A commentary on http://www.frontiersin.org/Antimicrobials,_Resistance_and_Chemotherapy/10.3389/fmicb.2011.00203/abstract Acquired antibiotic resistance genes: an overview by van Hoek, A. H. A. M., Mevius, D., Guerra, B., Mullany, P., Roberts, A. P., and Aarts, H. J. M. (2011). Front. Microbio. 2:203. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2011.00203 Dr. Marilyn C. Roberts and Dr. Stefan Schwarz have contacted the authors of the original publication with several comments and suggestions to better harmonize the correct nomenclature of the antibiotic resistance genes, as the gene names were not always correctly presented in the various tables given. Authors often pick their own gene names which in many cases have been approved for use for other genetically distinct genes or give names to determinants which were already given an approved designated name. Therefore, we (Dr. Marilyn C. Roberts and Dr. Stefan Schwarz and Dr. Henk J. M. Aarts on behalf of the authors of the original publication) would like to present here the correct nomenclature and mechanistic features of the antibiotic resistance genes belonging to the following classes: Aminoglycosides (Table ​(Table1),1), Phenicols (Table ​(Table3),3), Macrolides–Lincosamides–Streptogramin B (Table ​(Table4),4), Quinolones (Table ​(Table5),5), Tetracyclines (Table ​(Table6),6), and Trimethoprim (Table ​(Table7).7). In addition some additional information is given on the various classes of antibiotic resistance genes as also a section regarding the antibiotic class Oxazolidinones has been added. Table ​Table22 was correctly displayed by van Hoek et al. (2011) but has been updated. Table 1 Acquired aminoglycoside resistance genes*. Table 2 β-lactamases and ESBLs families. Table 3 Acquired phenicol resistance genes*. Table 4 Acquired macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS) resistance genes*. Table 5 Acquired quinolone resistance genes*. Table 6 Acquired tetracycline resistance genes*. Table 7 Acquired trimethoprim resistance genes*. To the subsection dealing with the “Resistance mechanisms” of the AMINOGLYCOSIDES we would like to add that to date six additional methylases have been reported, i.e., npmA, rmtA, rmtB, rmtC, rmtD, and rmtE (Courvalin, 2008; Doi et al., 2008; Davis et al., 2010). Futhermore, that within the three major classes (AAC, ANT, and APH) an additional subdivision can be made based on the enzymes' target sites within the aminoglycoside molecules: i.e., there are four acetyltransferases: AAC(1), AAC(2′), AAC(3), and AAC(6′); five nucleotidyltransferases: ANT(2″), ANT(3″), ANT(4′), ANT(6), and ANT(9); and seven phosphotransferases: APH(2″), APH(3′), APH(3″), APH(4), APH(6), APH(7″), and APH(9). To the subsection β-LACTAM, Resistance, mechanisms we would like to add that in recent years acquired genes encoding ESBLs have become a major concern (Bradford, 2001). Over time, the genes for the parent enzymes blaTEM−1, blaTEM−2, and blaSHV−1 have undergone point mutations which resulted in amino acid substitutions that changed the substrate spectrum to that of ESBLs, starting with blaTEM−3 and blaSHV−2 (Bradford, 2001). Because chloramphenicol is not an actual antibiotic class the subsection of CHLORAMPHENICOL should be called PHENICOLS. Concerning the history of PHENICOLS, it is worthwhile to know the first antibiotic, chloramphenicol, originally referred to as chloromycetin, was isolated already in 1947 from Streptomyces venezuelae (Ehrlich et al., 1947). Besides the inactivating enzymes (chloramphenicol acetyltransferases), there are also reports on other phenicol resistance systems, such as the inactivation by phosphotransferases, mutations of the target site, permeability barriers, and efflux systems (Schwarz et al., 2004). Of the latter mechanism, cmlA and floR are the most commonly known genes in Gram-negative bacteria (Bissonnette et al., 1991; Briggs and Fratamico, 1999). The macrolides (subsection MACROLIDES–LINCOSAMIDES–STREPTOGRAMIN B) have a similar mode of antibacterial action, comparable antibacterial spectra and in part overlapping binding sites at the ribosome as two other antibiotic classes, i.e., lincosamides and streptogramin antibiotics (comprising streptogramin A and B compounds that act synergistically). Consequently, these antibiotics, although chemically distinct, have been clustered together as MLS antibiotics (Roberts, 1996). Macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins all inhibit protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit of bacteria (Weisblum, 1995; Roberts, 2002). To Resistance