Transfer of Herb-Resistance Plasmid From Escherichia coli to Staphylococcus aureus Residing in the Human Urinary Tract

Abstract

Background:Plasmid transfer among bacteria provides a means for dissemination of resistance. Plasmid Analysis has made it possible to track plasmids that induce resistance in bacterial population.Objectives:To screen the presence of herb-resistance plasmid in Escherichia coli strains and determine the transferability of this resistance plasmid directly from E. coli to the Gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus.Materials and Methods:The donor strain E. coli CP9 and recipient strain S. aureus RN450RF were isolated from UTI patients. E. coli CP9 was highly resistant to herbal concoction. Isolates of S. aureus RN450RF were fully susceptible. Total plasmid DNA was prepared and transferred into E. coli DH5α. Transconjugants were selected on agar plates containing serial dilutions of herbal concoction. Resistance plasmid was transferred to susceptible S. aureus RN450RFin triple replicas. The mating experiments were repeated twice.Results:The identified 45 kb herb-resistance plasmid could be transferred from E. coli CP9 isolates to E. coli DH5α. As a consequence E. coli DH5α transconjugant MIC increased from 0.0125 g/mL to 0.25 g/mL. The plasmid was easily transferred from E. coli CP9 strain to S. aureus RN450RF with a mean transfer rate of 1×10-2 transconjugants/recipient. The E. coli donor and the S. aureus RN450RF transconjugant contained a plasmid of the same size, which was absent in the recipient before mating. Susceptibility testing showed that the S. aureus RN450RF transconjugant was resistant to herbal concoction.Conclusions:E. coli herb-resistance plasmid can replicate and be expressed in S. aureus.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of plant-derived antimicrobials in WHO priority pathogens

“…E. coli herbal resistant plasmid for example, has been shown to replicate and be expressed in human urinary tract S. aureus. 36,37 Ethnopharmacology offers a wide array of plant-derived antimicrobials (PDAms) and increasing numbers of pharmaceutical companies are focusing on botanical drug development. 38,39 Evidence suggests PDAms display broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) and GNB, and can attenuate bacterial virulence.…”