Enterococcus faecium N03-0072 carries a new VanD-type vancomycin resistance determinant: characterization of the VanD5 operon

OBJECTIVES: To genotypically characterize the vancomycin resistance mechanism of Enterococcus faecium N03-0072, which was negative by PCR for the currently known van genotypes. METHODS: PCR was used to amplify the entire vancomycin resistance operon and the complete nucleotide sequence was determined by dideoxy cycle sequencing. RESULTS: Analysis revealed a VanD-type operon with 94% nucleotide identity to the VanD4 operon and 90% nucleotide identity to the VanD1/D3 operons. A set of universal primers was designed in order to identify all current vanD variants by PCR. CONCLUSIONS: E. faecium N03-0072 carries a new VanD-type operon, designated VanD5.