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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 Berrang, Mark
item Meinersmann, Richard - Rick

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2008
Publication Date: 5/15/2008
Citation: Frye, J.G., Cray, P.J., Jackson, C.R., Englen, M.D., Berrang, M.E., Meinersmann, R.J. 2008. Detection of antimicrobial resistance genes by DNA microarray. Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. May 15, 2008. Silver Springs, Maryland.

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 simultaneously test for all sequenced resistance genes in one assay. The microarray can be used to detect resistance genes in a variety of diverse bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli, Camplyobacter and Enterococcus and yields results that were confirmed by the currently accepted techniques of PCR and Southern blotting. Additionally, 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.