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Title: Detection of antimicrobial resistance genes by DNA microarray

Author
item Frye, Jonathan
item Cray, Paula
item Jackson, Charlene
item Englen, Mark
item Bailey, Joseph
item Berrang, Mark
item Meinersmann, Richard - Rick

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2006
Publication Date: 12/12/2006
Citation: Frye, J.G., Cray, P.J., Jackson, C.R., Englen, M.D., Bailey, J.S., Berrang, M.E., Meinersmann, R.J. 2006. Detection of antimicrobial resistance genes by DNA microarray. Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics 1st World Congress. December 11-12, 2006. Boston, Massachusetts.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: To study the spread of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria it is necessary to detect and characterize the genes responsible for resistance. Currently, each gene must be screened individually in order to identify the gene(s) responsible for the observed resistance expressed by a bacterium. The inability to rapidly identify these genes limits research progress. We have designed, constructed, and validated a DNA microarray to simultaneous test for all known sequenced resistance genes in one assay. The microarray was also shown to successfully detect resistance genes in a variety of diverse bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli, Camplyobacter and Enterococcus and yielded results that were confirmed by the current standard techniques of PCR and Southern blotting. The microarray has been expanded to detect almost 800 resistance and virulence genes. This assay will be used to identify the genes that are associated with an antimicrobial resistant phenotype, to study the epidemiology of these genes and to detect their dissemination throughout the ecosystem. This information is invaluable as we devise ways to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance.