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200200.9727IncHI1 plasmids mediated the tet(X4) gene spread in Enterobacteriaceae in porcine. The tigecycline resistance gene tet(X4) was widespread in various bacteria. However, limited information about the plasmid harboring the tet(X4) gene spread among the different species is available. Here, we investigated the transmission mechanisms of the tet(X4) gene spread among bacteria in a pig farm. The tet(X4) positive Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter hormaeche were identified in the same farm. The whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis showed that the K. pneumoniae belonged to ST727 (n = 11) and ST3830 (n = 1), E. cloacae and E. hormaeche belonged to ST524 (n = 1) and ST1862 (n = 1). All tet(X4) genes were located on the IncHI1 plasmids that could be conjugatively transferred into the recipient E. coli C600 at 30°C. Moreover, a fusion plasmid was identified that the IncHI1 plasmid recombined with the IncN plasmid mediated by ISCR2 during the conjugation from strains B12L to C600 (pB12L-EC-1). The fusion plasmid also has been discovered in a K. pneumoniae (K1L) that could provide more opportunities to spread antimicrobial resistance genes. The tet(X4) plasmids in these bacteria are derived from the same plasmid with a similar structure. Moreover, all the IncHI1 plasmids harboring the tet(X4) gene in GenBank belonged to the pST17, the newly defined pMLST. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution method showing the transconjugants acquired the most antimicrobial resistance from the donor strains. Taken together, this report provides evidence that IncHI1/pST17 is an important carrier for the tet(X4) spread in Enterobacteriaceae species, and these transmission mechanisms may perform in the environment.202337065147
149210.9727Characterization of the tet(M)-bearing transposon Tn7125 of Escherichia coli strain A13 isolated from an intensive pig farm located in Henan province, China. BACKGROUND: Transposons carrying tet(M) in Gram-positive bacteria have been reported extensively, while there is a paucity of data on the transmission characteristics of tet(M) in Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the genetic characteristics of the tet(M)-bearing transposon Tn7125, and to clarify the transmission mechanism of the plasmids pTA13-1 and pTA13-3 in Escherichia coli strain A13. METHODS: Plasmids from strain A13 and a corresponding transconjugant were determined by whole genome sequencing and analyzed using bioinformatics tools. The plasmids pTA13-1 and pTA13-3 of the transconjugant TA13 were characterized by S1-pulse-field gel electrophoresis, Southern hybridization, stability experiments, and direct competition assays. RESULTS: The conjugated IncF2:A6:B20 plasmid pTA13-1 co-transferred with the 41-kb plasmid pTA13-3, which carried no resistance genes; plasmid pTA13-2, which harbored the replication initiator PO111; and the IncX4 plasmid pTA13-4, which harbored the antibiotic resistance gene mcr-1. The novel IS26-bracked composite transposon Tn7125 was located on plasmid pTA13-1, which mainly consists of three resistance modules: IS26-ctp-lp-tet(M)-hp-IS406tnp, qac-aadA1-cmlA1-aadA2-DUF1010-dfrA12, and ∆ISVSa3-VirD-floR-LysR-ISVSa3. The plasmid pTA13-1 was highly stable in E. coli strain J53 with no fitness cost to the host or disadvantage in growth competition. CONCLUSION: Evolution of co-integrated transposons, such as Tn7125, may convey antibiotic resistance to a wide spectrum of hosts via the plasmids pTA13-1 and pTA13-3, which acts as an adaptable and mobile multidrug resistance reservoir to accelerate dissemination of other genes by co-selection, thereby posing a potentially serious barrier to clinical treatment regimens.202540639501
299820.9724Membrane vesicles derived from Enterococcus faecalis promote the co-transfer of important antibiotic resistance genes located on both plasmids and chromosomes. BACKGROUND: Bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) are novel vehicles of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) transfer in Gram-negative bacteria, but their role in the spread of ARGs in Gram-positive bacteria has not been defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of MVs in the transmission of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-positive bacteria. METHODS: A linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecalis CQ20 of swine origin was selected as the donor strain. Linezolid-susceptible E. faecalis SC032 of human origin, Enterococcus faecium BM4105 and Escherichia coli were selected as recipient strains. The presence of plasmids (pCQ20-1 and pCQ20-2) and an optrA-carrying transposon Tn6674 in CQ20, MVs and vesiculants was verified by WGS or PCR. MVs were isolated with density gradient centrifugation, and MV-mediated transformation was performed to assess the horizontal transferability of MVs. The MICs for CQ20 and its vesiculants were determined by the broth microdilution method. RESULTS: CQ20-derived MVs (CQ20-MV) were isolated, and PCR identified the presence of two plasmids and the optrA gene in the CQ20-MVs. MV-mediated transformation to E. faecalis SC032 and E. faecium BM4105 was successfully performed, and the WGS data also showed that both plasmids pCQ20-1 and pCQ20-2 and optrA-carrying transposon Tn6674 were transferred to E. faecalis SC032 and E. faecium BM4105, but failed for E. coli. Additionally, vesiculants that had acquired ARGs still had the ability to spread these genes via MVs. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of MV-mediated co-transfer of ARG-carrying plasmids and transposons in the Gram-positive bacterium E. faecium.202438109479
81530.9718The sequence of the mer operon of pMER327/419 and transposon ends of pMER327/419, 330 and 05. Three different, independently isolated mercury-resistance-conferring plasmids, pMER327/419, pMER330 and pMER05, from cultures originating from the river Mersey (UK), contain identical regulatory merR genes and transposon ends. The mer determinant from pMER327/419 contains an additional potential ORF (ORF F) located between merP and merA when compared with the archetypal Tn501. Although these plasmids confer narrow-spectrum resistance (resistance to Hg2+, but not organomercurials) their merR genes encode a potential organomercurial-sensing protein. Transposition of the mer of pMER05 into plasmid RP4 was demonstrated and, as with Tn502 and Tn5053, insertion occurred at a specific region. The sequence of pMER05 is identical at the 'left' and 'right' termini and across merR to Tn5053, which was independently isolated from the chromosome of a Xanthomonas sp. bacteria from the Khaidarkan mercury mine in Kirgizia, former Soviet Union [Kholodii et al., J. Mol. Biol. 230 (1993a) 1103-1107]. The transpositional unit of pMER05 is, like that of Tn5053, bounded by DNA homologous to the imperfect 25-bp inverted repeats (IR) of the In2 integron, which brackets antibiotic-resistance cassettes in Tn21 subgroup transposons. At one end of the transposable element, and internal to the In2-like IR, is a 38-bp IR which closely resembles the IR that bounds Tn21.19948063107
152940.9714Emergence and Characterization of a Novel IncP-6 Plasmid Harboring bla (KPC-2) and qnrS2 Genes in Aeromonas taiwanensis Isolates. The dissemination of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPCs) among Gram-negative bacteria is an important threat to global health. However, KPC-producing bacteria from environmental samples are rarely reported. This study aimed to elucidate the underlying resistance mechanisms of three carbapenem-resistant Aeromonas taiwanensis isolates recovered from river sediment samples. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis indicated a close evolutionary relationship among A. taiwanensis isolates. S1-PFGE, Southern blot and conjugation assays confirmed the presence of bla (KPC-) (2) and qnrS2 genes on a non-conjugative plasmid in these isolates. Plasmid analysis further showed that pKPC-1713 is an IncP-6 plasmid with a length of 53,205 bp, which can be transformed into DH5α strain and mediated carbapenems and quinolones resistance. The plasmid backbone of p1713-KPC demonstrated 99% sequence identity to that of IncP-6-type plasmid pKPC-cd17 from Aeromonas spp. and IncP-6-type plasmid: 1 from Citrobacter freundii at 74% coverage. A 14,808 bp insertion sequence was observed between merT gene and hypothetical protein in p1713-KPC, which include the quinolone resistance qnrS2 gene. Emergence of plasmid-borned bla (KPC) and qnrS2 genes from A. taiwanensis isolates highlights their possible dissemination into the environment. Therefore, potential detection of such plasmids from clinical isolates should be closely monitored.201931572337
244850.9713Emerging coexistence of three PMQR genes on a multiple resistance plasmid with a new surrounding genetic structure of qnrS2 in E. coli in China. BACKGROUND: Quinolones are commonly used for treatment of infections by bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family. However, the rising resistance to quinolones worldwide poses a major clinical and public health risk. This study aimed to characterise a novel multiple resistance plasmid carrying three plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in Escherichia coli clinical stain RJ749. METHODS: MICs of ceftriaxone, cefepime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin for RJ749 and transconjugant c749 were determined by the Etest method. Conjugation was performed using sodium azide-resistant E. coli J53 strain as a recipient. The quinolone resistance-determining regions of gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE were PCR-amplified. RESULTS: RJ749 was highly resistant to quinolones, while c749 showed low-level resistance. S1-nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that RJ749 and c749 both harboured a plasmid. PCR presented chromosomal mutation sites of the quinolone resistance-determining region, which mediated quinolone resistance. The c749 genome comprised a single plasmid, pRJ749, with a multiple resistance region, including three plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes (aac (6')-Ib-cr, qnrS2, and oqxAB) and ten acquired resistance genes. One of the genes, qnrS2, was shown for the first time to be flanked by two IS26s. Three IS26-mediated circular molecules carrying the PMQR genes were detected. CONCLUSIONS: We revealed the coexistence of three PMQR genes on a multiple resistance plasmid and a new surrounding genetic structure of qnrS2 flanked by IS26 elements. IS26 plays an important role in horizontal spread of quinolone resistance.202032293532
153560.9712Complete Genome Sequencing of Acinetobacter baumannii AC1633 and Acinetobacter nosocomialis AC1530 Unveils a Large Multidrug-Resistant Plasmid Encoding the NDM-1 and OXA-58 Carbapenemases. Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. are considered priority drug-resistant human-pathogenic bacteria. The genomes of two carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. clinical isolates obtained from the same tertiary hospital in Terengganu, Malaysia, namely, A. baumannii AC1633 and A. nosocomialis AC1530, were sequenced. Both isolates were found to harbor the carbapenemase genes bla(NDM-1) and bla(OXA-58) in a large (ca. 170 kb) plasmid designated pAC1633-1 and pAC1530, respectively, that also encodes genes that confer resistance to aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, and macrolides. The two plasmids were almost identical except for the insertion of ISAba11 and an IS4 family element in pAC1633-1, and ISAba11 along with relBE toxin-antitoxin genes flanked by inversely orientated pdif (XerC/XerD) recombination sites in pAC1530. The bla(NDM-1) gene was encoded in a Tn125 composite transposon structure flanked by ISAba125, whereas bla(OXA-58) was flanked by ISAba11 and ISAba3 downstream and a partial ISAba3 element upstream within a pdif module. The presence of conjugative genes in plasmids pAC1633-1/pAC1530 and their discovery in two distinct species of Acinetobacter from the same hospital are suggestive of conjugative transfer, but mating experiments failed to demonstrate transmissibility under standard laboratory conditions. Comparative sequence analysis strongly inferred that pAC1633-1/pAC1530 was derived from two separate plasmids in an IS1006-mediated recombination or transposition event. A. baumannii AC1633 also harbored three other plasmids designated pAC1633-2, pAC1633-3, and pAC1633-4. Both pAC1633-3 and pAC1633-4 are cryptic plasmids, whereas pAC1633-2 is a 12,651-bp plasmid of the GR8/GR23 Rep3-superfamily group that encodes the tetA(39) tetracycline resistance determinant in a pdif module.IMPORTANCE Bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter are important hospital-acquired pathogens, with carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii listed by the World Health Organization as the one of the top priority pathogens. Whole-genome sequencing of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii AC1633 and A. nosocomialis AC1530, which were isolated from the main tertiary hospital in Terengganu, Malaysia, led to the discovery of a large, ca. 170-kb plasmid that harbored genes encoding the New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) and OXA-58 carbapenemases alongside genes that conferred resistance to aminoglycosides, macrolides, and sulfonamides. The plasmid was a patchwork of multiple mobile genetic elements and comparative sequence analysis indicated that it may have been derived from two separate plasmids through an IS1006-mediated recombination or transposition event. The presence of such a potentially transmissible plasmid encoding resistance to multiple antimicrobials warrants vigilance, as its spread to susceptible strains would lead to increasing incidences of antimicrobial resistance.202133504662
