# | Rank | Similarity | Title + Abs. | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 1752 | 0 | 0.9889 | Genetic Characterization of a Linezolid- and Penicillin-Resistant Enterococcus hirae Isolate Co-Harboring poxtA and pbp5fm. Linezolid and penicillin are critical for treating multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-positive infections, but the emergence of resistance to both seriously threatens public health. Here, we first report the cocarrying poxtA (oxazolidinone resistance) and pbp5fm (β-lactam resistance) genes by the plasmid in a strain of Enterococcus hirae HDC14-2 derived from porcine. The isolate also exhibits MDR phenotypes to phenicols, oxazolidinones, tetracyclines, β-lactams, aminoglycosides, macrolides, and lincosamides. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed these resistance genes, along with tet(L), tet(M), catA, erm(B), aac(6)-aph(2"), aadE, spw, lsa(E), lnu(B), sat4, and aphA3, were clustered in a novel MDR region flanked by IS1216 elements on plasmid pHDC14-2.133K. This IS1216-bounded MDR region formed translocatable units (TUs), including an IS1216-poxtA TU that was also identified on a secondary plasmid, pHDC14-2.27K. Functional assays demonstrated the excisability and mobility of these TUs, indicating its potential ability integration into other plasmids or chromosomes. Critically, electrotransformation confirmed the transfer of pHDC14-2.27K (poxtA-carrying) to Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2, with retained TU activity and minimal fitness cost. This study provides the evidence of colocalized poxtA and pbp5fm on plasmids in enterococci, highlighting their role in disseminating pan-resistance among bacteria. Although E. hirae is not an important pathogenic bacterium to humans and animals, but its potential risk to horizontally spread of these resistance genes important in medicine still cannot be ignored. | 2025 | 40692874 |
| 5440 | 1 | 0.9887 | Molecular structure and evolution of the conjugative multiresistance plasmid pRE25 of Enterococcus faecalis isolated from a raw-fermented sausage. Plasmid pRE25 from Enterococcus faecalis transfers resistances against kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, clindamycin, lincomycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, roxithromycin, tylosin, chloramphenicol, and nourseothricin sulfate by conjugation in vitro to E. faecalis JH2-2, Lactococcus lactis Bu2, and Listeria innocua L19. Its nucleotide sequence of 50237 base pairs represents the largest, fully sequenced conjugative multiresistance plasmid of enterococci (Plasmid 46 (2001) 170). The gene for chloramphenicol resistance (cat) was identified as an acetyltransferase identical to the one of plasmid pIP501 of Streptococcus agalactiae. Erythromycin resistance is due to a 23S ribosomal RNA methyl transferase, again as found in pIP501 (ermB). The aminoglycoside resistance genes are packed in tandem as in transposon Tn5405 of Staphylococcus aureus: an aminoglycoside 6-adenyltransferase, a streptothricin acetyl transferase, and an aminoglycoside phosphotransferase.). Identical resistance genes are known from pathogens like Streptococcus pyogenes, S. agalactiae, S. aureus, Campylobacter coli, Clostridium perfringens, and Clostridium difficile. pRE25 is composed of a 30.5-kbp segment almost identical to pIP501. Of the 15 genes involved in conjugative transfer, 10 codes for putative transmembrane proteins (e.g. trsB, traC, trsF, trsJ, and trsL). The enterococcal part is joined into the pIP501 part by insertion elements IS1216V of E. faecium Tn1545 (three copies), and homologs of IS1062 (E. faecalis) and IS1485 (E. faecium). pRE25 demonstrates that enterococci from fermented food do participate in the molecular communication between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria of the human and animal microflora. | 2003 | 14597005 |
| 5417 | 2 | 0.9885 | Molecular characteristics of oxazolidinone resistance in enterococci from a multicenter study in China. BACKGROUND: Linezolid-resistant enterococci pose great challenges in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to study the mechanisms underlying the resistance and genetic environment of antimicrobial resistance gene of linezolid-resistant enterococci. RESULTS: The linezolid MICs of 16 enterococci were 4 mg/L to 16 mg/L. Four strains belonged to multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. The sequence types (STs) of 13 enterococci strains performed WGS were diverse: 3 ST476, 1 ST86, ST116, ST480, ST59, ST416, ST21, ST67, ST16, ST585 and ST18. None of them carried multi-drug resistance gene cfr. Only one strain had the G2658 T mutation of target 23S rRNA gene. Thirteen (13/16, 81.3%) strains harbored the novel oxazolidinone resistance gene optrA. WGS analysis showed that the optrA gene was flanked by sequence IS1216E insertion in 13 strains, and optrA was adjacent to transposons Tn558 in two strains and Tn554 in one strain. The optrA gene was identified to be co-localized with fexA, the resistance genes mediated florfenicol resistance in 13 strains, and ermA1, the resistance genes mediated erythromycin resistance in 9 strains, indicating that linezolid-resistant strains may be selected due to non-oxazolidinone antibiotics (i.e. macrolides and florfenicol) usage. