Abstract
Here we report the genetic and proposed molecular basis for silver resistance in pathogenic microorganisms. The silver resistance determinant from a hospital burn ward Salmonella plasmid contains nine open reading frames, arranged in three measured and divergently transcribed RNAs. The resistance determinant encodes a periplasmic silver-specific binding protein (SilE) plus apparently two parallel efflux pumps: one, a P-type ATPase (SilP); the other, a membrane potential-dependent three-polypeptide cation/proton antiporter (SilCBA). The sil determinant is governed by a two-component membrane sensor and transcriptional responder comprising silS and silR, which are co-transcribed. The availability of the sil silver-resistance determinant will be the basis for mechanistic molecular and biochemical studies as well as molecular epidemiology of silver resistance in clinical settings in which silver is used as a biocide.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B*
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Adenosine Triphosphatases / chemistry
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Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics*
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Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Antiporters / chemistry
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Antiporters / genetics*
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Antiporters / metabolism
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Bacterial Proteins*
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Base Sequence
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Burns / drug therapy
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Burns / microbiology
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Carrier Proteins / chemistry
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Carrier Proteins / genetics*
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism
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Chromosome Mapping
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Cloning, Molecular
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Drug Resistance, Microbial / genetics
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Escherichia coli
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Humans
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In Vitro Techniques
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Open Reading Frames
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Plasmids
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Protein Conformation
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RNA, Bacterial / metabolism
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Salmonella Infections / drug therapy
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Salmonella typhimurium / drug effects*
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Salmonella typhimurium / genetics*
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Silver / pharmacology*
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Transcription, Genetic
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Wound Infection / microbiology
Substances
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
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Antiporters
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Bacterial Proteins
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Carrier Proteins
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RNA, Bacterial
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SilE protein, Salmonella typhimurium
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Silver
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Adenosine Triphosphatases
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SilP protein, Salmonella typhimurium