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Allain M, Morel-Journel T, Condamine B, Gibeaux B, Gachet B, Gschwind R, Denamur E, Landraud L. IncC plasmid genome rearrangements influence the vertical and horizontal transmission tradeoff in Escherichia coli. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0055424. [PMID: 39194203 PMCID: PMC11459957 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00554-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been shown that an evolutionary tradeoff between vertical (host growth rate) and horizontal (plasmid conjugation) transmissions contributes to global plasmid fitness. As conjugative IncC plasmids are important for the spread of multidrug resistance (MDR), in a broad range of bacterial hosts, we investigated vertical and horizontal transmissions of two multidrug-resistant IncC plasmids according to their backbones and MDR-region rearrangements, upon plasmid entry into a new host. We observed plasmid genome deletions after conjugation in three diverse natural Escherichia coli clinical strains, varying from null to high number depending on the plasmid, all occurring in the MDR region. The plasmid burden on bacterial fitness depended more on the strain background than on the structure of the MDR region, with deletions appearing to have no impact. Besides, we observed an increase in plasmid transfer rate, from ancestral host to new clinical recipient strains, when the IncC plasmid was rearranged. Finally, using a second set of conjugation experiments, we investigated the evolutionary tradeoff of the IncC plasmid during the critical period of plasmid establishment in E. coli K-12, by correlating the transfer rates of deleted or non-deleted IncC plasmids and their costs on the recipient strain. Plasmid deletions strongly improved conjugation efficiency with no negative growth effect. Our findings indicate that the flexibility of the MDR-region of the IncC plasmids can promote their dissemination, and provide diverse opportunities to capture new resistance genes. In a broader view, they suggest that the vertical-horizontal transmission tradeoff can be manipulated by the plasmid to improve its fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Allain
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Laboratoire de Microbiologie Hygiène, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Colombes, France
| | - Thibaut Morel-Journel
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
| | - Bénédicte Condamine
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
| | - Benoist Gibeaux
- AP-HP, Laboratoire de Microbiologie Hygiène, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Colombes, France
| | - Benoit Gachet
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
| | - Rémi Gschwind
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
| | - Erick Denamur
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France
| | - Luce Landraud
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Laboratoire de Microbiologie Hygiène, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Colombes, France
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An T, Yin H, Cai Y, Chen M, Sun T, Wang W, Li G. Photocatalysis Inhibits the Emergence of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in an Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Community in Aquatic Environments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:17937-17947. [PMID: 39250882 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c06752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial antibiotic resistance has recently attracted increasing amounts of attention. Here, an artificially antibiotic-resistant bacterial community (ARBC) combined with five different constructed antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) with single antibiotic resistance, namely, kanamycin (KAN), tetracycline (TET), cefotaxime (CTX), polymyxin B (PB), or gentamicin (GEM), was studied for the stress response to photocatalysis. With photocatalytic inactivation, the transfer and diffusion of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the ARBC decreased, and fewer multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) emerged in aquatic environments. After several days of photocatalytic inactivation or Luria broth cultivation, >90% ARB were transformed to antibiotic-susceptible bacteria by discarding ARGs. Bacteria with double antibiotic resistance were the dominant species (99%) of residual ARB. The changes in ARG abundance varied, decreasing for the GEM and TET resistance genes and increasing for the KAN resistance genes. The change in the antibiotic resistance level was consistent with the change in ARG abundance. Correspondingly, point mutations occurred for the KAN, CTX and PB resistance genes after photocatalytic inactivation, which might be the reason why these genes persisted longer in the studied ARBC. In summary, photocatalytic inactivation could reduce the abundance of some ARGs and inhibit the emergence of MDRB as well as block ARG transfer in the bacterial community in aquatic environments. This work highlights the advantages of long-term photocatalytic inactivation for controlling antibiotic resistance and facilitates a better understanding of bacterial communities in real aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taicheng An
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hongliang Yin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yiwei Cai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Min Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tong Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Wanjun Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guiying Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Bray AS, Zafar MA. Deciphering the gastrointestinal carriage of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0048223. [PMID: 38597634 PMCID: PMC11384780 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00482-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial infections pose a significant global health threat, accounting for an estimated 7.7 million deaths. Hospital outbreaks driven by multi-drug-resistant pathogens, notably Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), are of grave concern. This opportunistic pathogen causes pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bacteremia, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The rise of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae adds complexity, as it increasingly infects healthy individuals. Recent epidemiological data suggest that asymptomatic gastrointestinal carriage serves as a reservoir for infections in the same individual and allows for host-to-host transmission via the fecal-oral route. This review focuses on K. pneumoniae's gastrointestinal colonization, delving into epidemiological evidence, current animal models, molecular colonization mechanisms, and the protective role of the resident gut microbiota. Moreover, the review sheds light on in vivo high-throughput approaches that have been crucial for identifying K. pneumoniae factors in gut colonization. This comprehensive exploration aims to enhance our understanding of K. pneumoniae gut pathogenesis, guiding future intervention and prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. Bray
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - M. Ammar Zafar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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Kharel A, Rookes J, Ziemann M, Cahill D. Viable protoplast isolation, organelle visualization and transformation of the globally distributed plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. PROTOPLASMA 2024; 261:1073-1092. [PMID: 38702562 PMCID: PMC11358197 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-024-01953-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Phytophthora cinnamomi is an oomycete plant pathogen with a host range of almost 5000 plant species worldwide and therefore poses a serious threat to biodiversity. Omics technology has provided significant progress in our understanding of oomycete biology, however, transformation studies of Phytophthora for gene functionalisation are still in their infancy. Only a limited number of Phytophthora species have been successfully transformed and gene edited to elucidate the role of particular genes. There is a need to escalate our efforts to understand molecular processes, gene regulation and infection mechanisms of the pathogen to enable us to develop new disease management strategies. The primary obstacle hindering the advancement of transformation studies in Phytophthora is their challenging and unique nature, coupled with our limited comprehension of why they remain such an intractable system to work with. In this study, we have identified some of the key factors associated with the recalcitrant nature of P. cinnamomi. We have incorporated fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry along with the organelle-specific dyes, fluorescein diacetate, Hoechst 33342 and MitoTracker™ Red CMXRos, to assess P. cinnamomi-derived protoplast populations. This approach has also provided valuable insights into the broader cell biology of Phytophthora. Furthermore, we have optimized the crucial steps that allow transformation of P. cinnamomi and have generated transformed isolates that express a cyan fluorescent protein, with a transformation efficiency of 19.5%. We therefore provide a platform for these methodologies to be applied for the transformation of other Phytophthora species and pave the way for future gene functionalisation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aayushree Kharel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - James Rookes
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Mark Ziemann
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216, Australia
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David Cahill
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216, Australia.
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Li B, Ni S, Liu Y, Lin J, Wang X. The histone-like nucleoid-structuring protein encoded by the plasmid pMBL6842 regulates both plasmid stability and host physiology of Pseudoalteromonas rubra SCSIO 6842. Microbiol Res 2024; 286:127817. [PMID: 38941922 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Plasmids orchestrate bacterial adaptation across diverse environments and facilitate lateral gene transfer within bacterial communities. Their presence can perturb host metabolism, creating a competitive advantage for plasmid-free cells. Plasmid stability hinges on efficient replication and partition mechanisms. While plasmids commonly encode histone-like nucleoid-structuring (H-NS) family proteins, the precise influence of plasmid-encoded H-NS proteins on stability remains elusive. In this study, we examined the conjugative plasmid pMBL6842, harboring the hns gene, and observed its positive regulation of parAB transcription, critical for plasmid segregation. Deletion of hns led to rapid plasmid loss, which was remedied by hns complementation. Further investigations unveiled adverse effects of hns overexpression on the bacterial host. Transcriptome analysis revealed hns's role in regulating numerous bacterial genes, impacting both host growth and swimming motility in the presence of the hns gene. Therefore, our study unveils the multifaceted roles of H-NS in both plasmid stability and host physiology, underscoring its biological significance and paving the way for future inquiries into the involvement of H-NS in horizontal gene transfer events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Advantage Plants Resources in Hunan South, College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Hunan University of Science and Engineering, Yongzhou, Hunan, China
| | - Songwei Ni
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yabo Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianzhong Lin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoxue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Wang X, Wu Y, Chen M, Fu C, Xu H, Li L. Different Roles of Dioxin-Catabolic Plasmids in Growth, Biofilm Formation, and Metabolism of Rhodococcus sp. Strain p52. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1700. [PMID: 39203542 PMCID: PMC11357670 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12081700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms harbor catabolic plasmids to tackle refractory organic pollutants, which is crucial for bioremediation and ecosystem health. Understanding the impacts of plasmids on hosts provides insights into the behavior and adaptation of degrading bacteria in the environment. Here, we examined alterations in the physiological properties and gene expression profiles of Rhodococcus sp. strain p52 after losing two conjugative dioxin-catabolic megaplasmids (pDF01 and pDF02). The growth of strain p52 accelerated after pDF01 loss, while it decelerated after pDF02 loss. During dibenzofuran degradation, the expression levels of dibenzofuran catabolic genes on pDF01 were higher compared to those on pDF02; accordingly, pDF01 loss markedly slowed dibenzofuran degradation. It was suggested that pDF01 is more beneficial to strain p52 under dibenzofuran exposure. Moreover, plasmid loss decreased biofilm formation, especially after pDF02 loss. Transcriptome profiling revealed different pathways enriched in upregulated and downregulated genes after pDF01 and pDF02 loss, indicating different adaptation mechanisms. Based on the transcriptional activity variation, pDF01 played roles in transcription and anabolic processes, while pDF02 profoundly influenced energy production and cellular defense. This study enhances our knowledge of the impacts of degradative plasmids on native hosts and the adaptation mechanisms of hosts, contributing to the application of plasmid-mediated bioremediation in contaminated environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China; (X.W.); (Y.W.); (M.C.); (C.F.); (H.X.)
| | - Yanan Wu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China; (X.W.); (Y.W.); (M.C.); (C.F.); (H.X.)
| | - Meng Chen
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China; (X.W.); (Y.W.); (M.C.); (C.F.); (H.X.)
