Effects of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin on in vitro adhesion and survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AK1 on urinary catheters

Authors

Philip A. Wescombe, University of Otago
Jeremy P. Burton, University of Otago
Peter A. Cadieux, The University of Western Ontario
Nikolai A. Klesse, University of Otago
Otto Hyink, University of Otago
Nicholas C.K. Heng, University of Otago
Chris N. Chilcott, University of Otago
Gregor Reid, The University of Western Ontario
John R. Tagg, University of Otago

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2006

Journal

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, International Journal of General and Molecular Microbiology

Volume

90

Issue

3

First Page

269

Last Page

280

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1007/s10482-006-9081-y

Abstract

Streptococcus salivarius strains commonly produce bacteriocins as putative anticompetitor or signalling molecules. Here we report that bacteriocin production by the oral probiotic strain S. salivarius K12 is encoded by a large (ca. 190 kb) plasmid. Oral cavity transmission of the plasmid from strain K12 to a plasmid-negative variant of this bacterium was demonstrated in two subjects. Tests of additional S. salivarius strains showed large (up to ca. 220 kb) plasmids present in bacteriocin-producing isolates. Various combinations (up to 3 per plasmid) of loci encoding the known streptococcal lantibiotics salivaricin A, salivaricin B, streptin and SA-FF22 were localised to these plasmids. Since all bacteriocin-producing strains of S. salivarius tested to date appear to harbour plasmids, it appears that they may function as mobile repositories for bacteriocin loci, especially those of the lantibiotic class. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2006.