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the high diversity of optrA-carrying genetic platforms. The mobile genetic elements (MGEs) may play an important role in the dissemination of optrA into the enterococci isolates of human origin. The genetic evidence of transferable feature and co-selection of optrA should be gave more attention in clinical practice. | 2019 | 31299904 |
| 5454 | 3 | 0.9884 | Identification of an Enterococcus faecium strain isolated from raw bovine milk co-harbouring the oxazolidinone resistance genes optrA and poxtA in China. Oxazolidinones are potent antimicrobial agents used to treat human infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. The growing resistance to oxazolidinones poses a significant threat to public health. In August 2021, a linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecium BN83 was isolated from a raw milk sample of cow in Inner Mongolia, China. This isolate exhibited a multidrug resistance phenotype and was resistant to most of drugs tested including linezolid and tedizolid. PCR detection showed that two mobile oxazolidinones resistance genes, optrA and poxtA, were present in this isolate. Whole genome sequencing analysis revealed that the genes optrA and poxtA were located on two different plasmids, designated as pBN83-1 and pBN83-2, belonging to RepA_N and Inc18 families respectively. Genetic context analysis suggested that optrA gene on plasmid pBN83-1 was located in transposon Tn6261 initially found in E. faecalis. Comprehensive analysis revealed that Tn6261 act as an important horizontal transmission vector for the spread of optrA in E. faecium. Additionally, poxtA-bearing pBN83-2 displayed high similarity to numerous plasmids from Enterococcus of different origin and pBN83-2-like plasmid represented a key mobile genetic element involved in movement of poxtA in enterococcal species. The presence of optrA- and poxtA-carrying E. faecium in raw bovine milk represents a public health concern and active surveillance is urgently warranted to investigate the prevalence of oxazolidinone resistance genes in animal-derived food products. | 2024 | 38718528 |
| 1753 | 4 | 0.9883 | Characterization of a Linezolid- and Vancomycin-Resistant Streptococcus suis Isolate That Harbors optrA and vanG Operons. Linezolid and vancomycin are among the last-resort antimicrobial agents in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections. Linezolid- and vancomycin-resistant (LVR) Gram-positive bacteria may pose severe threats to public health. In this study, three optrA- and vanG-positive Streptococcus suis strains were isolated from two farms of different cities. There were only 1 and 343 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in coding region (cSNPs) of HCB4 and YSJ7 to YSJ17, respectively. Mobilome analysis revealed the presence of vanG, erm(B), tet(O/W/32/O), and aadE-apt-sat4-aphA3 cluster on an integrative and conjugative element, ICESsuYSJ17, and erm(B), aphA3, aac(6')-aph(2″), catpC(194), and optrA on a prophage, ΦSsuYSJ17-3. ICESsuYSJ17 exhibited a mosaic structure and belongs to a highly prevalent and transferable ICESa2603 family of Streptococcus species. ΦSsuYSJ17-3 shared conserved backbone to a transferable prophage Φm46.1. A novel composite transposon, IS1216E-araC-optrA-hp-catpC(194)-IS1216E, which can be circulated as translocatable unit (TU) by IS1216E, was integrated on ΦSsuYSJ17-3. Vancomycin resistance phenotype and vanG transcription assays revealed that the vanG operon was inducible. The LVR strain YSJ17 exhibited moderate virulence in a zebrafish infection model. To our knowledge, this is the first report of LVR isolate, which is mediated by acquired resistance genes optrA and vanG operons in Gram-positive bacteria. Since S. suis has been recognized as an antimicrobial resistance reservoir in the spread of resistance genes to major streptococcal pathogens, the potential risks of disseminating of optrA and vanG from S. suis to other Streptococcus spp. are worrisome and routine surveillance should be strengthened. | 2019 | 31551963 |
| 5407 | 5 | 0.9883 | Resistance mechanisms and tedizolid susceptibility in clinical isolates of linezolid-resistant bacteria in Japan. OBJECTIVES: Studies combining linezolid resistance mechanisms and tedizolid susceptibility in linezolid-resistant clinical isolates are scarce. This study investigated the linezolid resistance mechanisms and tedizolid susceptibility of linezolid-resistant strains isolated clinically in Japan. METHODS: We analysed 25 linezolid-resistant strains of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis isolated from Japanese hospitals between 2015 and 2021. MICs of linezolid and tedizolid were determined using the agar plate dilution method. Each 23S rRNA copy was amplified by PCR, sequenced and analysed for mutations. The linezolid resistance genes cfr, poxtA, optrA, fexA and fexB were also detected by PCR. RESULTS: Drug susceptibility tests revealed that five linezolid-resistant E. faecium isolates had low (≤1 mg/L) tedizolid MICs. Resistance mechanisms included the G2576T mutation in 23S rRNA, the T2504A mutation and the resistance genes optrA, fexA and fexB. The T2504A mutation was identified in one E. faecium isolate, which exhibited linezolid and tedizolid MICs of 64 and 32 mg/L, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Some linezolid-resistant isolates demonstrated low (≤1 mg/L) tedizolid MICs. To determine whether tedizolid susceptibility testing should be performed on linezolid-resistant isolates, more linezolid-resistant isolates should be collected and tested for tedizolid MICs. Tedizolid MICs were 2-3 doubling dilutions lower than linezolid MICs. The results of this study suggest that future research should investigate whether the T2504A mutation contributes to tedizolid resistance. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report tedizolid susceptibility in E. faecium with the T2504A mutation and in isolate harbouring this mutation. | 2025 | 40463587 |
| 5408 | 6 | 0.9883 | Identification and pathogenicity of an XDR Streptococcus suis isolate that harbours the phenicol-oxazolidinone resistance genes optrA and cfr, and the bacitracin resistance locus bcrABDR. One hundred and seven Streptococcus suis isolates were collected from healthy pigs or asymptomatic carriers in Jiangsu, China in 2016-2017. Thirty-eight percent of the isolates were linezolid-resistant and all carried the optrA gene. Among them, one isolate, SFJ44, was resistant to all 20 of the antibiotics tested, except for ceftiofur, and thus exhibited an extensively-drug-resistant phenotype. This isolate carried the optrA gene and the bacitracin resistance locus bcrABDR on an antibiotic-resistance-associated genomic island (ARGI1), and harboured the resistance genes cfr, aadE, sat4, spw-like, aphA3, mef(A), msr(D), erm(A)-like, erm(B), tetAB(P)', tet(M) and catQ on ARGI2∼4. The IS1216E-bcrABDR-ISEnfa1 segment showed >99.9% sequence identity to corresponding sequences from other species. The cfr gene was located on ARGI4, and two IS6 family insertion sequences, IS1216E and ISTeha2, were found upstream and downstream of cfr-ΔISEnfa5, respectively. A circular intermediate of bcrABDR-ISEnfa1 was detected, suggesting the role of ISEnfa1 in dissemination of bcrABDR. Other antibiotic resistance genes might be acquired from different Gram-positive pathogens. Infection of zebrafish showed that SFJ44 exhibited a virulence level comparable to serotype 2 hypervirulent strain SC070731, highlighting the need for surveillance of the pathogenicity of multi-drug-resistant S. suis isolates. This is the first report of the co-existence of optrA and cfr, and of the bcrABDR locus in streptococci. As it has been suggested that S. suis may act as an antibiotic resistance reservoir contributing to the spread of resistance genes to major streptococcal pathogens, the potential dissemination of these resistance genes among Gram-positive bacteria is of concern and routine surveillance should be strengthened. | 2019 | 30981924 |
| 5456 | 7 | 0.9883 | Detection of the enterococcal oxazolidinone/phenicol resistance gene optrA in Campylobacter coli. The transferable optrA gene encodes an ABC-F protein which confers resistance to oxazolidinones and phenicols, and has so far been detected exclusively in Gram-positive bacteria, including enterococci, staphylococci and streptococci. Here, we identified for the first time the presence of optrA in naturally occurring Gram-negative bacteria. Seven optrA-positive Campylobacter coli were identified from 563 Campylobacter isolates of animal origin from Guangdong (n = 1, chicken) and Shandong (n = 6, duck) provinces of China in 2017-2018. The detected optrA genes were functionally active and mediated resistance or elevated minimal inhibitory concentrations of linezolid, florfenicol and chloramphenicol in the respective C. coli isolates. The optrA gene, together with other transferable resistance genes, such as fexA, catA9, tet(O), tet(L), erm(A)-like, spc, or aadE, was located in two