150570.9708New insights on mcr-1-harboring plasmids from human clinical Escherichia coli isolates. Mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes were described recently in Gram-negative bacteria including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. There are ten mcr genes described in different Gram-negative bacteria, however, Escherichia coli harboring mcr-1 gene is by far the most frequent combination. In Argentina, mcr-1 gene was characterized only on plasmids belonging to IncI2 group. The aim of this work was to get new insights of mcr-1-harboring plasmids from E. coli. Eight E. coli isolates from a larger collection of 192 clinical E. coli isolates carrying the mcr-1 gene were sequenced using next generation technologies. Three isolates belonged to ST131 high-risk clone, and five to single ST, ST38, ST46, ST226, ST224, and ST405. Eight diverse mcr-1-harboring plasmids were analyzed: IncI2 (1), IncX4 (3), IncHI2/2A (3) and a hybrid IncFIA/HI1A/HI1B (1) plasmid. Plasmids belonging to the IncI2 (n = 1) and IncX4 (n = 3) groups showed high similarity with previously described plasmids. Two IncHI2/HI2A plasmids, showed high identity between them, while the third, showed several differences including additional resistance genes like tet(A) and floR. One IncFIA/H1A/H1B hybrid plasmid was characterized, highly similar to pSRC27-H, a prototype plasmid lacking mcr genes. mcr-1.5 variant was found in four plasmids with three different Inc groups: IncI2, IncHI2/HI2A and the hybrid FIA/HI1A/HI1B plasmid. mcr-1.5 variant is almost exclusively described in our country and with a high frequency. In addition, six E. coli isolates carried three allelic variants codifying for CTX-M-type extended-spectrum-β-lactamases: blaCTX-M-2 (3), blaCTX-M-65 (2), and blaCTX-M-14 (1). It is the first description of mcr-1 harboring plasmids different to IncI2 group in our country. These results represents new insights about mcr-1 harboring plasmids recovered from E. coli human samples from Argentina, showing different plasmid backbones and resistance gene combinations.202438408071
152880.9705First Report of Coexistence of bla (SFO-1) and bla (NDM-1) β-Lactamase Genes as Well as Colistin Resistance Gene mcr-9 in a Transferrable Plasmid of a Clinical Isolate of Enterobacter hormaechei. Many antimicrobial resistance genes usually located on transferable plasmids are responsible for multiple antimicrobial resistance among multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. The aim of this study is to characterize a carbapenemase-producing Enterobacter hormaechei 1575 isolate from the blood sample in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Antimicrobial susceptibility test showed that 1575 was an MDR isolate. The whole genome sequencing (WGS) and comparative genomics were used to deeply analyze the molecular information of the 1575 and to explore the location and structure of antibiotic resistance genes. The three key resistance genes (bla (SFO-1), bla (NDM-1), and mcr-9) were verified by PCR, and the amplicons were subsequently sequenced. Moreover, the conjugation assay was also performed to determine the transferability of those resistance genes. Plasmid files were determined by the S1 nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE). WGS revealed that p1575-1 plasmid was a conjugative plasmid that possessed the rare coexistence of bla (SFO-1), bla (NDM-1), and mcr-9 genes and complete conjugative systems. And p1575-1 belonged to the plasmid incompatibility group IncHI2 and multilocus sequence typing ST102. Meanwhile, the pMLST type of p1575-1 was IncHI2-ST1. Conjugation assay proved that the MDR p1575-1 plasmid could be transferred to other recipients. S1-PFGE confirmed the location of plasmid with molecular weight of 342,447 bp. All these three resistant genes were flanked by various mobile elements, indicating that the bla (SFO-1), bla (NDM-1), and mcr-9 could be transferred not only by the p1575-1 plasmid but also by these mobile elements. Taken together, we report for the first time the coexistence of bla (SFO-1), bla (NDM-1), and mcr-9 on a transferable plasmid in a MDR clinical isolate E. hormaechei, which indicates the possibility of horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes.202134220761