- Marine Genomics and Biotechnology Program, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Changai Fu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China; (X.W.); (Y.W.); (M.C.); (C.F.); (H.X.)
| | - Hangzhou Xu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China; (X.W.); (Y.W.); (M.C.); (C.F.); (H.X.)
| | - Li Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China; (X.W.); (Y.W.); (M.C.); (C.F.); (H.X.)
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Jia X, Zhu Y, Jia P, Li C, Chu X, Sun T, Liu X, Yu W, Chen F, Xu Y, Yang Q. The key role of iroBCDN-lacking pLVPK-like plasmid in the evolution of the most prevalent hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant ST11-KL64 Klebsiella pneumoniae in China. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 77:101137. [PMID: 39178714 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2024.101137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (hv-CRKP), coharboring hypervirulence and carbapenem-resistance genes mediated by plasmids, causes infections with extremely high mortality and seriously impacts public health. Exploring the transfer mechanisms of virulence/carbapenem-resistance plasmids, as well as the formation and evolution pathway of hv-CRKP is of great significance to the control of hv-CRKP infections. METHODS In this study, we identified the predominant clone of hv-CRKP in China and elucidated its genomic characteristics and formation route based on 239 multicenter clinical K. pneumoniae isolates and 1014 GenBank genomes by using comparative genomic analysis. Further, we revealed the factors affecting the transfer of virulence plasmids, and explained the genetic foundation for the prevalence of Chinese predominant hv-CRKP clone. RESULTS ST11-KL64 is the predominant clone of hv-CRKP in China and primarily evolved from ST11-KL64 CRKP by acquiring the pLVPK-like virulence plasmid from hvKP. Significantly, the virulence gene cluster iroBCDN was lost in the virulence plasmid of ST11-KL64 hv-CRKP but existed in that of hvKP. Moreover, the absence of iroBCDN didn't decrease the virulence of hv-CRKP, which was proved by bacterial test, cell-interaction test and mice infection model. On the contrary, loss of iroBCDN was observed to regulate virulence/carbapenem-resistance plasmid transfer and oxidative stress-related genes in strains and thus promoted the mobilization of nonconjugative virulence plasmid from hvKP into ST11-KL64 CRKP, forming hv-CRKP which finally had elevated antioxidant capacity and enhanced survival capacity in macrophages. The loss of iroBCDN increased the survival ability of hv-CRKP without decreasing its virulence, endowing it with an evolutionary advantage. CONCLUSIONS Our work provides new insights into the key role of iroBCDN loss in convergence of CRKP and hvKP, and the genetic and biological foundation for the widespread prevalence of ST11-KL64 hv-CRKP in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinmiao Jia
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Center for bioinformatics, National Infrastructures for Translational Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Peiyao Jia
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Cuidan Li
- China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China; Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobing Chu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianshu Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Clinical Biobank, Center for Biomedical Technology, National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Chen
- China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China; Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qiwen Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (Peking Union Medical College), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
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8
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Zhuang M, Yan W, Xiong Y, Wu Z, Cao Y, Sanganyado E, Siame BA, Chen L, Kashi Y, Leung KY. Horizontal plasmid transfer promotes antibiotic resistance in selected bacteria in Chinese frog farms. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108905. [PMID: 39089095 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
The emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the ecosystem are global public health concerns. One Health emphasizes the interconnectivity between different habitats and seeks to optimize animal, human, and environmental health. However, information on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within complex microbiomes in natural habitats is scarce. We investigated the prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and the spread of ARGs in intensive bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) farms in the Shantou area of China. Antibiotic susceptibilities of 361 strains, combined with microbiome analyses, revealed Escherichia coli, Edwardsiella tarda, Citrobacter and Klebsiella sp. as prevalent multidrug resistant bacteria on these farms. Whole genome sequencing of 95 ARB identified 250 large plasmids that harbored a wide range of ARGs. Plasmid sequences and sediment metagenomes revealed an abundance of tetA, sul1, and aph(3″)-Ib ARGs. Notably, antibiotic resistance (against 15 antibiotics) highly correlated with plasmid-borne rather than chromosome-borne ARGs. Based on sequence similarities, most plasmids (62%) fell into 32 distinct groups, indicating a potential for horizontal plasmid transfer (HPT) within the frog farm microbiome. HPT was confirmed in inter- and intra-species conjugation experiments. Furthermore, identical mobile ARGs, flanked by mobile genetic elements (MGEs), were found in different locations on the same plasmid, or on different plasmids residing in the same or different hosts. Our results suggest a synergy between MGEs and HPT to facilitate ARGs dissemination in frog farms. Mining public databases retrieved similar plasmids from different bacterial species found in other environmental niches globally. Our findings underscore the importance of HPT in mediating the spread of ARGs in frog farms and other microbiomes of the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Zhuang
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering Program, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Waner Yan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Yifei Xiong
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Zhilin Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Yuping Cao
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering Program, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Edmond Sanganyado
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Bupe A Siame
- Department of Biology, Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia V2Y 1Y1, Canada
| | - Liang Chen
- Department of Computer Science, College of Mathematics and Computer, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China.
| | - Yechezkel Kashi
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ka Yin Leung
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering Program, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou 515063, China.
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9
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Ares-Arroyo M, Coluzzi C, Moura de Sousa JA, Rocha EPC. Hijackers, hitchhikers, or co-drivers? The mysteries of mobilizable genetic elements. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002796. [PMID: 39208359 PMCID: PMC11389934 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements shape microbial gene repertoires and populations. Recent results reveal that many, possibly most, microbial mobile genetic elements require helpers to transfer between genomes, which we refer to as Hitcher Genetic Elements (hitchers or HGEs). They may be a large fraction of pathogenicity and resistance genomic islands, whose mechanisms of transfer have remained enigmatic for decades. Together with their helper elements and their bacterial hosts, hitchers form tripartite networks of interactions that evolve rapidly within a parasitism-mutualism continuum. In this emerging view of microbial genomes as communities of mobile genetic elements many questions arise. Which elements are being moved, by whom, and how? How often are hitchers costly hyper-parasites or beneficial mutualists? What is the evolutionary origin of hitchers? Are there key advantages associated with hitchers' lifestyle that justify their unexpected abundance? And why are hitchers systematically smaller than their helpers? In this essay, we start answering these questions and point ways ahead for understanding the principles, origin, mechanisms, and impact of hitchers in bacterial ecology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Ares-Arroyo
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, France
| | - Charles Coluzzi
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, France
| | - Jorge A Moura de Sousa
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, France
| | - Eduardo P C Rocha
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, France
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10
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Al Mamun AAM, Kissoon K, Li YG, Hancock E, Christie PJ. The F plasmid conjutome: the repertoire of E. coli proteins translocated through an F-encoded type IV secretion system. mSphere 2024; 9:e0035424. [PMID: 38940509 PMCID: PMC11288057 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00354-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial conjugation systems pose a major threat to human health through their widespread dissemination of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) carrying cargoes of antibiotic resistance genes. Using the Cre Recombinase Assay for Translocation (CRAfT), we recently reported that the IncFV pED208 conjugation system also translocates at least 16 plasmid-encoded proteins to recipient bacteria. Here, we deployed a high-throughput CRAfT screen to identify the repertoire of chromosomally encoded protein substrates of the pED208 system. We identified 32 substrates encoded by the Escherichia coli W3110 genome with functions associated with (i) DNA/nucleotide metabolism, (ii) stress tolerance/physiology, (iii) transcriptional regulation, or (iv) toxin inhibition. The respective gene deletions did not impact pED208 transfer proficiencies, nor did Group 1 (DNA/nucleotide metabolism) mutations detectably alter the SOS response elicited in new transconjugants upon acquisition of pED208. However, MC4100(pED208) donor cells intrinsically exhibit significantly higher SOS activation than plasmid-free MC4100 cells, and this plasmid carriage-induced stress response is further elevated in donor cells deleted of several Group 1 genes. Among 10 characterized substrates, we gained evidence of C-terminal or internal translocation signals that could function independently or synergistically for optimal protein transfer. Remarkably, nearly all tested proteins were also translocated through the IncN pKM101 and IncP RP4 conjugation systems. This repertoire of E. coli protein substrates, here termed the F plasmid "conjutome," is thus characterized by functions of potential benefit to new transconjugants, diverse TSs, and the capacity for promiscuous transfer through heterologous conjugation systems. IMPORTANCE Conjugation systems comprise a major subfamily of the type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) and are the progenitors of a second large T4SS subfamily dedicated to translocation of protein effectors. This study examined the capacity of conjugation machines to function as protein translocators. Using a high-throughput reporter screen, we determined that 32 chromosomally encoded proteins are delivered through an F plasmid conjugation system. The translocated proteins potentially enhance the establishment of the co-transferred F plasmid or mitigate mating-induced stresses. Translocation signals located C-terminally or internally conferred substrate recognition by the F system and, remarkably, many substrates also were translocated through heterologous conjugation systems. Our findings highlight the plasticity of conjugation systems in their capacities to co-translocate DNA and many protein substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abu Amar M. Al Mamun
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kimberley Kissoon
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yang Grace Li
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Erin Hancock
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Peter J. Christie
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas, USA
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11
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Köbbing S, Lechtenberg T, Wynands B, Blank LM, Wierckx N. Reliable Genomic Integration Sites in Pseudomonas putida Identified by Two-Dimensional Transcriptome Analysis. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:2060-2072. [PMID: 38968167 PMCID: PMC11264328 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Genomic integration is commonly used to engineer stable production hosts. However, so far, for many microbial workhorses, only a few integration sites have been characterized, thereby restraining advanced strain engineering that requires multiple insertions. Here, we report on the identification of novel genomic integration sites, so-called landing pads, for Pseudomonas putida KT2440. We identified genomic regions with constant expression patterns under diverse experimental conditions by using RNA-Seq data. Homologous recombination constructs were designed to insert heterologous genes into intergenic sites in these regions, allowing condition-independent gene expression. Ten potential landing pads were characterized using four different msfGFP expression cassettes. An insulated probe sensor was used to study locus-dependent effects on recombinant gene expression, excluding genomic read-through of flanking promoters under changing cultivation conditions. While the reproducibility of expression in the landing pads was very high, the msfGFP signals varied strongly between the different landing pads, confirming a strong influence of the genomic context. To showcase that the identified landing pads are also suitable candidates for heterologous gene expression in other Pseudomonads, four equivalent landing pads were identified and characterized in Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120. This study shows that genomic "hot" and "cold" spots exist, causing strong promoter-independent variations in gene expression. This highlights that the genomic context is an additional parameter to consider when designing integrable genomic cassettes for tailored heterologous expression. The set of characterized genomic landing pads presented here further increases the genetic toolbox for deep metabolic engineering in Pseudomonads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Köbbing
- Aachen
Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Lechtenberg
- Institute
of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Benedikt Wynands
- Institute
of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Lars M. Blank
- Aachen
Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Aachen
Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Institute
of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
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12
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Cyriaque V, Ibarra-Chávez R, Kuchina A, Seelig G, Nesme J, Madsen JS. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals plasmid constrains bacterial population heterogeneity and identifies a non-conjugating subpopulation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5853. [PMID: 38997267 PMCID: PMC11245611 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49793-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional heterogeneity in isogenic bacterial populations can play various roles in bacterial evolution, but its detection remains technically challenging. Here, we use microbial split-pool ligation transcriptomics to study the relationship between bacterial subpopulation formation and plasmid-host interactions at the single-cell level. We find that single-cell transcript abundances are influenced by bacterial growth state and plasmid carriage. Moreover, plasmid carriage constrains the formation of bacterial subpopulations. Plasmid genes, including those with core functions such as replication and maintenance, exhibit transcriptional heterogeneity associated with cell activity. Notably, we identify a cell subpopulation that does not transcribe conjugal plasmid transfer genes, which may help reduce plasmid burden on a subset of cells. Our study advances the understanding of plasmid-mediated subpopulation dynamics and provides insights into the plasmid-bacteria interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentine Cyriaque
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Proteomics and Microbiology Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, UMONS, Mons, Belgium.
| | | | - Anna Kuchina
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Georg Seelig
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Paul G. Allen School for Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joseph Nesme
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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13
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Leclercq SO, Bochereau P, Foubert I, Baumard Y, Travel A, Doublet B, Baucheron S. Persistence of commensal multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in the broiler production pyramid is best explained by strain recirculation from the rearing environment. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1406854. [PMID: 39035436 PMCID: PMC11259971 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1406854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the success of mitigation policies in several countries to reduce the use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine, pathogenic and commensal bacteria resistant to antibiotics are still circulating in livestock animals. However, factors contributing the most to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) persistence in these settings are yet not clearly identified. The broiler production, with its highly segmented, pyramidal structure offers an ideal context to understand and control the spread of resistant bacteria. By taking advantage of an experimental facility reproducing the whole broiler production pyramid, we demonstrate that resistant E. coli persist in our system primarily though recirculation of a few commensal clones surviving in the rearing environment. No vertical transmission from hens to offspring nor strain acquisition at the hatchery were detected, while import of new strains from outside the facility seems limited. Moreover, each clone carries its own resistance-conferring plasmid(s), and a single putative plasmid horizontal transfer could have been inferred. These results, observed for now in a small experimental facility with high level of biosecurity, must be confirmed in a commercial farm context but still provide invaluable information for future mitigation policies.
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14
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Tueffers L, Batra A, Zimmermann J, Botelho J, Buchholz F, Liao J, Mendoza Mejía N, Munder A, Klockgether J, Tüemmler B, Rupp J, Schulenburg H. Variation in the response to antibiotics and life-history across the major Pseudomonas aeruginosa clone type (mPact) panel. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0014324. [PMID: 38860784 PMCID: PMC11218531 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00143-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous, opportunistic human pathogen. Since it often expresses multidrug resistance, new treatment options are urgently required. Such new treatments are usually assessed with one of the canonical laboratory strains, PAO1 or PA14. However, these two strains are unlikely representative of the strains infecting patients, because they have adapted to laboratory conditions and do not capture the enormous genomic diversity of the species. Here, we characterized the major P. aeruginosa clone type (mPact) panel. This panel consists of 20 strains, which reflect the species' genomic diversity, cover all major clone types, and have both patient and environmental origins. We found significant strain variation in distinct responses toward antibiotics and general growth characteristics. Only few of the measured traits are related, suggesting independent trait optimization across strains. High resistance levels were only identified for clinical mPact isolates and could be linked to known antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. One strain, H01, produced highly unstable AMR combined with reduced growth under drug-free conditions, indicating an evolutionary cost to resistance. The expression of microcolonies was common among strains, especially for strain H15, which also showed reduced growth, possibly indicating another type of evolutionary trade-off. By linking isolation source, growth, and virulence to life history traits, we further identified specific adaptive strategies for individual mPact strains toward either host processes or degradation pathways. Overall, the mPact panel provides a reasonably sized set of distinct strains, enabling in-depth analysis of new treatment designs or evolutionary dynamics in consideration of the species' genomic diversity. IMPORTANCE New treatment strategies are urgently needed for high-risk pathogens such as the opportunistic and often multidrug-resistant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here, we characterize the major P. aeruginosa clone type (mPact) panel. It consists of 20 strains with different origins that cover the major clone types of the species as well as its genomic diversity. This mPact panel shows significant variation in (i) resistance against distinct antibiotics, including several last resort antibiotics; (ii) related traits associated with the response to antibiotics; and (iii) general growth characteristics. We further developed a novel approach that integrates information on resistance, growth, virulence, and life-history characteristics, allowing us to demonstrate the presence of distinct adaptive strategies of the strains that focus either on host interaction or resource processing. In conclusion, the mPact panel provides a manageable number of representative strains for this important pathogen for further in-depth analyses of treatment options and evolutionary dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leif Tueffers
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Aditi Batra
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
- Antibiotic resistance group, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany
| | - Johannes Zimmermann
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
- Antibiotic resistance group, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany
| | - João Botelho
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
- Antibiotic resistance group, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (CBGP), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)—Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Florian Buchholz
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Junqi Liao
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Antje Munder
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology, and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jens Klockgether
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology, and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Burkhard Tüemmler
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology, and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan Rupp
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Hinrich Schulenburg
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
- Antibiotic resistance group, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany
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15
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Beamud B, Benz F, Bikard D. Going viral: The role of mobile genetic elements in bacterial immunity. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:804-819. [PMID: 38870898 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages and other mobile genetic elements (MGEs) pose a significant threat to bacteria, subjecting them to constant attacks. In response, bacteria have evolved a sophisticated immune system that employs diverse defensive strategies and mechanisms. Remarkably, a growing body of evidence suggests that most of these defenses are encoded by MGEs themselves. This realization challenges our traditional understanding of bacterial immunity and raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary forces at play. Our review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest findings on the main families of MGEs and the defense systems they encode. We also highlight how a vast diversity of defense systems remains to be discovered and their mechanism of mobility understood. Altogether, the composition and distribution of defense systems in bacterial genomes only makes sense in the light of the ecological and evolutionary interactions of a complex network of MGEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Beamud
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Synthetic Biology, 75015 Paris, France.
| | - Fabienne Benz
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Synthetic Biology, 75015 Paris, France; Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, 75015 Paris, France
| | - David Bikard
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Synthetic Biology, 75015 Paris, France.