different chromosome-borne multidrug resistance genomic islands (MDRGIs). In both MDRGIs, complete or truncated copies of the insertion sequence IS1216E were present in the vicinity of optrA. The IS1216E-bracketed genetic environment of optrA was almost identical to the optrA regions on enterococcal plasmids, suggesting that the optrA in Campylobacter probably originated from Enterococcus spp.. Moreover, the formation of an optrA-carrying translocatable unit by recombination of IS1216E indicated that this IS element may play an important role in the horizontal transfer of optrA in Campylobacter. Although optrA was only found in a small number of C. coli isolates, enhanced surveillance is needed to monitor the distribution and the potential emergence of optrA in Campylobacter. | 2020 | 32605743 |
| 5476 | 8 | 0.9881 | Bile Carriage of optrA-Positive Enterococcus faecium in a Patient with Choledocholith. We isolated one Enterococcus faecium isolate SZ21B15 from a bile sample of a patient with choledocholith in Shenzhen, China in 2021. It was positive for oxazolidinone resistance gene optrA and was intermediate to linezolid. The whole genome of E. faecium SZ21B15 was sequenced by Illumina Hiseq. It belonged to ST533 within the clonal complex 17. The optrA gene and additional two resistance genes fexA and erm(A) were located within a 25,777-bp multiresistance region, which was inserted into the chromosomal radC gene, being chromosomal intrinsic resistance genes. The chromosomal optrA gene cluster found in E. faecium SZ21B15 was closely related to the corresponding regions of multiple optrA-carrying plasmids or chromosomes from Enterococcus, Listeria, Staphylococcus, and Lactococcus strains. It further highlights the ability of the optrA cluster that transfers between plasmids and chromosomes and evolves by a series of molecular recombination events. IMPORTANCE Oxazolidinone are effective antimicrobial agents for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci. The emergence and global spread of transferable oxazolidinone resistance genes such as optrA is worrisome. Enterococcus spp. can become causes of hospital-associated infections and are also widely distributed in the gastrointestinal tracts of animals and the natural environment. In this study, one E. faecium isolate from bile sample carried chromosomal optrA, being intrinsic resistance gene. optrA-positive E. faecium in bile not only makes the treatment of gallstones difficult, but also may become a reservoir of resistance genes in the body. | 2023 | 36976027 |
| 9950 | 9 | 0.9881 | Mobile Oxazolidinone Resistance Genes in Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria. Seven mobile oxazolidinone resistance genes, including cfr, cfr(B), cfr(C), cfr(D), cfr(E), optrA, and poxtA, have been identified to date. The cfr genes code for 23S rRNA methylases, which confer a multiresistance phenotype that includes resistance to phenicols, lincosamides, oxazolidinones, pleuromutilins, and streptogramin A compounds. The optrA and poxtA genes code for ABC-F proteins that protect the bacterial ribosomes from the inhibitory effects of oxazolidinones. The optrA gene confers resistance to oxazolidinones and phenicols, while the poxtA gene confers elevated MICs or resistance to oxazolidinones, phenicols, and tetracycline. These oxazolidinone resistance genes are most frequently found on plasmids, but they are also located on transposons, integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), genomic islands, and prophages. In these mobile genetic elements (MGEs), insertion sequences (IS) most often flanked the cfr, optrA, and poxtA genes and were able to generate translocatable units (TUs) that comprise the oxazolidinone resistance genes and occasionally also other genes. MGEs and TUs play an important role in the dissemination of oxazolidinone resistance genes across strain, species, and genus boundaries. Most frequently, these MGEs also harbor genes that mediate resistance not only to antimicrobial agents of other classes, but also to metals and biocides. Direct selection pressure by the use of antimicrobial agents to which the oxazolidinone resistance genes confer resistance, but also indirect selection pressure by the use of antimicrobial agents, metals, or biocides (the respective resistance genes against which are colocated on cfr-, optrA-, or poxtA-carrying MGEs) may play a role in the coselection and persistence of oxazolidinone resistance genes. | 2021 | 34076490 |