150790.9705Characterization of Five Escherichia coli Isolates Co-expressing ESBL and MCR-1 Resistance Mechanisms From Different Origins in China. Present study characterized five Escherichia coli co-expressing ESBL and MCR-1 recovered from food, food-producing animals, and companion animals in China. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests, conjugation experiments, and plasmid typing were performed. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was undertaken for all five isolates using either PacBio RS II or Illumina HiSeq 2500 platforms. The cefotaxime and colistin resistance encoded by bla (CTX-M) and mcr-1 genes, respectively, was transferable by conjugation either together or separately for all five strains. Interestingly, the ESBL and mcr-1 genes could be co-selected by cefotaxime, while the colistin only selected the mcr-1-carrying plasmids during the conjugation experiments. Five E. coli sequence types (ST88, ST93, ST602, ST162, and ST457) were detected. Although diverse plasmid profiles were identified, IncI2, IncFIB, and IncFII plasmid types were predominant. These five clonally unrelated isolates harbored the mcr-1 gene located on similar plasmid backbones, which showed high nucleotide similarity to plasmid pHNSHP45. The mcr-1 gene can be co-transmitted with bla (CTX-M) genes through IncI2 plasmids with or without ISApl1 in our study. Characterization of these co-existence ESBL and mcr-1 isolates extends our understanding on the dissemination of these resistance markers among bacteria of diverse origins.201931555232
1494100.9705Characterization of a Novel Chromosomal Class C β-Lactamase, YOC-1, and Comparative Genomics Analysis of a Multidrug Resistance Plasmid in Yokenella regensburgei W13. Yokenella regensburgei, a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae, is usually isolated from environmental samples and generally resistant to early generations of cephalosporins. To characterize the resistance mechanism of Y. regensburgei strain W13 isolated from the sewage of an animal farm, whole genome sequencing, comparative genomics analysis and molecular cloning were performed. The results showed that a novel chromosomally encoded class C β-lactamase gene with the ability to confer resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, designated bla (YOC) (-) (1), was identified in the genome of Y. regensburgei W13. Kinetic analysis revealed that the β-lactamase YOC-1 has a broad spectrum of substrates, including penicillins, cefazolin, cefoxitin and cefotaxime. The two functionally characterized β-lactamases with the highest amino acid identities to YOC-1 were CDA-1 (71.69%) and CMY-2 (70.65%). The genetic context of the bla (YOC) (-) (1) -ampR-encoding region was unique compared with the sequences in the NCBI nucleotide database. The plasmid pRYW13-125 of Y. regensburgei W13 harbored 11 resistance genes (bla (OXA) (-) (10), bla (LAP) (-) (2), dfrA14, tetA, tetR, cmlA5, floR, sul2, ant(3″)-IIa, arr-2 and qnrS1) within an ∼34 kb multidrug resistance region; these genes were all related to mobile genetic elements. The multidrug resistance region of pYRW13-125 shared the highest identities with those of two plasmids from clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, indicating the possibility of horizontal transfer of these resistance genes between bacteria of various origins.202032973731
1498110.9705Resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains Carrying bla (NDM-1) Gene and the Genetic Environment of bla (NDM-1). OBJECTIVE: Regional dissemination is the major cause of the widespread prevalence of a plasmid-encoding NDM-1 enzyme. We investigated the drug resistance, joint efficiency, and gene environment of a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain carrying bla (NDM-1) gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Carbapenem-non-susceptible strains were analyzed using the VITEK 2 Compact. Strains carrying bla (NDM-1) were identified using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and plasmid conjugation experiments were then conducted. Strains carrying bla (NDM-1) were subjected to Southern blot analysis. After the gene mapping of bla (NDM-1), library construction, and sequencing, plasmids were subsequently spliced and genotyped using the software Glimmer 3.0, and then analyzed using Mauve software. RESULTS: Among 1735 carbapenem-non-susceptible strains, 54 strains of bla (NDM-1)-positive bacteria were identified, which consisted of 44 strains of K. pneumoniae, 8 