Host range of the ermF rRNA methylase gene in bacteria of human and animal origin

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Abstract
We screened 183 different clinical anaerobic and aerobic bacteria isolated from humans and other animals for the presence of the ermF gene using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The ermF gene was detected in 107 (58%) clinical isolates, including 42 (61%) of 69 Gram-positive bacteria and 65 (57%) of 114 Gram-negative bacteria. Twenty-five ATCC isolates were also tested; 20 (80%) carried the ermF gene. The gene products from the ermF PCR from four isolates were sequenced and showed 95–99% nucleotide homology with the ermF gene and 98–99% amino acid homology with the gene product. Eleven (58%) of the 19 Gram-negative donors tested were able to transfer the ermF gene. All nine (100%) of the Gram-positive donors tested transferred the ermF gene, using either Enterococcus faecalis or Haemophilus influenzae as the recipients.