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16
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Choi S, Kim B, Kim S, Lee Y, Shin Y, Oh J, Bhatia SK, Seo SO, Park SH, Park K, Yang YH. Establishment of efficient 5-hydroxyvaleric acid production system by regenerating alpha-ketoglutaric acid and its application in poly(5-hydroxyvaleric acid) production. J Biotechnol 2024; 387:12-22. [PMID: 38522773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2024.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
5-hydroxyvaleric acid (5-HV) is a versatile C5 intermediate of bio-based high-value chemical synthesis pathways. However, 5-HV production faces a few shortcomings involving the supply of cofactors, especially α-ketoglutaric acid (α-KG). Herein, we established a two-cell biotransformation system by introducing L-glutamate oxidase (GOX) to regenerate α-KG. Additionally, the catalase KatE was adapted to inhibit α-KG degradation by the H2O2 produced during GOX reaction. We searched for the best combination of genes and vectors and optimized the biotransformation conditions to maximize GOX effectiveness. Under the optimized conditions, 5-HV pathway with GOX showed 1.60-fold higher productivity than that of without GOX, showing 11.3 g/L titer. Further, the two-cell system with GOX and KatE was expanded to produce poly(5-hydroxyvaleric acid) (P(5HV)), and it reached at 412 mg/L of P(5HV) production and 20.5% PHA contents when using the biotransformation supernatant. Thus, the two-cell biotransformation system with GOX can potentially give the practical and economic alternative of 5-HV production using bio-based methods. We also propose direct utilization of 5-HV from bioconversion for P(5HV) production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhye Choi
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Byungchan Kim
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suwon Kim
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeda Lee
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuni Shin
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinok Oh
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Shashi Kant Bhatia
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute for Ubiquitous Information Technology and Applications, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Oh Seo
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| | - See-Hyoung Park
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungmoon Park
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong, Republic of Korea
| | - Yung-Hun Yang
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute for Ubiquitous Information Technology and Applications, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Lin Z, Zhou Z, Shuai X, Zeng G, Bao R, Chen H. Landscape of plasmids encoding β-lactamases in disinfection residual Enterobacteriaceae from wastewater treatment plants. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 255:121549. [PMID: 38564891 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Conventional disinfection processes, such as chlorination and UV radiation, are ineffective in controling antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially disinfection residual Enterobacteriaceae (DRE) encoding β-lactamases, some of which have been classified as "critical priority pathogens" by the World Health Organization. However, few studies have focused on the transferability, phenotype, and genetic characteristics of DRE-derived plasmids encoding β-lactamases, especially extended-spectrum β-lactamases and carbapenemases. In this study, we isolated 10 typical DRE harboring plasmid-mediated blaNDM, blaCTX-M, or blaTEM in post-disinfection effluent from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), with transfer frequency ranging from 1.69 × 10-6 to 3.02 × 10-5. According to genomic maps of plasmids, all blaNDM and blaTEM were cascaded with IS26, and blaCTX-M was adjacent to ISEcp1 or IS26, indicating the important role of these elements in the movement of β-lactamase-encoding genes. The presence of intact class 1 integrons on pWTPN-01 and pWTPC-03 suggested the ability of these DRE-derived plasmids to integrate other exogenous antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The coexistence of antibiotic, disinfectant, and heavy metal resistance genes on the same plasmid (e.g., pWTPT-03) implied the facilitating role of disinfectants and heavy metals in the transmission of DRE-derived ARGs. Notably, two plasmid transconjugants exhibited no discernible competitive fitness cost, suggesting a heightened environmental persistence. Furthermore, enhanced virulence induced by β-lactamase-encoding plasmids in their hosts was confirmed using Galleria mellonella infection models, which might be attributed to plasmid-mediated virulence genes. Overall, this study describes the landscape of β-lactamase-encoding plasmids in DRE, and highlights the urgent need for advanced control of DRE to keep environmental and ecological security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zejun Lin
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhenchao Zhou
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xinyi Shuai
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Guangshu Zeng
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ruiqi Bao
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hong Chen
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; International Cooperation Base of Environmental Pollution and Ecological Health, Science and Technology Agency of Zhejiang, Zhejiang University, China.
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18
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Chen Y, Li M, Yan M, Chen Y, Saeed M, Ni Z, Fang Z, Chen H. Bacillus subtilis: current and future modification strategies as a protein secreting factory. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:195. [PMID: 38722426 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03997-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis is regarded as a promising microbial expression system in bioengineering due to its high stress resistance, nontoxic, low codon preference and grow fast. The strain has a relatively efficient expression system, as it has at least three protein secretion pathways and abundant molecular chaperones, which guarantee its expression ability and compatibility. Currently, many proteins are expressed in Bacillus subtilis, and their application prospects are broad. Although Bacillus subtilis has great advantages compared with other prokaryotes related to protein expression and secretion, it still faces deficiencies, such as low wild-type expression, low product activity, and easy gene loss, which limit its large-scale application. Over the years, many researchers have achieved abundant results in the modification of Bacillus subtilis expression systems, especially the optimization of promoters, expression vectors, signal peptides, transport pathways and molecular chaperones. An optimal vector with a suitable promoter strength and other regulatory elements could increase protein synthesis and secretion, increasing industrial profits. This review highlights the research status of optimization strategies related to the expression system of Bacillus subtilis. Moreover, research progress on its application as a food-grade expression system is also presented, along with some future modification and application directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanzhen Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Miaomiao Li
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingchen Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yong Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Muhammad Saeed
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhong Ni
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhen Fang
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huayou Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China.
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19
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Nair RR, Andersson DI, Warsi OM. Antibiotic resistance begets more resistance: chromosomal resistance mutations mitigate fitness costs conferred by multi-resistant clinical plasmids. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0420623. [PMID: 38534122 PMCID: PMC11064507 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04206-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmids are the primary vectors of horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria. Previous studies have shown that the spread and maintenance of plasmids among bacterial populations depend on the genetic makeup of both the plasmid and the host bacterium. Antibiotic resistance can also be acquired through mutations in the bacterial chromosome, which not only confer resistance but also result in changes in bacterial physiology and typically a reduction in fitness. However, it is unclear whether chromosomal resistance mutations affect the interaction between plasmids and the host bacteria. To address this question, we introduced 13 clinical plasmids into a susceptible Escherichia coli strain and three different congenic mutants that were resistant to nitrofurantoin (ΔnfsAB), ciprofloxacin (gyrA, S83L), and streptomycin (rpsL, K42N) and determined how the plasmids affected the exponential growth rates of the host in glucose minimal media. We find that though plasmids confer costs on the susceptible strains, those costs are fully mitigated in the three resistant mutants. In several cases, this results in a competitive advantage of the resistant strains over the susceptible strain when both carry the same plasmid and are grown in the absence of antibiotics. Our results suggest that bacteria carrying chromosomal mutations for antibiotic resistance could be a better reservoir for resistance plasmids, thereby driving the evolution of multi-drug resistance.IMPORTANCEPlasmids have led to the rampant spread of antibiotic resistance genes globally. Plasmids often carry antibiotic resistance genes and other genes needed for its maintenance and spread, which typically confer a fitness cost on the host cell observed as a reduced growth rate. Resistance is also acquired via chromosomal mutations, and similar to plasmids they also reduce bacterial fitness. However, we do not know whether resistance mutations affect the bacterial ability to carry plasmids. Here, we introduced 13 multi-resistant clinical plasmids into a susceptible and three different resistant E. coli strains and found that most of these plasmids do confer fitness cost on susceptible cells, but these costs disappear in the resistant strains which often lead to fitness advantage for the resistant strains in the absence of antibiotic selection. Our results imply that already resistant bacteria are a more favorable reservoir for multi-resistant plasmids, promoting the ascendance of multi-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramith R. Nair
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dan I. Andersson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Omar M. Warsi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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20
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Li X, Li C, Zhou L, Wang Q, Yao J, Zhang X, Yu Y, Li R, Zhou H, Tu Y. Global phylogeography and genomic characterization of bla KPC and bla NDM-positive clinical Klebsiella aerogenes isolates from China, 2016-2022. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 923:171560. [PMID: 38458455 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella aerogenes (CRKA), being one of the members of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), has caused great public health concern, but with fewer studies compared to other CRE members. Furthermore, studies on phylogenetic analysis based on whole genome Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) of CRKA were limited. Here, 20 CRKA isolates (11 blaKPC-2-bearing and 9 blaNDM-1/5-harboring) were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation assay, whole genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analysis. Additionally, the phylogeographic relationships of K. aerogenes were further investigated from public databases. All isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, and they demonstrated susceptibility to colistin. Most blaKPC-2 or blaNDM-1/5-carrying plasmids were found to be conjugative. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the clonal dissemination of K. aerogenes primarily occurred within clinical settings. Notably, some strains in this study showed the potential for clonal transmission, sharing few SNPs between K. aerogenes and KPC- and/or NDM-positive K. aerogenes isolated from various countries. The STs of K. aerogenes strains had significant diversity. WGS analysis showed that the IncFIIK plasmid was the most prevalent carrier of blaKPC-2, and, blaNDM-1/5 were detected on the IncX3 plasmids. The Tn6296 and Tn3000 transposons were most common vehicles for facilitating the transmission of blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1/5, respectively. This study highlights the importance of continuous screening and surveillance by WGS for analysis of drug-resistant strains in hospital settings, and provide clinical information that supports epidemiological and public health research on human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Li
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Changan Li
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Longjie Zhou
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Qiaojun Wang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Jiayao Yao
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Xiaofan Zhang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Yunsong Yu
- Center for General Practice Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Ruichao Li
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
| | - Hua Zhou
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
| | - Yuexing Tu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, #234 Gucui Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, China.
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21
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Dos Santos LA, Cayô R, Valiatti TB, Gales AC, de Araújo LFB, Rodrigues FM, de Carvalho TS, Vaz MAB, Campanharo M. Biodiversity of carbapenem-resistant bacteria in clinical samples from the Southwest Amazon region (Rondônia/Brazil). Sci Rep 2024; 14:9383. [PMID: 38654061 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59733-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Brazil is recognized for its biodiversity and the genetic variability of its organisms. This genetic variability becomes even more valuable when it is properly documented and accessible. Understanding bacterial diversity through molecular characterization is necessary as it can improve patient treatment, reduce the length of hospital stays and the selection of resistant bacteria, and generate data for health and epidemiological surveillance. In this sense, in this study, we aimed to understand the biodiversity and molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant bacteria in clinical samples recovered in the state of Rondônia, located in the Southwest Amazon region. Retrospective data from the Central Public Health Laboratories (LACEN/RO) between 2018 and 2021 were analysed using the Laboratory Environment Manager Platform (GAL). Seventy-two species with carbapenem resistance profiles were identified, of which 25 species carried at least one gene encoding carbapenemases of classes A (blaKPC-like), B (blaNDM-like, blaSPM-like or blaVIM-like) and D (blaOXA-23-like, blaOXA-24-like, blaOXA-48-like, blaOXA-58-like or blaOXA-143-like), among which we will highlight Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Serratia marcescens, and Providencia spp. With these results, we hope to contribute to the field by providing epidemiological molecular data for state surveillance on bacterial resistance and assisting in public policy decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levy Assis Dos Santos
- Federal University of Rondônia Foundation (UNIR), Postgraduate Program in Conservation and Use of Natural Resources (PPGReN), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil.
- Central Public Health Laboratory of Rondônia (LACEN/RO), Medical Biology Center, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo Cayô
- Laboratory ALERTA, Department of Medicine, Paulista School of Medicine (EPM), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Laboratory of Bacteriology and Immunology (LIB), Department of Biological Sciences (DCB), Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (ICAQF), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Tiago Barcelos Valiatti
- Laboratory ALERTA, Department of Medicine, Paulista School of Medicine (EPM), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Gales
- Laboratory ALERTA, Department of Medicine, Paulista School of Medicine (EPM), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Larissa Fatarelli Bento de Araújo
- Federal University of Rondônia Foundation (UNIR), Postgraduate Program in Conservation and Use of Natural Resources (PPGReN), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Fernando Marques Rodrigues
- Central Public Health Laboratory of Rondônia (LACEN/RO), Medical Biology Center, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Tatiane Silva de Carvalho
- Central Public Health Laboratory of Rondônia (LACEN/RO), Medical Biology Center, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Marcos André Braz Vaz
- Department of Informatics and Statistics, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Marcela Campanharo
- Federal University of Rondônia Foundation (UNIR), Postgraduate Program in Conservation and Use of Natural Resources (PPGReN), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Sciences (DCAB), Federal University of Espirito Santo, São Mateus, ES, Brazil
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22
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Bailey ZM, Igler C, Wendling CC. Prophage maintenance is determined by environment-dependent selective sweeps rather than mutational availability. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1739-1749.e7. [PMID: 38599209 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Prophages, viral sequences integrated into bacterial genomes, can be beneficial and costly. Despite the risk of prophage activation and subsequent bacterial death, active prophages are present in most bacterial genomes. However, our understanding of the selective forces that maintain prophages in bacterial populations is limited. Combining experimental evolution with stochastic modeling, we show that prophage maintenance and loss are primarily determined by environmental conditions that alter the net fitness effect of a prophage on its bacterial host. When prophages are too costly, they are rapidly lost through environment-specific sequences of selective sweeps. Conflicting selection pressures that select against the prophage but for a prophage-encoded accessory gene can maintain prophages. The dynamics of prophage maintenance additionally depend on the sociality of this accessory gene. Prophage-encoded genes that exclusively benefit the lysogen maintain prophages at higher frequencies compared with genes that benefit the entire population. That is because the latter can protect phage-free "cheaters," reducing the benefit of maintaining the prophage. Our simulations suggest that environmental variation plays a larger role than mutation rates in determining prophage maintenance. These findings highlight the complexity of selection pressures that act on mobile genetic elements and challenge our understanding of the role of environmental factors relative to random chance events in shaping the evolutionary trajectory of bacterial populations. By shedding light on the key factors that shape microbial populations in the face of environmental changes, our study significantly advances our understanding of the complex dynamics of microbial evolution and diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary M Bailey
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Claudia Igler
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland; Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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23
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Bedore AM, Waters CM. Plasmid-free cheater cells commonly evolve during laboratory growth. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0231123. [PMID: 38446071 PMCID: PMC11022567 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02311-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been nearly a century since the isolation and use of penicillin, heralding the discovery of a wide range of different antibiotics. In addition to clinical applications, such antibiotics have been essential laboratory tools, allowing for selection and maintenance of laboratory plasmids that encode cognate resistance genes. However, antibiotic resistance mechanisms can additionally function as public goods. For example, extracellular beta-lactamases produced by resistant cells that subsequently degrade penicillin and related antibiotics allow neighboring plasmid-free susceptible bacteria to survive antibiotic treatment. How such cooperative mechanisms impact selection of plasmids during experiments in laboratory conditions is poorly understood. Here, we show in multiple bacterial species that the use of plasmid-encoded beta-lactamases leads to significant curing of plasmids in surface-grown bacteria. Furthermore, such curing was also evident for aminoglycoside phosphotransferase and tetracycline antiporter resistance mechanisms. Alternatively, antibiotic selection in liquid growth led to more robust plasmid maintenance, although plasmid loss was still observed. The net outcome of such plasmid loss is the generation of a heterogenous population of plasmid-containing and plasmid-free cells, leading to experimental confounds that are not widely appreciated.IMPORTANCEPlasmids are routinely used in microbiology as readouts of cell biology or tools to manipulate cell function. Central to these studies is the assumption that all cells in an experiment contain the plasmid. Plasmid maintenance in a host cell typically depends on a plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance marker, which provides a selective advantage when the plasmid-containing cell is grown in the presence of antibiotic. Here, we find that growth of plasmid-containing bacteria on a surface and to a lesser extent in liquid culture in the presence of three distinct antibiotic families leads to the evolution of a significant number of plasmid-free cells, which rely on the resistance mechanisms of the plasmid-containing cells. This process generates a heterogenous population of plasmid-free and plasmid-containing bacteria, an outcome which could confound further experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber M. Bedore
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Christopher M. Waters
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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24
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Lin ZJ, Zhou ZC, Shuai XY, Shan XY, Zhou JY, Chen H. Deciphering Multidrug-Resistant Plasmids in Disinfection Residual Bacteria from a Wastewater Treatment Plant. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6793-6803. [PMID: 38574343 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Current disinfection processes pose an emerging environmental risk due to the ineffective removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially disinfection residual bacteria (DRB) carrying multidrug-resistant plasmids (MRPs). However, the characteristics of DRB-carried MRPs are poorly understood. In this study, qPCR analysis reveals that the total absolute abundance of four plasmids in postdisinfection effluent decreases by 1.15 log units, while their relative abundance increases by 0.11 copies/cell compared to investigated wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent. We obtain three distinctive DRB-carried MRPs (pWWTP-01-03) from postdisinfection effluent, each carrying 9-11 antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). pWWTP-01 contains all 11 ARGs within an ∼25 Kbp chimeric genomic island showing strong patterns of recombination with MRPs from foodborne outbreaks and hospitals. Antibiotic-, disinfectant-, and heavy-metal-resistant genes on the same plasmid underscore the potential roles of disinfectants and heavy metals in the coselection of ARGs. Additionally, pWWTP-02 harbors an adhesin-type virulence operon, implying risks of both antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity upon entering environments. Furthermore, some MRPs from DRB are capable of transferring and could confer selective advantages to recipients under environmentally relevant antibiotic pressure. Overall, this study advances our understanding of DRB-carried MRPs and highlights the imminent need to monitor and control wastewater MRPs for environmental security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Jun Lin
- Institute of Environmental Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhen-Chao Zhou
- Institute of Environmental Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xin-Yi Shuai
- Institute of Environmental Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Shan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jin-Yu Zhou
- Institute of Environmental Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Institute of Environmental Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- International Cooperation Base of Environmental Pollution and Ecological Health, Science and Technology Agency of Zhejiang, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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25
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Fraikin N, Couturier A, Lesterlin C. The winding journey of conjugative plasmids toward a novel host cell. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102449. [PMID: 38432159 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Horizontal transfer of plasmids by conjugation is a fundamental mechanism driving the widespread dissemination of drug resistance among bacterial populations. The successful colonization of a new host cell necessitates the plasmid to navigate through a series of sequential steps, each dependent on specific plasmid or host factors. This review explores recent advancements in comprehending the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern plasmid transmission, establishment, and long-term maintenance. Adopting a plasmid-centric perspective, we describe the critical steps and bottlenecks in the plasmid's journey toward a new host cell, encompassing exploration and contact initiation, invasion, establishment and control, and assimilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Fraikin
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB), Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, UMR5086, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Agathe Couturier
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB), Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, UMR5086, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Christian Lesterlin
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB), Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, UMR5086, 69007 Lyon, France.
