Selection and maintenance of mobile linezolid-resistance genes and plasmids carrying them in the presence of florfenicol, an animal-specific antimicrobial
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Abstract
Mobile linezolid-resistance genes (optrA, poxtA, and cfr) that confere resistance to linezolid and florfenicol have been detected globally in various sources. Linezolid is a last-resort antimicrobial used in human clinical settings, and florfenicol is commonly used in veterinary clinical settings. The present study sought to evaluate the potential of florfenicol in veterinary use to select for linezolid-resistant bacteria. The growth and fitness of linezolid-resistant bacteria harboring mobile linezolid-resistance genes were assessed in the presence and absence of florfenicol using Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium, respectively. The bacterial strains harbored wild and cloning plasmids carrying mobile linezolid-resistance genes, which reduced their susceptibility to linezolid and florfenicol. The acquisition of plasmids carrying mobile linezolid-resistance genes improved bacterial growth in the presence of florfenicol, and conferred fitness costs in its absence. Florfenicol imposes a selection pressure on bacteria harboring plasmids carrying mobile linezolid-resistance genes. Hence, the appropriate use of florfenicol in veterinary clinical settings is important to control the dissemination of mobile linezolid-resistance genes and to ensure the sustained effectiveness of linezolid against multidrug-resistant bacteria, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci in human clinical settings.
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Abstract
Mobile linezolid-resistance genes (optrA, poxtA, and cfr) that confere resistance to linezolid and florfenicol have been detected globally in various sources. Linezolid is a last-resort antimicrobial used in human clinical settings, and florfenicol is commonly used in veterinary clinical settings. The present study sought to evaluate the potential of florfenicol in veterinary use to select for linezolid-resistant bacteria. The growth and fitness of linezolid-resistant bacteria harboring mobile linezolid-resistance genes were assessed in the presence and absence of florfenicol using Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium, respectively. The bacterial strains harbored wild and cloning plasmids carrying mobile linezolid-resistance genes, which reduced their susceptibility to linezolid and florfenicol. The acquisition of plasmids carrying mobile linezolid-resistance genes improved bacterial growth in the presence of florfenicol, and conferred fitness costs in its absence. Florfenicol imposes a selection pressure on bacteria harboring plasmids carrying mobile linezolid-resistance genes. Hence, the appropriate use of florfenicol in veterinary clinical settings is important to control the dissemination of mobile linezolid-resistance genes and to ensure the sustained effectiveness of linezolid against multidrug-resistant bacteria, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci in human clinical settings.
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Funding
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JSPS KAKENHI
(Award 23K17049)
- Principal Award Recipient: Akira Fukuda
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- last seen: 2026-05-20T01:45:00.602351+00:00