mechanisms of the subsection MACROLIDES–LINCOSAMIDES–STREPTOGRAMIN B. Shortly after the introduction of erythromycin into clinical setting in the 1950s, bacterial resistance to this antibiotic was reported for the first time in staphylococci (Weisblum, 1995). Since then a large number of bacteria have been identified that are resistant to MLS due to the presence of various different genes. The resistance determinants responsible include rRNA methylases that modify the ribosomal target sites, ABC transporters, and efflux proteins of the Major Facilitator Superfamily, as well as genes for inactivating enzymes (Roberts et al., 1999; Roberts, 2008). The latter group can be further subdivided into esterases, lyases, phosphorylases, and transferases (Table ​(Table44). The most common mechanism of MLSB resistance is due to the presence of rRNA methylases, encoded by the erm genes. These enzymes methylate the adenine residue(s) resulting in MLSB resistance. The methylated adenine(s) prevents the drugs from binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit. The other two mechanisms efflux and enzymatic inactivation result in resistance to only 1 or 2 classes of antibiotics belonging to the MLS group. There are currently 77 MLS resistance genes recognized. A new MLS gene must have <79% amino acid identity with all previously characterized MLS genes before receiving a unique name (Roberts et al., 1999; Roberts, 2008). For an actual list of the MLS acquired resistance genes we refer to the website of Dr. Marilyn Roberts, http://faculty.washington.edu/marilynr/. In addition to the subsection of QUINOLONES currently five families of qnr genes have been reported; qnrA (7 subtypes), qnrB (59 subtypes), qnrC (1 subtype), qnrD (1 subtype), and qnrS (8 subtypes) (Jacoby et al., 2008; Cattoir and Nordmann, 2009; Cavaco et al., 2009; Strahilevitz et al., 2009; Torpdahl et al., 2009). Another mechanism of conferring resistance to quinolones is represented by the plasmid-borne gene qepA, which codes for an efflux pump that can export hydrophilic fluoroquinolones, e.g., ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin (Perichon et al., 2007; Yamane et al., 2007). A variant of this resistance pump, QepA2, was identified in an E. coli isolate from France (Cattoir et al., 2008). Regarding TETRACYCLINE, Resistance mechanisms, currently there are 45 different acquired tetracycline resistance determinants recognized (Roberts, 1996, 2005; Brown et al., 2008) (Table ​(Table6).6). For an up-to-date list of the acquired tetracycline resistance genes, we refer to the website of Dr. Marilyn Roberts, http://faculty.washington.edu/marilynr/. Among these, 26 of the tet genes, 2 of the otr genes and the only tcr determinant code for efflux pumps, whereas 11 tet genes and 1 otr gene code for ribosomal protection proteins (RPPs). The enzymatic inactivation mechanism can be attributed to 3 tet genes. The tet(U) determinant represents an unknown tetracycline resistance mechanism since its sequence does not appear to be related to either efflux or RPPs, nor to the inactivation enzymes. The efflux and RPP encoding genes are found in members of Gram-positive, Gram-negative, aerobic, as well as anaerobic bacteria. In contrast, the enzymatic tetracycline inactivation mechanism has so far only been identified in Gram-negative bacteria. The tet(M) has the broadest host range of all tetracycline resistance genes, whereas tet(B) gene has the widest range among the Gram-negative bacteria. In recent years published data indicate that there are increasing numbers of Gram-negative bacteria that carry tet genes originally identified in Gram-positive bacteria (Roberts, 2002). To the subsection TRIMETHOPRIM, Resistance mechanisms. Initially, the acquired DHFRs fell into two distinct families A and B, encoded by the dfrA and dfrB genes (Howell, 2005). Up to now 6 plasmid-mediated families can be distinguished with relatively few dfr determinants originating from Gram-positive bacteria (Table ​(Table7).7). The dfrK and dfrA28 genes are the newest additions to the trimethoprim resistance determinant family (Kadlec and Schwarz, 2009; Kadlec et al., 2011). In contrast to the latest reported DHFRs, the oldest families, dfrA and dfrB, each contain several members (Roberts, 2002; Levings et al., 2006). For example, the dfrA group accomodates over 30 published genes; however, unpublished, dfrA variants are also present in the public DNA libraries and some genes apparently have changed nomenclature (Table ​(Table77). Furthermore, we suggest an additional section concerning oxazolidinones.