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26
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Yescas-Zazueta V, Rocha-Gracia RDC, González-Bonilla CR, Ayala-Zavala JF, Enciso-Martínez Y, Carreón-León EA, González Corona BA, Valencia D, Ballesteros-Monrreal MG, Barrios-Villa E. Resistance phenotype and virulence potential of Leclercia adecarboxylata strains isolated from different sources. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2024; 170:001457. [PMID: 38661713 PMCID: PMC11084626 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Introduction. Leclercia adecarboxylata is a member of Enterobacterales, often considered an opportunistic pathogen. Recent reports have highlighted L. adecarboxylata as an emerging pathogen harbouring virulence and resistance determinants.Gap statement. Little information exists on virulence and resistance determinants in L. adecarboxylata strains isolated from environmental, food, and clinical samples.Aim. To determine the presence of resistance and virulence determinants and plasmid features in L. adecarboxylata strains isolated from environmental, food, and clinical samples, as well as their phylogenetic relationship.Results. All strains tested showed resistance to β-lactams and quinolones but were sensitive to aminoglycosides and nitrofurans. However, even though fosfomycin resistance is considered a characteristic trait of L. adecarboxylata, the resistance phenotype was only observed in 50 % of the strains; bla TEM was the most prevalent BLEE gene (70 %), while the quinolone qnrB gene was observed in 60 % of the strains. Virulence genes were differentially observed in the strains, with adhesion-related genes being the most abundant, followed by toxin genes. Finally, all strains carried one to seven plasmid bands ranging from 7 to 125 kbps and harboured several plasmid addiction systems, such as ParDE, VagCD, and CcdAB in 80 % of the strains.Conclusions. L. adecarboxylata is an important emerging pathogen that may harbour resistance and virulence genes. Additionally, it has mobilizable genetic elements that may contribute to the dissemination of genetic determinants to other bacterial genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Yescas-Zazueta
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, campus Caborca, Av. Universidad e Irigoyen S/N, 83621 H. Caborca, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Rosa del Carmen Rocha-Gracia
- Posgrado en Microbiología, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Av. San Claudio S/N, 72570 Puebla, Mexico
| | - Cesar R. González-Bonilla
- Posgrado en Microbiología, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Av. San Claudio S/N, 72570 Puebla, Mexico
| | - J. Fernando Ayala-Zavala
- Coordinación de Tecnología de Alimentos de Origen Vegetal, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., 83304 Hermosillo, Mexico
| | - Yessica Enciso-Martínez
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, campus Caborca, Av. Universidad e Irigoyen S/N, 83621 H. Caborca, Sonora, Mexico
- Coordinación de Tecnología de Alimentos de Origen Vegetal, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., 83304 Hermosillo, Mexico
| | - Eder A. Carreón-León
- Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos de la Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Av. Universidad S/N, Circuito Universitario Campus 1, 31310 Chihuahua, Mexico
| | - Brigitte A. González Corona
- Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos de la Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Av. Universidad S/N, Circuito Universitario Campus 1, 31310 Chihuahua, Mexico
| | - Dora Valencia
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, campus Caborca, Av. Universidad e Irigoyen S/N, 83621 H. Caborca, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Manuel G. Ballesteros-Monrreal
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, campus Caborca, Av. Universidad e Irigoyen S/N, 83621 H. Caborca, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Edwin Barrios-Villa
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, campus Caborca, Av. Universidad e Irigoyen S/N, 83621 H. Caborca, Sonora, Mexico
- Posgrado en Microbiología, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Av. San Claudio S/N, 72570 Puebla, Mexico
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27
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DelaFuente J, Diaz-Colunga J, Sanchez A, San Millan A. Global epistasis in plasmid-mediated antimicrobial resistance. Mol Syst Biol 2024; 20:311-320. [PMID: 38409539 PMCID: PMC10987494 DOI: 10.1038/s44320-024-00012-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria is a major public health threat and conjugative plasmids play a key role in the dissemination of AMR genes among bacterial pathogens. Interestingly, the association between AMR plasmids and pathogens is not random and certain associations spread successfully at a global scale. The burst of genome sequencing has increased the resolution of epidemiological programs, broadening our understanding of plasmid distribution in bacterial populations. Despite the immense value of these studies, our ability to predict future plasmid-bacteria associations remains limited. Numerous empirical studies have recently reported systematic patterns in genetic interactions that enable predictability, in a phenomenon known as global epistasis. In this perspective, we argue that global epistasis patterns hold the potential to predict interactions between plasmids and bacterial genomes, thereby facilitating the prediction of future successful associations. To assess the validity of this idea, we use previously published data to identify global epistasis patterns in clinically relevant plasmid-bacteria associations. Furthermore, using simple mechanistic models of antibiotic resistance, we illustrate how global epistasis patterns may allow us to generate new hypotheses on the mechanisms associated with successful plasmid-bacteria associations. Collectively, we aim at illustrating the relevance of exploring global epistasis in the context of plasmid biology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan Diaz-Colunga
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Functional Biology & Genomics, IBFG - CSIC, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alvaro Sanchez
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
- Institute of Functional Biology & Genomics, IBFG - CSIC, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Alvaro San Millan
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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28
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Bao Z, Gao Y, Song Y, Ding N, Li W, Wu Q, Zhang X, Zheng Y, Li J, Hu X. Construction of an Escherichia coli chassis for efficient biosynthesis of human-like N-linked glycoproteins. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1370685. [PMID: 38572355 PMCID: PMC10987854 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1370685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The production of N-linked glycoproteins in genetically engineered Escherichia coli holds significant potential for reducing costs, streamlining bioprocesses, and enhancing customization. However, the construction of a stable and low-cost microbial cell factory for the efficient production of humanized N-glycosylated recombinant proteins remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we developed a glyco-engineered E. coli chassis to produce N-glycosylated proteins with the human-like glycan Gal-β-1,4-GlcNAc-β-1,3-Gal-β-1,3-GlcNAc-, containing the human glycoform Gal-β-1,4-GlcNAc-β-1,3-. Our initial efforts were to replace various loci in the genome of the E. coli XL1-Blue strain with oligosaccharyltransferase PglB and the glycosyltransferases LsgCDEF to construct the E. coli chassis. In addition, we systematically optimized the promoter regions in the genome to regulate transcription levels. Subsequently, utilizing a plasmid carrying the target protein, we have successfully obtained N-glycosylated proteins with 100% tetrasaccharide modification at a yield of approximately 320 mg/L. Furthermore, we constructed the metabolic pathway for sialylation using a plasmid containing a dual-expression cassette of the target protein and CMP-sialic acid synthesis in the tetrasaccharide chassis cell, resulting in a 40% efficiency of terminal α-2,3- sialylation and a production of 65 mg/L of homogeneously sialylated glycoproteins in flasks. Our findings pave the way for further exploration of producing different linkages (α-2,3/α-2,6/α-2,8) of sialylated human-like N-glycoproteins in the periplasm of the plug-and-play E. coli chassis, laying a strong foundation for industrial-scale production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixin Bao
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, China
| | - Yuting Gao
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, China
| | - Yitong Song
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, China
| | - Ning Ding
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, China
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Oligosaccharide Recombination and Recombinant Protein Modification, Dalian, China
| | - Wei Li
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiaomei Zhang
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, China
| | - Junming Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Xuejun Hu
- Academic Centre for Medical Research, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, China
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Oligosaccharide Recombination and Recombinant Protein Modification, Dalian, China
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29
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Zhang C, Datta S, Ratcliff WC, Hammer BK. Constitutive expression of the Type VI Secretion System carries no measurable fitness cost in Vibrio cholerae. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11081. [PMID: 38435022 PMCID: PMC10905242 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) is a widespread and highly effective mechanism of microbial warfare; it confers the ability to efficiently kill susceptible cells within close proximity. Due to its large physical size, complexity, and ballistic basis for intoxication, it has widely been assumed to incur significant growth costs in the absence of improved competitive outcomes. In this study, we precisely examine the fitness costs of constitutive T6SS firing in the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. We find that, contrary to expectations, constitutive expression of the T6SS has a negligible impact on growth, reducing growth fitness by 0.025 ± 0.5% (95% CI) relative to a T6SS- control. Mathematical modeling of microbial populations demonstrates that, due to clonal interference, constitutive expression of the T6SS will often be neutral, with little impact on evolutionary outcomes. Our findings underscore the importance of precisely measuring the fitness costs of microbial social behaviors and help explain the prevalence of the T6SS across Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Zhang
- School of Biological SciencesGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative BiosciencesGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Sayantan Datta
- School of Biological SciencesGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative BiosciencesGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - William C. Ratcliff
- School of Biological SciencesGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Brian K. Hammer
- School of Biological SciencesGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
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Sobkowiak A, Scherff N, Schuler F, Bletz S, Mellmann A, Schwierzeck V, van Almsick V. Plasmid-encoded gene duplications of extended-spectrum β-lactamases in clinical bacterial isolates. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1343858. [PMID: 38469349 PMCID: PMC10925753 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1343858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae is an urgent and alarming One Health problem. This study aimed to investigate duplications of plasmid-encoded ESBL genes and their impact on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotypes in clinical and screening isolates. Methods Multi-drug-resistant bacteria from hospitalized patients were collected during routine clinical surveillance from January 2022 to June 2023, and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were determined. Genotypes were extracted from long-read whole-genome sequencing data. Furthermore, plasmids and other mobile genetic elements associated with ESBL genes were characterized, and the ESBL genes were correlated to ceftazidime minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Results In total, we identified four cases of plasmid-encoded ESBL gene duplications that match four genetically similar plasmids during the 18-month surveillance period: five Escherichia coli and three Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. As the ESBL genes were part of transposable elements, the surrounding sequence regions were duplicated as well. In-depth analysis revealed insertion sequence (IS)-mediated transposition mechanisms. Isolates with duplicated ESBL genes exhibited a higher MIC for ceftazidime in comparison to isolates with a single gene copy (3-256 vs. 1.5-32 mg/L, respectively). Conclusion ESBL gene duplications led to an increased phenotypic resistance against ceftazidime. Our data suggest that ESBL gene duplications by an IS-mediated transposition are a relevant mechanism for how AMR develops in the clinical setting and is part of the microevolution of plasmids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Sobkowiak
- Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Cardiology I – Coronary and Peripheral Vascular Disease, Heart Failure, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Natalie Scherff
- Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Franziska Schuler
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stefan Bletz
- Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Vera Schwierzeck
- Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Vincent van Almsick
- Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Cardiology I – Coronary and Peripheral Vascular Disease, Heart Failure, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
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Suzuki-Minakuchi C, Yamamoto N, Takahira S, Yamaguchi M, Takeda Y, Okada K, Shigeto S, Nojiri H. Transcriptional heterogeneity of catabolic genes on the plasmid pCAR1 causes host-specific carbazole degradation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0124723. [PMID: 38289097 PMCID: PMC10880608 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01247-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
To elucidate why plasmid-borne catabolic ability differs among host bacteria, we assessed the expression dynamics of the Pant promoter on the carbazole-degradative conjugative plasmid pCAR1 in Pseudomonas putida KT2440(pCAR1) (hereafter, KTPC) and Pseudomonas resinovorans CA10. The Pant promoter regulates the transcription of both the car and ant operons, which are responsible for converting carbazole into anthranilate and anthranilate into catechol, respectively. In the presence of anthranilate, transcription of the Pant promoter is induced by the AraC/XylS family regulator AntR, encoded on pCAR1. A reporter cassette containing the Pant promoter followed by gfp was inserted into the chromosomes of KTPC and CA10. After adding anthranilate, GFP expression in the population of CA10 showed an unimodal distribution, whereas a small population with low GFP fluorescence intensity appeared for KTPC. CA10 has a gene, antRCA, that encodes an iso-functional homolog of AntR on its chromosome. When antRCA was disrupted, a small population with low GFP fluorescence intensity appeared. In contrast, overexpression of pCAR1-encoded AntR in KTPC resulted in unimodal expression under the Pant promoter. These results suggest that the expression of pCAR1-encoded AntR is insufficient to ameliorate the stochastic expression of the Pant promoter. Raman spectra of single cells collected using deuterium-labeled carbazole showed that the C-D Raman signal exhibited greater variability for KTPC than CA10. These results indicate that heterogeneity at the transcriptional level of the Pant promoter due to insufficient AntR availability causes fluctuations in the pCAR1-borne carbazole-degrading capacity of host bacterial cells.IMPORTANCEHorizontally acquired genes increase the competitiveness of host bacteria under selective conditions, although unregulated expression of foreign genes may impose fitness costs. The "appropriate" host for a plasmid is empirically known to maximize the expression of plasmid-borne traits. In the case of pCAR1-harboring Pseudomonas strains, P. resinovorans CA10 exhibits strong carbazole-degrading capacity, whereas P. putida KT2440 harboring pCAR1 exhibits low degradation capacity. Our results suggest that a chromosomally encoded transcription factor affects transcriptional and metabolic fluctuations in host cells, resulting in different carbazole-degrading capacities as a population. This study may provide a clue for determining appropriate hosts for a plasmid and for regulating the expression of plasmid-borne traits, such as the degradation of xenobiotics and antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiho Suzuki-Minakuchi
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Natsumi Yamamoto
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Saki Takahira
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masataka Yamaguchi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Yutaro Takeda
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunori Okada
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Shigeto
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hideaki Nojiri
- Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Zheng R, Li W, Yin W, Qiao L, Song S, An Y, Ling Z, Bai L, Yang H, Shen J, Dong Y, Wang Y. PEtN-Modified O-Antigen Enhances Shigella Pathogenesis by Promoting Epithelial Cell Invasion and Inhibiting Complement Binding. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:377-383. [PMID: 38252850 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Shigellosis poses an ongoing global public health threat. The presence and length of the O-antigen in lipopolysaccharide play critical roles in Shigella pathogenesis. The plasmid-mediated opt gene encodes a phosphoethanolamine (PEtN) transferase that catalyzes the addition of PEtN to the O-antigen of Shigella flexneri serotype X and Y strains, converting them into serotype Xv and Yv strains, respectively. Since 2002, these modified strains have become prevalent in China. Here we demonstrate that PEtN-mediated O-antigen modification in S. flexneri increase the severity of corneal infection in guinea pigs without any adaptive cost. This heightened virulence is associated with epithelial cell adhesion and invasion, as well as an enhanced inflammatory response of macrophage. Notably, PEtN addition allow S. flexneri to attenuate the binding of complement C3 and better resist phagocytosis, potentially contributing to the retention of S. flexneri in the host environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruicheng Zheng
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wan Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Wenjuan Yin
- School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071000, China
| | - Lu Qiao
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shikai Song
- Poultry Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China
| | - Yina An
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhuoren Ling
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Li Bai
- NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Hui Yang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Jianzhong Shen
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yanjun Dong
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yang Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Han Y, Gao YF, Xu HT, Li JP, Li C, Song CL, Lei CW, Chen X, Wang Q, Ma BH, Wang HN. Characterization and risk assessment of novel SXT/R391 integrative and conjugative elements with multidrug resistance in Proteus mirabilis isolated from China, 2018-2020. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0120923. [PMID: 38197656 PMCID: PMC10871549 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01209-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteus mirabilis can transfer transposons, insertion sequences, and gene cassettes to the chromosomes of other hosts through SXT/R391 integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), significantly increasing the possibility of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) evolution and expanding the risk of ARGs transmission among bacteria. A total of 103 strains of P. mirabilis were isolated from 25 farms in China from 2018 to 2020. The positive detection rate of SXT/R391 ICEs was 25.2% (26/103). All SXT/R391 ICEs positive P. mirabilis exhibited a high level of overall drug resistance. Conjugation experiments showed that all 26 SXT/R391 ICEs could efficiently transfer to Escherichia coli EC600 with a frequency of 2.0 × 10-7 to 6.0 × 10-5. The acquired ARGs, genetic structures, homology relationships, and conservation sequences of 26 (19 different subtypes) SXT/R391 ICEs were investigated by high-throughput sequencing, whole-genome typing, and phylogenetic tree construction. ICEPmiChnHBRJC2 carries erm (42), which have never been found within an SXT/R391 ICE in P. mirabilis, and ICEPmiChnSC1111 carries 19 ARGs, including clinically important cfr, blaCTX-M-65, and aac(6')-Ib-cr, making it the ICE with the most ARGs reported to date. Through genetic stability, growth curve, and competition experiments, it was found that the transconjugant of ICEPmiChnSCNNC12 did not have a significant fitness cost on the recipient bacterium EC600 and may have a higher risk of transmission and dissemination. Although the transconjugant of ICEPmiChnSCSZC20 had a relatively obvious fitness cost on EC600, long-term resistance selection pressure may improve bacterial fitness through compensatory adaptation, providing scientific evidence for risk assessment of horizontal transfer and dissemination of SXT/R391 ICEs in P. mirabilis.IMPORTANCEThe spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is a major public health concern. The study investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) in Proteus mirabilis, which can transfer ARGs to other hosts. The study found that all of the P. mirabilis strains carrying ICEs exhibited a high level of drug resistance and a higher risk of transmission and dissemination of ARGs. The analysis of novel multidrug-resistant ICEs highlighted the potential for the evolution and spread of novel resistance mechanisms. These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring the spread of ICEs carrying ARGs and the urgent need for effective strategies to combat antibiotic resistance. Understanding the genetic diversity and potential for transmission of ARGs among bacteria is crucial for developing targeted interventions to mitigate the threat of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Han
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu-Feng Gao
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - He-ting Xu
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jin-Peng Li
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chao Li
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Cai-Liang Song
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chang-Wei Lei
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Bo-Heng Ma
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hong-Ning Wang
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Yu Z, Wang Q, Pinilla-Redondo R, Madsen JS, Clasen KAD, Ananbeh H, Olesen AK, Gong Z, Yang N, Dechesne A, Smets B, Nesme J, Sørensen SJ. Horizontal transmission of a multidrug-resistant IncN plasmid isolated from urban wastewater. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 271:115971. [PMID: 38237397 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.115971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are considered reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Given that plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer plays a critical role in disseminating ARGs in the environment, it is important to inspect the transfer potential of transmissible plasmids to have a better understanding of whether these mobile ARGs can be hosted by opportunistic pathogens and should be included in One Health's considerations. In this study, we used a fluorescent-reporter-gene based exogenous isolation approach to capture extended-spectrum beta-lactamases encoding mobile determinants from sewer microbiome samples that enter an urban water system (UWS) in Denmark. After screening and sequencing, we isolated a ∼73 Kbp IncN plasmid (pDK_DARWIN) that harboured and expressed multiple ARGs. Using a dual fluorescent reporter gene system, we showed that this plasmid can transfer into resident urban water communities. We demonstrated the transfer of pDK_DARWIN to microbiome members of both the sewer (in the upstream UWS compartment) and wastewater treatment (in the downstream UWS compartment) microbiomes. Sequence similarity search across curated plasmid repositories revealed that pDK_DARWIN derives from an IncN backbone harboured by environmental and nosocomial Enterobacterial isolates. Furthermore, we searched for pDK_DARWIN sequence matches in UWS metagenomes from three countries, revealing that this plasmid can be detected in all of them, with a higher relative abundance in hospital sewers compared to residential sewers. Overall, this study demonstrates that this IncN plasmid is prevalent across Europe and an efficient vector capable of disseminating multiple ARGs in the urban water systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuofeng Yu
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Qinqin Wang
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rafael Pinilla-Redondo
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jonas Stenløkke Madsen
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kamille Anna Dam Clasen
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hanadi Ananbeh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 123, CZ-612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Asmus Kalckar Olesen
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zhuang Gong
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nan Yang
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Arnaud Dechesne
