Paper

A Probiotic Lactobacillus Strain Can Acquire Vancomycin Resistance during Digestive Transit in Mice
Denis D.G. Mater, Philippe Langella, Gérard Corthier, María-José Flores

Unité d'Ecologie et de Physiologie du Système Digestif, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas, France

Address of Corresponding Author

J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2008;14:123-127 (DOI: 10.1159/000106091)

  Key Words

• Conjugative transfer
• Digestive tract
• Enterococcus
• Lactobacillus
• Vancomycin resistance

  Abstract

The present study demonstrates for the first time the transfer of vancomycin resistance (vanA cluster) from enterococci to a Lactobacillusacidophilus commercial strain. Transfers were observed in vitro, but also in vivo in the gut of mice (in the absence of antibiotic pressure) where transconjugants arose at relatively high frequencies and could persist in the digestive environment. Since transfer of vancomycin resistance genes might also take place in the human digestive tract, lactobacilli probiotics should be carefully considered especially in either immunocompromised patients or during antibiotherapy. Acquisition and retransfer of resistance genes should be addressed in the safety evaluation of probiotics.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

María-José Flores
Unité d'Ecologie et de Physiologie du Système Digestif
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique
FR-78352 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex (France)
Tel. +33 1 34 65 24 63, Fax +33 1 34 65 24 62, E-Mail maria.flores@jouy.inra.fr

  Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 33