NS235 was successful in the presence of DMEM but not in Todd Hewitt Broth suggesting that nutritional factors may also influence HGT. The GAS and GBS transconjugants produced in this study are also able to act as donors of the ICE. Conclusion We conclude that ICEs are major sources of interspecies HGT between β-hemolytic streptococci, and by introducing accessory genes imparting novel phenotypic characteristics, have the potential to alter the population structure of these species.

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Title: Conjugative transfer of ICESde3396 between three β-hemolytic streptococcal species
Authors: Danielle J Smyth (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Josephine Shera (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Michelle J Bauer (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Ainslie Cameron (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Celia L McNeilly (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Kadaba S Sriprakash (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
David J McMillan (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: BMC Research Notes, Vol.7, 521; 7
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-521
ISSN: 1756-0500
Copyright note: Copyright © Smyth et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448815902621
Output Type: Journal article

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