Expression in Escherichia coli of a New Multidrug Efflux Pump, MexXY, from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract
Two new genes (mexXY) similar to mexAB,mexCD, and mexEF and mediating multidrug resistance were cloned from the chromosome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Elevated ethidium extrusion was observed withEscherichia coli cells harboring the plasmid carryingmexXY. This MexXY system confers higher resistance to fluoroquinolones than the MexAB and MexCD systems, and E. coli TolC or P. aeruginosa OprM is necessary for the function of the MexXY system.