Integrons determine a site-specific recombination system which is responsible for the acquisition of genes, particularly antibiotic resistance genes. The integrase encoded by integrons recognises two distinct classes of recombination sites. The first is the family of imperfect inverted repeats, known as 59-base elements, which are associated with the mobile gene cassettes. The second consists o...

Construction of multiply mutated strains for genetic interaction analysis and of strains carrying different epitope tags at multiple open reading frames for testing protein localization, abundance and protein-protein interactions is hampered by the availability of a sufficient number of different selectable markers. Moreover, strains with single gene deletions or tags often already exist in str...

Transposon Tn7 has been known to carry genes for resistance to trimethoprim and spectinomycin. A poorly expressed streptothricin resistance gene, identical to the sat gene found in transposons Tn1825 and Tn1826, was localized between the two mentioned genes in Tn7. The surroundings of all three resistance genes indicated site-specific insertion of genetic cassettes.

Using PCR, we screened 105 isolates of poultry-associated Campylobacter jejuni for the presence of class 1 integrons. Of those isolates, 21% (22 of 105) possessed the integrase gene, but only 5 isolates produced an amplicon in a 5'-3' conserved sequence PCR directed toward amplification of the resistance cassettes. DNA sequencing demonstrated that all five isolates possessed the aminoglycoside ...

Precise genome modification is essential for the molecular dissection of Candida albicans, and is yielding invaluable information about the roles of specific gene functions in this major fungal pathogen of humans. C. albicans is naturally diploid, unable to undergo meiosis, and utilizes a non-canonical genetic code. Hence, specialized tools have had to be developed for gene disruption in C. alb...

I ntegrons, which are natural genetic engineering platforms, can incorporate open reading frames and convert them to functional genes by ensuring correct expression. Although such integrons play a major role in multidrug resistance phenomena among gram-negative species, similar platforms occur in numerous bacterial species, where they can play other roles. Meanwhile, we have evidence suggesting...