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii and 2 strains of Escherichia coli. Strains carrying bla (NDM-1) had a resistance rate of more than 50% in most antibiotics. Plasmid conjugation between strains carrying bla (NDM-1) and E. coli strain J53 had a success rate of 50%. Southern blot analysis indicated that each strain had multiple plasmids containing bla (NDM-1). Among the five plasmids containing bla (NDM-1) in K. pneumoniae for sequencing, two plasmids with complete sequences were obtained. The findings were as follows: (i) The p11106 and p12 plasmids were highly similar to pNDM-BTR; (ii) the p11106 and p12 plasmids showed differences in the 20-30 kb region (orf00032-orf00043) from the other six plasmids; and (iii) bla (NDM-1) was located at orf00037, while ble was found at orf00038. Two tnpA genes were located in the upstream region, and orf00052 (tnpA) in the 36 kb region was in the downstream sequence. CONCLUSION: bla (NDM-1)-containing bacteria exhibit multidrug resistance, which rapidly spreads and is transferred through efficient plasmid conjugation; the multidrug resistance of these bacteria may be determined by analyzing their drug-resistant plasmids. The presence of ble and tnpA genes suggests a possible hypothesis that bla (NDM-1) originates from A. baumannii, which is retained in K. pneumoniae over a long period by transposition of mobile elements.202032425903
1517120.9704Co-occurrence of blaNDM-1, rmtC, and mcr-9 in multidrug-resistant Enterobacter kobei strain isolated from an infant with urinary tract infection. OBJECTIVES: The co-emergence of mcr and carbapenem resistance genes in Gram-negative bacteria is a serious problem. This study aims to clarify the genetic characteristic of one novel multidrug-resistant Enterobacter kobei EC1382 with mcr-9 causing urinary tract inflammation in an infant. METHODS: Antimicrobial drug susceptibility testing was performed for this isolate using the broth microdilution method. Whole-genome sequencing was performed using the Illumina PacBio RS II platform and HiSeq platform, and the antimicrobial resistance genes, mobile elements, and plasmid replicon types were identified. Conjugation analysis was performed using Escherichia coli C600 as recipients. RESULTS: Enterobacter kobei EC1382 was resistant to carbapenem, aminoglycoside, and cephalosporin. Twenty-five antimicrobial resistance genes were identified, including genes conferring resistance to carbapenem (blaNDM-1), colistin (mcr-9), and aminoglycosides (rmtC). The blaNDM-1 gene, accompanied by bleMBL and rmtC located downstream of an ISCR14 element, was detected in the IncFII(Yp) type plasmid pEC1382-2. Interestingly, although E. kobei EC1382 was susceptible to colistin, it had three identical mcr-9 genes (two in the chromosome and one in the IncHI2-type plasmid pEC1382-1). The backbone (∼12.2-kb genetic fragment) of these mcr-9 (flanked by IS903B and IS481-IS26) regions were conserved in this strain, and they were found to be present in various bacteria as three types, implying a silent distribution. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the coexistence of blaNDM-1, rmtC, and mcr-9 in E. kobei. The silent prevalence of mcr-9 in bacteria may be a threat to public health.202337062506
1752130.9704Genetic 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.202540692874
1511140.9704Characterization of an Extensively Drug-Resistant Salmonella Kentucky ST198 Co-Harboring cfr, mcr-1 and tet(A) Variant from Retail Chicken Meat in Shanghai, China. The emergence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) foodborne pathogens poses grave threats to food safety. This study characterizes the genome of an XDR Salmonella Kentucky isolate (Sal23C1) co-harboring cfr, mcr-1 and tet(A) from Shanghai chicken meat in 2022, which was the only isolate co-harboring these three key resistance genes among 502 screened Salmonella isolates. Genomic analysis revealed that the multidrug resistance gene cfr, which confers resistance to phenicols, lincosamides, oxazolidinones, pleuromutilins and streptogramin A, was identified within a Tn3-IS6-cfr-IS6 structure on the transferable plasmid p3Sal23C1 (32,387 bp), showing high similarity to the Citrobacter braakii plasmid pCE32-2 (99% coverage, 99.98% identity). Concurrently, the mcr-1 gene resided in a pap2-mcr-1 structure on the transferable IncI2 plasmid p2Sal23C1 (63,103 bp). Notably, both genes could be co-transferred to recipient bacteria via conjugative plasmids at frequencies of (1.15 ± 0.98) × 10(-6). Furthermore, a novel ~79 