PubMed · 1995 · 31 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesMicrobiologyMolecular GeneticsBacteriologyMedical MicrobiologyMicrobial GeneticsAntibiotic ResistanceAntibiotic Resistance GeneticsAntibiotic Resistance MechanismsMechanisms Of Antimicrobial ResistanceResistance GenesResistance In Gram-positive BacteriaAntibiotic Resistance GenesAntimicrobial Resistance Gene DetectionAntiseptic ResistanceCoagulase-negative StaphylococciCopy Number ChangesCopy Number ControlResistance Mechanisms In StaphylococciResistance Mechanisms In Streptococci
The antiseptic-resistance gene ebr was detected not only in resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus but also in sensitive strains of S. aureus, in coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains and in enterococcal strains by means of the polymerase chain reaction. The nucleotide sequence of the amplified DNA fragment of the ebr gene from a sensitive strain and that of the previously reported ebr gene were identical. It seems likely that antiseptic-resistant cells result from an increase in the copy number of a gene whose normal function is to remove toxic substances from normal sensitive cells of staphylococci and enterococci.