| 5418 | 10 | 0.9880 | Detection of optrA in the African continent (Tunisia) within a mosaic Enterococcus faecalis plasmid from urban wastewaters. OBJECTIVES: Oxazolidinone resistance is a serious limitation in the treatment of MDR Enterococcus infections. Plasmid-mediated oxazolidinone resistance has been strongly linked to animals where the use of phenicols might co-select resistance to both antibiotic families. Our goal was to assess the diversity of genes conferring phenicol/oxazolidinone resistance among diverse enterococci and to characterize the optrA genetic environment. METHODS: Chloramphenicol-resistant isolates (>16 mg/L, n = 245) from different sources (hospitals/healthy humans/wastewaters/animals) in Portugal, Angola and Tunisia (1996-2016) were selected. Phenicol (eight cat variants, fexA, fexB) or phenicol + oxazolidinone [cfr, cfr(B), optrA] resistance genes were searched for by PCR. Susceptibility (disc diffusion/microdilution), filter mating, stability of antibiotic resistance (500 bacterial generations), plasmid typing (S1-PFGE/hybridization), MLST and WGS (Illumina-HiSeq) were performed for optrA-positive isolates. RESULTS: Resistance to phenicols (n = 181, 74%) and phenicols + oxazolidinones (n = 2, 1%) was associated with the presence of cat(A-8) (40%, predominant in hospitals and swine), cat(A-7) (29%, predominant in poultry and healthy humans), cat(A-9) (2%), fexB (2%) and fexA + optrA (1%). fexA and optrA genes were co-located in a transferable plasmid (pAF379, 72 918 bp) of two ST86 MDR Tunisian Enterococcus faecalis (wastewaters) carrying several putative virulence genes. MICs of chloramphenicol, linezolid and tedizolid were stably maintained at 64, 4 and 1 mg/L, respectively. The chimeric pAF379 comprised relics of genetic elements from different Gram-positive bacteria and origins (human/porcine). CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, we report the first detection of optrA in an African country (Tunisia) within a transferable mosaic plasmid of different origins. Its identification in isolates from environmental sources is worrisome and alerts for the need of a concerted global surveillance on the occurrence and spread of optrA. | 2017 | 29029072 |
| 826 | 11 | 0.9880 | Sequence identity with type VIII and association with IS176 of type IIIc dihydrofolate reductase from Shigella sonnei. An uncommon dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), type IIIc, was coded for by Shigella sonnei that harbors plasmid pBH700 and that was isolated in North Carolina. The trimethoprim resistance gene carried on pBH700 was subcloned and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding type IIIc DHFR was identical to the gene encoding type VIII DHFR. The type IIIc amino acid sequence was approximately 50% similar to those of DHFRs commonly found in enteric bacteria. Furthermore, this gene was flanked by IS176 (IS26), an insertion sequence usually associated with those of aminoglycoside resistance genes. The gene for type IIIc DHFR was located by hybridization within a 1,993-bp PstI fragment in each of eight conjugative plasmids from geographically diverse strains of S. sonnei. Each plasmid also conferred resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, and sulfamethoxazole and belonged to incompatibility group M. Plasmids carrying this new trimethoprim resistance gene, which is uniquely associated with IS176, have disseminated throughout the United States. | 1995 | 7695291 |
| 5875 | 12 | 0.9880 | Detection of the staphylococcal multiresistance gene cfr in Macrococcus caseolyticus and Jeotgalicoccus pinnipedialis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the presence and the genetic environment of the multiresistance gene cfr in Jeotgalicoccus pinnipedialis and Macrococcus caseolyticus from pigs. METHODS: A total of 391 bacterial isolates with florfenicol MICs ≥16 mg/L were obtained from nasal swabs of 557 individual pigs; of these, 75 Gram-positive isolates other than staphylococci and enterococci were screened by PCR for the presence of known florfenicol resistance genes. Species assignments of the cfr-carrying isolates were based on the results of biochemical profiling and 16S rDNA sequencing. The locations of the cfr gene were determined by Southern blotting. Regions flanking each cfr gene were sequenced by a modified random primer walking strategy, and the transferability of cfr was assessed by electrotransformation. RESULTS: Two M. caseolyticus isolates and one J. pinnipedialis isolate were cfr positive. The cfr gene was located either on a 7057 bp plasmid, pSS-03, which was widely distributed among staphylococci of pig origin, or on the ∼53 kb plasmid pJP1. The region of pJP1 that included the cfr gene and the adjacent IS21-558, showed 99.7% identity to the corresponding region of plasmid pSCFS3. In addition, the genes aadD + aacA-aphD, ble and erm(C), coding for aminoglycoside, bleomycin and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance, respectively, were also identified on plasmid pJP1. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that plasmids carrying the multidrug resistance gene cfr are present in two new genera of commensal and environmental bacteria, Macrococcus and Jeotgalicoccus. This observation underlines the role of commensal and environmental flora in the dissemination of clinically important resistance genes, such as cfr. | 2012 | 22577104 |
