Characterization of an Enterococcus gallinarum Isolate Carrying a DualvanAandvanBCassette

Abstract

The ability of vancomycin resistance determinants to be horizontally transferred within enterococci species is a concern. Identification and characterization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in a clinical isolate have a significant impact on infection control practices. In this study, we describe a clinical isolate ofEnterococcus gallinarumexhibiting high-level resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin. The genetic characterization of this isolate showed the presence ofvanAandvanBgenes in addition to the naturally carriedvanCgene.vanAwas identified on pA6981, a 35,608-bp circular plasmid with significant homology to plasmid pS177. ThevanBoperon was integrated into the bacterial chromosome and showed a high level of homology to previously reported Tn1549and Tn5382. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report ofE. gallinarumcarrying bothvanAandvanBoperons, indicating the importance of identifying the vancomycin resistance mechanism in non-E. faeciumand non-E. faecalisenterococcal species.