kb multidrug resistance region (MRR) chromosomally inserted at the bcfH locus was identified, carrying fosA3, mph(A), rmtB, qnrS1 and bla(CTX-M-55). Additionally, a novel Salmonella Genomic Island 1 variant (SGI1-KI) harbored aadA7, qacEΔ1, sul1 and the tet(A) variant. The acquisition of these antibiotic resistance genes in this isolate enhanced bacterial resistance to 21 antimicrobials, including resistance to the critical last-resort antibiotics tigecycline and colistin, which left virtually no treatment options for potential infections. Taken together, this is the first comprehensive genomic report of an XDR poultry-derived Salmonella Kentucky isolate co-harboring cfr, mcr-1 and the tet(A) variant. The mobility of these resistance genes, facilitated by IS6 elements and conjugative plasmids, underscores significant public health risks associated with such isolates in the food chain.202540941142
1531150.9703Emergence of Plasmids Co-Harboring Carbapenem Resistance Genes and tmexCD2-toprJ2 in Sequence Type 11 Carbapenem Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains. OBJECTIVES: To characterize two plasmids co-harboring carbapenem resistance genes and tmexCD2-toprJ2 in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) strains. METHODS: Two clinical CRKP strains were isolated and characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation assays, whole-genome sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS: The two CRKP strains NB4 and NB5 were both resistant to imipenem, meropenem and tigecycline. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that two CRKP strains belonged to the ST11 type and carried multiple resistance genes. The tmexCD2-toprJ2 clusters in both strains were located on the IncFIB(Mar)-like/HI1B-like group of hybrid plasmids, which co-harbored the metallo-β-lactamase gene bla(NDM-1). In addition, the co-existence of bla(NDM-1) and bla(KPC-2) and the presence of tmexCD2-toprJ2 in CRKP strain NB5 was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, tmexCD2-toprJ2 gene clusters were identified in two NDM-1-producing CRKP ST11 strains. These gene clusters will likely spread into clinical high-risk CRKP clones and exacerbate the antimicrobial resistance crisis. In addition, we detected the co-occurrence of bla(NDM-1), bla(KPC-2) and tmexCD2-toprJ2 in a single strain, which will undoubtedly accelerate the formation of a "superdrug resistant" bacteria. Hence, effective control measures should be implemented to prevent the further dissemination of such organisms in clinical settings.202235646740
3024160.9703Identification 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.202438479301
1514170.9702Widespread prevalence and molecular epidemiology of tet(X4) and mcr-1 harboring Escherichia coli isolated from chickens in Pakistan. The emergence and spread of plasmid-mediated tigecycline resistance gene tet(X4) and colistin resistance gene mcr-1 in Escherichia coli (E. coli) pose a potential threat to public health, due to the importance of colistin and tigecycline for treating serious clinical infections. However, the characterization of bacteria coharboring both genes was few reported. Here, we described the molecular epidemiology of tet(X4) and mcr-1 harboring E. coli strains of chicken origin in Pakistan, with methods including PCR, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, DNA transfer assays, plasmid replicon typing, whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The tet(X4) gene was identified in 36 isolates exhibiting high levels of tigecycline resistance (MICs, 16-128 mg/L). Worryingly, 24 of the 36 tet(X4)-bearing isolates were confirmed as colistin resistance, positive for plasmid-borne mcr-1. We observed the prevalence of tet(X4)-bearing IncFII plasmid with mcr-1-bearing IncI2 plasmid in 12 E. coli isolates, with a high co-transfer frequency except for one strain PK8233, in which tet(X4)- and mcr-1-bearing plasmids were non-transferable. Coexistence of tet(X4)-bearing IncFII plasmid with mcr-1-carrying multidrug-resistant (MDR) IncHI2 plasmid was also identified in 10 E. coli isolates, and a relatively low co-transfer frequency was obtained except PK8575, in which mcr-1 was non-transferable. The transferability of pPK8275-tetX in PK8275 and pPK8233-tetX in PK8233, that could transfer from E. coli J53 to C600 by conjugation, was interfered by certain factors in PK8275 and PK8233. This may provide new insights to prevent and control the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. Two strains were reported to co-carry tet(X4)-positive IncQ1 plasmid and mcr-1-positive IncI2 plasmid. Convergence of tet(X4) and mcr-1 genes in E. coli by conjugative or mobilizable plasmids may lead to potentially widespread transmission of such resistance genes, which may incur antibiotic-resistance crisis globally.202234599956