| 3009 | 13 | 0.9880 | Identification of a novel conjugative plasmid carrying the multiresistance gene cfr in Proteus vulgaris isolated from swine origin in China. The multiresistance gene cfr has a broad host range encompassing both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and can be located on the chromosomes or on plasmids. In this study, a novel conjugative plasmid carrying cfr, designated as pPvSC3, was characterized in a Proteus vulgaris strain isolated from swine in China. Plasmid pPvSC3 is 284,528 bp in size and harbors 10 other antimicrobial resistance genes, making it a novel plasmid that differs from all known plasmids due to its unique backbone and repA gene. BLAST analysis of the plasmid sequence shows no significant homology to any known plasmid backbone, but shows high level homology to Providencia rettgeri strain CCBH11880 Contig_9, a strain isolated from surgical wound in Brazil, 2014. There are two resistance-determining regions in pPvSC3, a cfr-containing region and a multidrug-resistant (MDR) region. The cfr-containing region is flanked by IS26, which could be looped out via IS26-mediated recombination. The MDR region harbors 10 antimicrobial resistance genes carried by various DNA segments that originated from various sources. Plasmid pPvSC3 could be successfully transferred to Escherichia coli by conjugation. In summary, we have characterized a novel conjugative plasmid pPvSC3 carrying the multiresistance gene cfr and 10 other antimicrobial resistance genes, and consider that this novel type of plasmid deserves attention. | 2019 | 31499097 |
| 5460 | 14 | 0.9879 | Linezolid Resistance Genes in Enterococci Isolated from Sediment and Zooplankton in Two Italian Coastal Areas. Linezolid is a last-resort antibiotic for the treatment of severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive organisms; although linezolid resistance remains uncommon, the number of linezolid-resistant enterococci has increased in recent years due to worldwide spread of acquired resistance genes (cfr, optrA, and poxtA) in clinical, animal, and environmental settings. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of linezolid-resistant enterococci in marine samples from two coastal areas in Italy. Isolates grown on florfenicol-supplemented Slanetz-Bartley agar plates were investigated for their carriage of optrA, poxtA, and cfr genes; optrA was found in one Enterococcus faecalis isolate, poxtA was found in three Enterococcus faecium isolates and two Enterococcus hirae isolates, and cfr was not found. Two of the three poxtA-carrying E. faecium isolates and the two E. hirae isolates showed related pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles. Two E. faecium isolates belonged to the new sequence type 1710, which clustered in clonal complex 94, encompassing nosocomial strains. S1 PFGE/hybridization assays showed a double (chromosome and plasmid) location of poxtA and a plasmid location of optrA Whole-genome sequencing revealed that poxtA was contained in a Tn6657-like element carried by two plasmids (pEfm-EF3 and pEh-GE2) of similar size, found in different species, and that poxtA was flanked by two copies of IS1216 in both plasmids. In mating experiments, all but one strain (E. faecalis EN3) were able to transfer the poxtA gene to E. faecium 64/3. The occurrence of linezolid resistance genes in enterococci from marine samples is of great concern and highlights the need to improve practices aimed at limiting the transmission of linezolid-resistant strains to humans from environmental reservoirs.IMPORTANCE Linezolid is one of the few antimicrobials available to treat severe infections due to drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria; therefore, the emergence of linezolid-resistant enterococci carrying transferable resistance determinants is of great concern for public health. Linezolid resistance genes (cfr, optrA, and poxtA), often plasmid located, can be transmitted via horizontal gene transfer and have the potential to spread globally. This study highlights the detection of enterococci carrying linezolid resistance genes from sediment and zooplankton samples from two coastal urban areas in Italy. The presence of clinically relevant resistant bacteria, such as linezolid-resistant enterococci, in marine environments could reflect their spillover from human and/or animal reservoirs and could indicate that coastal seawaters also might represent a source of these resistance genes. | 2021 | 33608287 |
