Comparative genomics of 16 Microbacterium spp. that tolerate multiple heavy metals and antibiotics

PeerJ

article

Deric R. Learman¹  Zahra Ahmad¹  Allison Brookshier¹  Michael W. Henson¹  Victoria Hewitt¹  Amanda Lis¹  Cody Morrison¹  Autumn Robinson¹  Emily Todaro¹  Ethan Wologo¹  Sydney Wynne¹  Elizabeth W. Alm¹  Peter S. Kourtev¹ 

[1] Institute for Great Lakes Research and Department of Biology, Central Michigan University

关键词: Microbacterium;    Chromium reduction;    Genomics;    Antibiotic resistance;    Heavy metals;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.6258

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

A total of 16 different strains of Microbacterium spp. were isolated from contaminated soil and enriched on the carcinogen, hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]. The majority of the isolates (11 of the 16) were able to tolerate concentrations (0.1 mM) of cobalt, cadmium, and nickel, in addition to Cr(VI) (0.5–20 mM). Interestingly, these bacteria were also able to tolerate three different antibiotics (ranges: ampicillin 0–16 μg ml−1, chloramphenicol 0–24 μg ml−1, and vancomycin 0–24 μg ml−1). To gain genetic insight into these tolerance pathways, the genomes of these isolates were assembled and annotated. The genomes of these isolates not only have some shared genes (core genome) but also have a large amount of variability. The genomes also contained an annotated Cr(VI) reductase (chrR) that could be related to Cr(VI) reduction. Further, various heavy metal tolerance (e.g., Co/Zn/Cd efflux system) and antibiotic resistance genes were identified, which provide insight into the isolates’ ability to tolerate metals and antibiotics. Overall, these isolates showed a wide range of tolerances to heavy metals and antibiotics and genetic diversity, which was likely required of this population to thrive in a contaminated environment.

【 授权许可】

CC BY