2451180.9702Acquisition and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in association with conjugative plasmid or class 1 integrons of Acinetobacter baumannii. Conjugation is a type of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) that serves as the primary mechanism responsible for accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in Gram-negative bacteria. The present study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the conjugation-mediated gene transfer from the extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDR-AB) and New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1-producing Acinetobacter baumannii (NDM-AB) to environmental isolates of Acinetobacter spp. Conjugation experiments demonstrated that resistance to ticarcillin and kanamycin could be transferred from four donors to two sodium azide-resistant A. baumannii strains, namely, NU013R and NU015R. No transconjugants were detected on Mueller-Hinton Agar (MHA) plates containing tetracycline. Plasmids obtained from donors as well as successful transconjugants were characterized by PCR-based replicon typing and S1-nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE). Detection of antibiotic resistance genes and integrase genes (int) was performed using PCR. Results revealed that the donor AB364 strain can transfer the blaOXA-23 and blaPER-1 genes to both recipients in association with int1. A 240-kb plasmid was successfully transferred from the donor AB364 to recipients. In addition, the aphA6 and blaPER-1 genes were co-transferred with the int1 gene from the donor strains AB352 and AB405. The transfer of a 220-kb plasmid from the donors to recipient was detected. The GR6 plasmid containing the kanamycin resistance gene (aphA6) was successfully transferred from the donor strain AB140 to both recipient strains. However, the blaNDM-1 and tet(B) genes were not detected in all transconjugants. Our study is the first to demonstrate successful in vitro conjugation, which indicated that XDR-AB contained combination mechanisms of the co-transfer of antimicrobial resistance elements with integron cassettes or with the plasmid group GR6. Thus, conjugation could be responsible for the emergence of new types of antibiotic-resistant strains.201830521623
1522190.9702Emergence of Klebsiella variicola positive for NDM-9, a variant of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase, in an urban river in South Korea. OBJECTIVES: To examine the presence of pathogenic bacteria carrying New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase in the environment and to characterize the genome structures of these strains. METHODS: Phenotypic screening of antimicrobial susceptibility and WGS were conducted on three Klebsiella variicola strains possessing NDM-9 isolated from an urban river. RESULTS: Three carbapenem-resistant K. variicola isolated from Gwangju tributary were found to possess bla NDM-9 genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated resistance of these strains to aminoglycosides, carbapenems, cephems, folate pathway inhibitors, fosfomycin and penicillins, but susceptibility to fluoroquinolones, phenicols, tetracyclines and miscellaneous agents. WGS revealed that the 108 kb IncFII(Y)-like plasmids carry bla NDM-9 sandwiched between IS 15 for the GJ1 strain, IS 26 for the GJ2 strain, IS 15D1 for the GJ3 strain and IS Vsa3 , and further bracketed by IS 26 and Tn AS3 along with the mercury resistance operon upstream and the class 1 integron composed of gene cassettes of aadA2 , dfrA12 and sul1 downstream. An aph(3')-Ia gene conferring resistance to aminoglycosides is located after the integrons. Chromosomally encoded bla LEN-13 , fosA , aqxA and oqxB genes, as well as plasmid-mediated bla TEM-1B and bla CTX-M-65 encoding ESBL, ant(3')-Ia and mph (A) genes, were also identified. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study provide us with the information that NDM-9 has been spreading into the environment. Dissemination of NDM-9 in the environment has raised a health risk alarm as this variant of NDM carries MDR genes with highly transferable mobile genetic elements, increasing the possibility of resistance gene transfer among microorganisms in the environment.201728087584