| 2001 | 15 | 0.9879 | Identification of plasmids co-carrying cfr(D)/optrA and cfr(D2)/poxtA linezolid resistance genes in two Enterococcus avium isolates from swine brain. Oxazolidinones are critically important antibiotics to treat human infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, therefore the occurrence of linezolid-resistant enterococci from food-producing animals poses a serious risk to human health. In this study, Enterococcus avium 38157 and 44917 strains, isolated from the brain of two unrelated piglets, were found to carry the linezolid resistance genes cfr(D)-optrA, and cfr(D2)-poxtA, respectively. Whole genome sequencing analysis of E. avium 38157 revealed that the genes were co-located on the 36.5-kb pEa_cfr(D)-optrA plasmid showing high identity with the pAT02-c of Enterococcus faecium AT02 from pet food. The optrA region, was 99% identical to the one of the pAv-optrA plasmid from a bovine Aerococcus viridans strain, whereas the cfr(D) genetic context was identical to that of the plasmid 2 of E. faecium 15-307.1. pEa_cfr(D)-optrA was not transferable to enterococcal recipients. In E. avium 44917 a cfr(D)-like gene, named cfr(D2), and the poxtA gene were co-located on the transferable 42.6-kb pEa-cfr(D2)-poxtA plasmid 97% identical to the Tn6349 transposon of the human MRSA AOUC-0915. The cfr(D2) genetic context, fully replaced the Tn6644 that in S. aureus AOUC-0915 harbor the cfr gene. In conclusion, this is, the best of our knowledge, the first report of the new cfr(D2) gene variant. The occurrence of plasmids co-carrying two linezolid resistance genes in enterococci from food-producing animals needs close surveillance to prevent their spread to human pathogens. | 2023 | 37116421 |
| 3024 | 16 | 0.9878 | Identification of ISVlu1-derived translocatable units containing optrA and/or fexA genes generated by homologous or illegitimate recombination in Lactococcus garvieae of porcine origin. The optrA gene encodes an ABC-F protein which confers cross-resistance to oxazolidinones and phenicols. Insertion sequence ISVlu1, a novel ISL3-family member, was recently reported to be involved in the transmission of optrA in Vagococcus lutrae. However, the role of ISVlu1 in mobilizing resistance genes has not yet fully explored. In this study, two complete and three truncated copies of ISVlu1 were found on plasmid pBN62-optrA from Lactococcus garvieae. Analysis of the genetic context showed that both optrA and the phenicols resistance gene fexA were flanked by the complete or truncated ISVlu1 copies. Moreover, three different-sized ISVlu1-based translocatable units (TUs) carrying optrA and/or fexA, were detected from pBN62-optrA. Sequence analysis revealed that the TU-optrA was generated by homologous recombination while TU-fexA and TU-optrA+fexA were the products of illegitimate recombinations. Importantly, conjugation assays confirmed that pBN62-optrA was able to successfully transfer into the recipient Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2. To our knowledge, this is the first report about an optrA-carrying plasmid in L. garvieae which could horizontally transfer into other species. More importantly, the ISVlu1-flanked genetic structures containing optrA and/or fexA were also observed in bacteria of different species, which underlines that ISVlu1 is highly active and plays a vital role in the transfer of some important resistance genes, such as optrA and fexA. | 2024 | 38479301 |
| 5461 | 17 | 0.9878 | Molecular characteristics and comparative genomics analysis of a clinical Enterococcus casseliflavus with a resistance plasmid. PURPOSE: The aim of this work was to investigate the molecular characterization of a clinical Enterococcus casseliflavus strain with a resistance plasmid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: En. casseliflavus EC369 was isolated from a patient in a hospital in southern China. The minimum inhibitory concentration was found by means of the agar dilution method to determine the antimicrobial susceptibilities of the strains. Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics analysis were performed to analyze the mechanism of antibiotic resistance and the horizontal gene transfer of the resistance gene-related mobile genetic elements. RESULTS: En. casseliflavus EC369 showed resistance to erythromycin, kanamycin, and streptomycin, but was susceptible to vancomycin, ampicillin, and streptothricin and other antimicrobials. There were six resistance genes (aph3', ant6, bla, sat4, and two ermBs) carried by a transposon identified on the plasmid pEC369 and a complete resistance gene cluster of vancomycin and a tet (M) gene encoded on the chromosome. This is the first complete plasmid sequence reported in clinically isolated En. casseliflavus. The