Identification of a novel genomic island associated with vanD-type vancomycin-resistance in six Dutch vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium

Genomic comparison of the first six Dutch vanD-type vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) with four vanD-gene clusters from other enterococcal species and anaerobic gut commensals revealed that the vanD-gene cluster was located on a genomic island of variable size. Phylogenetic inferences revealed that the Dutch-VRE were genetically not closely related and genetic variation of the vanD-genomic island was not species specific, which suggest that this island is transferred horizontally between enterococci and anaerobic gut commensals.