Tetracycline resistance genes and mobile genetic elements from the oral metagenome

Tetracycline resistance genes are common in the human oral cavity. However, a complete understanding of tetracycline resistance and the vectors responsible for spread of resistance requires that we understand the contribution of organisms that cannot be cultivated in the laboratory. To do this, metagenomic approaches have been applied and this has allowed the isolation of novel tetracycline resistance genes and mobile genetic elements.