plasmid with the greatest sequence identity with pEC369 was the plasmid of Enterococcus sp. FDAARGOS_375, followed by the plasmids of Enterococcus faecium strains F12085 and pRE25, whereas the sequence with the greatest identity to the resistance genes carrying a transposon of pEC369 was on the chromosome of Staphylococcus aureus strain GD1677. CONCLUSION: The resistance profiles of En. casseliflavus EC369 might contribute to the resistance genes encoded on the plasmid. The fact that the most similar sequence to the transposon carrying resistance genes of pEC369 was encoded in the chromosome of a S. aureus strain provides insights into the mechanism of dissemination of multidrug resistance between bacteria of different species or genera through horizontal gene transfer. | 2018 | 30464559 |
| 5459 | 18 | 0.9877 | Transferable linezolid resistance genes (optrA and poxtA) in enterococci derived from livestock compost at Japanese farms. OBJECTIVES: Linezolid is a last-resort antimicrobial in human clinical settings to treat multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections. Mobile linezolid resistance genes (optrA, poxtA, and cfr) have been detected in various sources worldwide. However, the presence of linezolid-not-susceptible bacteria and mobile linezolid resistance genes in Japan remains uncertain. Therefore, we clarified the existence of linezolid-not-susceptible bacteria and mobile linezolid resistance genes in farm environments in Japan. METHODS: Enterococci isolates from faeces compost collected from 10 pig and 11 cattle farms in Japan in 2021 were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and possession of mobile linezolid resistance genes. Whole-genome sequencing of optrA and/or poxtA genes positive-enterococci was performed. RESULTS: Of 103 enterococci isolates, 12 from pig farm compost were not-susceptible (2 resistant and 10 intermediate) to linezolid. These 12 isolates carried mobile linezolid resistance genes on plasmids or chromosomes (5 optrA-positive Enterococcus faecalis, 6 poxtA-positive E. hirae or E. thailandicus, and 1 optrA- and poxtA-positive E. faecium). The genetic structures of optrA- and poxA-carrying plasmids were almost identical to those reported in other countries. These plasmids were capable of transferring among E. faecium and E. faecalis strains. The optrA- and poxtA-positive E. faecium belonged to ST324 (clade A2), a high-risk multidrug-resistant clone. The E. faecalis carrying optrA gene on its chromosome was identified as ST593. CONCLUSIONS: Although linezolid is not used in livestock, linezolid-not-susceptible enterococci could be indirectly selected by frequently used antimicrobials, such as phenicols. Moreover, various enterococci species derived from livestock compost may serve as reservoirs of linezolid resistance genes carried on globally disseminated plasmids and multidrug-resistant high-risk clones. | 2024 | 38336229 |
| 3017 | 19 | 0.9877 | The ancient small mobilizable plasmid pALWED1.8 harboring a new variant of the non-cassette streptomycin/spectinomycin resistance gene aadA27. The small mobilizable plasmid pALWED1.8 containing a novel variant of the streptomycin/spectinomycin resistance gene aadA27 was isolated from the permafrost strains of Acinetobacter lwoffii. The 4135bp plasmid carries mobА and mobC genes that mediate its mobilization by conjugative plasmids. The nucleotide sequences of mobА and mobC are similar to those of mobilization genes of the modern plasmid pRAY* and its variants, which contain aadB gene, and are widespread among the pathogenic strains of Acinetobacter baumannii. Almost identical pALWED1.8 variants were detected in modern environmental Аcinetobacter strains. A highly similar plasmid was revealed in a strain of Acinetobacter parvus isolated from mouse intestine. Furthermore, we discovered six previously unidentified variants of plasmids related to pALWED1.8 and pRAY* in public databases. In contrast to most known variants of aadA which are cassette genes associated with integrons, the aadA27 variant harbored by pALWED1.8 is a non-cassette, autonomously transcribed gene. Non-cassette aadA genes with 96% sequence identity to aadA27 were detected in the chromosomes of Acinetobacter gyllenbergii and several uncharacterized strains of Аcinetobacter sp. Moreover, we revealed that the autonomous aadA-like genes are present in the chromosomes of many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The phylogenetic analysis of amino acid sequences of all identified AadA proteins showed the following: (i) cassette aadA genes form a separate monophyletic group and mainly reside on plasmids and (ii) chromosomal non-cassette aadA genes are extremely diverse and can be inherited both vertical and via horizontal gene transfer. | 2016 | 26896789 |