Characterization of a Plasmid Isolated from Enterococcus faecalis Found in the Fecal Material of a Blue Whale

• Published in: The FASEB Journal
• Main Authors: McLaughlin, Richard, Kopanic, Robert
• Other Authors: Gateway Foundation
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2017
• Subjects: Blue whale
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.612.5

Enterococcus faecalis is widely distributed in nature being found in soil, water, plants, and foods. It is also found in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals including Blue Whales. Despite its well‐reported existence in animal species, very few plasmids isolated from E. faecalis have been described in the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to more completely describe the genomics of E. faecalis . The complete 52325 bp sequence of the plasmid pGTC2 was determined using Next‐Generation sequencing technology. Harbored by a strain of E. faecalis present in the fecal material of a Blue Whale, this plasmid does not contain any antibiotic or heavy metal resistance genes. Instead multiple mobile element proteins, relaxase and transposon sequences are found throughout. Since these genes are present it may indicate that horizontal gene transfer may occur frequently in pGTC2. Support or Funding Information This project was supported by funding provided by Gateway Technical College and by the Gateway Foundation.