Kanamycin Resistance

Resistance to the antibiotic kanamycin.

The naturally occurring bacterial nptII gene expresses the enzyme that blocks the effects of the antibiotics kanamycin and neomycin. 

The nptII gene is used as a marker gene in many transgenic plants and micro-organisms. The gene is also widespread in soil micro-organisms.

Kanamycin and neomycin now have limited therapeutic use in human and animal medicine. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assumes that their use in transgenic plants does not affect their current distribution in the environment and therefore recommends approving their unrestricted use.