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, DK-2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Barth Smets
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, DK-2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Joseph Nesme
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Søren Johannes Sørensen
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Fang J, Wang G, Kang X, Pan Z, Mei Y, Chen H, Liu Y, Xiang T. Analysis of the hypovirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae with the NDM-5 gene on IncN plasmids. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0344323. [PMID: 38019003 PMCID: PMC10783101 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03443-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE It is crucial to strengthen the ongoing clinical surveillance of non-highly virulent, multi-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Fang
- Department of Infectious disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Department of Infectious disease, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Guoyu Wang
- Department of Hospital Infection Control, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiuhua Kang
- Department of Hospital Infection Control, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhenhui Pan
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yanfang Mei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Huade Chen
- Department of Infectious disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Department of Infectious disease, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Tianxin Xiang
- Department of Hospital Infection Control, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Hospital of China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Medical Center for Critical Public Health Events, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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Liu Z, Gao Y, Wang M, Liu Y, Wang F, Shi J, Wang Z, Li R. Adaptive evolution of plasmid and chromosome contributes to the fitness of a blaNDM-bearing cointegrate plasmid in Escherichia coli. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae037. [PMID: 38438143 PMCID: PMC10976473 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Large cointegrate plasmids recruit genetic features of their parental plasmids and serve as important vectors in the spread of antibiotic resistance. They are now frequently found in clinical settings, raising the issue of how to limit their further transmission. Here, we conducted evolutionary research of a large blaNDM-positive cointegrate within Escherichia coli C600, and discovered that adaptive evolution of chromosome and plasmid jointly improved bacterial fitness, which was manifested as enhanced survival ability for in vivo and in vitro pairwise competition, biofilm formation, and gut colonization ability. From the plasmid aspect, large-scale DNA fragment loss is observed in an evolved clone. Although the evolved plasmid imposes a negligible fitness cost on host bacteria, its conjugation frequency is greatly reduced, and the deficiency of anti-SOS gene psiB is found responsible for the impaired horizontal transferability rather than the reduced fitness cost. These findings unveil an evolutionary strategy in which the plasmid horizontal transferability and fitness cost are balanced. From the chromosome perspective, all evolved clones exhibit parallel mutations in the transcriptional regulatory stringent starvation Protein A gene sspA. Through a sspA knockout mutant, transcriptome analysis, in vitro transcriptional activity assay, RT-qPCR, motility test, and scanning electron microscopy techniques, we demonstrated that the mutation in sspA reduces its transcriptional inhibitory capacity, thereby improving bacterial fitness, biofilm formation ability, and gut colonization ability by promoting bacterial flagella synthesis. These findings expand our knowledge of how cointegrate plasmids adapt to new bacterial hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Jiangsu Key Lab of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary medicine, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300 Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanyun Gao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Jiangsu Key Lab of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Mianzhi Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Jiangsu Key Lab of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Jiangsu Key Lab of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Fulin Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Shi
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Jiangsu Key Lab of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruichao Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Jiangsu Key Lab of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
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Alonso-del Valle A, Toribio-Celestino L, Quirant A, Pi CT, DelaFuente J, Canton R, Rocha EPC, Ubeda C, Peña-Miller R, San Millan A. Antimicrobial resistance level and conjugation permissiveness shape plasmid distribution in clinical enterobacteria. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2314135120. [PMID: 38096417 PMCID: PMC10741383 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314135120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Conjugative plasmids play a key role in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes across bacterial pathogens. AMR plasmids are widespread in clinical settings, but their distribution is not random, and certain associations between plasmids and bacterial clones are particularly successful. For example, the globally spread carbapenem resistance plasmid pOXA-48 can use a wide range of enterobacterial species as hosts, but it is usually associated with a small number of specific Klebsiella pneumoniae clones. These successful associations represent an important threat for hospitalized patients. However, knowledge remains limited about the factors determining AMR plasmid distribution in clinically relevant bacteria. Here, we combined in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches to analyze pOXA-48-associated AMR levels and conjugation dynamics in a collection of wild-type enterobacterial strains isolated from hospitalized patients. Our results revealed significant variability in these traits across different bacterial hosts, with Klebsiella spp. strains showing higher pOXA-48-mediated AMR and conjugation frequencies than Escherichia coli strains. Using experimentally determined parameters, we developed a simple mathematical model to interrogate the contribution of AMR levels and conjugation permissiveness to plasmid distribution in bacterial communities. The simulations revealed that a small subset of clones, combining high AMR levels and conjugation permissiveness, play a critical role in stabilizing the plasmid in different polyclonal microbial communities. These results help to explain the preferential association of plasmid pOXA-48 with K. pneumoniae clones in clinical settings. More generally, our study reveals that species- and strain-specific variability in plasmid-associated phenotypes shape AMR evolution in clinically relevant bacterial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Alonso-del Valle
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid28049, Spain
| | - Laura Toribio-Celestino
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid28049, Spain
| | - Anna Quirant
- Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunitat Valenciana, Valencia46020, Spain
| | - Carles Tardio Pi
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca62209, México
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Unidad Académica Yucatán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Yucatán04510, México
| | - Javier DelaFuente
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid28049, Spain
| | - Rafael Canton
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal-Instituto Ramon y Cajal de Investigacion Sanitaria, Madrid28034, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
| | - Eduardo P. C. Rocha
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris75015, France
| | - Carles Ubeda
- Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunitat Valenciana, Valencia46020, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
| | - Rafael Peña-Miller
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca62209, México
| | - Alvaro San Millan
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid28049, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
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Wheeler NE, Price V, Cunningham-Oakes E, Tsang KK, Nunn JG, Midega JT, Anjum MF, Wade MJ, Feasey NA, Peacock SJ, Jauneikaite E, Baker KS. Innovations in genomic antimicrobial resistance surveillance. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2023; 4:e1063-e1070. [PMID: 37977163 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00285-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Whole-genome sequencing of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens is increasingly being used for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance, particularly in high-income countries. Innovations in genome sequencing and analysis technologies promise to revolutionise AMR surveillance and epidemiology; however, routine adoption of these technologies is challenging, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. As part of a wider series of workshops and online consultations, a group of experts in AMR pathogen genomics and computational tool development conducted a situational analysis, identifying the following under-used innovations in genomic AMR surveillance: clinical metagenomics, environmental metagenomics, gene or plasmid tracking, and machine learning. The group recommended developing cost-effective use cases for each approach and mapping data outputs to clinical outcomes of interest to justify additional investment in capacity, training, and staff required to implement these technologies. Harmonisation and standardisation of methods, and the creation of equitable data sharing and governance frameworks, will facilitate successful implementation of these innovations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E Wheeler
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK
| | - Vivien Price
- Department of Clinical Infection, Immunology and Microbiology, Liverpool Centre for Global Health Research, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Edward Cunningham-Oakes
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Kara K Tsang
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jamie G Nunn
- Infectious Disease Challenge Area, Wellcome Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Muna F Anjum
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Surrey, UK
| | - Matthew J Wade
- Data Analytics and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK; School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Nicholas A Feasey
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Chichiri, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Elita Jauneikaite
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Kate S Baker
- Centre for Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Houtak G, Bouras G, Nepal R, Shaghayegh G, Cooksley C, Psaltis AJ, Wormald PJ, Vreugde S. The intra-host evolutionary landscape and pathoadaptation of persistent Staphylococcus aureus in chronic rhinosinusitis. Microb Genom 2023; 9. [PMID: 38010322 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common chronic sinonasal mucosal inflammation associated with Staphylococcus aureus biofilm and relapsing infections. This study aimed to determine rates of S. aureus persistence and pathoadaptation in CRS patients by investigating the genomic relatedness and antibiotic resistance/tolerance in longitudinally collected S. aureus clinical isolates. A total of 68 S. aureus paired isolates (34 pairs) were sourced from 34 CRS patients at least 6 months apart. Isolates were grown into 48 h biofilms and tested for tolerance to antibiotics. A hybrid sequencing strategy was used to obtain high-quality reference-grade assemblies of all isolates. Single nucleotide variants (SNV) divergence in the core genome and sequence type clustering were used to analyse the relatedness of the isolate pairs. Single nucleotide and structural genome variations, plasmid similarity, and plasmid copy numbers between pairs were examined. Our analysis revealed that 41 % (14/34 pairs) of S. aureus isolates were persistent, while 59 % (20/34 pairs) were non-persistent. Persistent isolates showed episode-specific mutational changes over time with a bias towards events in genes involved in adhesion to the host and mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, prophages, and insertion sequences. Furthermore, a significant increase in the copy number of conserved plasmids of persistent strains was observed. This was accompanied by a significant increase in biofilm tolerance against all tested antibiotics, which was linked to a significant increase in biofilm biomass over time, indicating a potential biofilm pathoadaptive process in persistent isolates. In conclusion, our study provides important insights into the mutational changes during S. aureus persistence in CRS patients highlighting potential pathoadaptive mechanisms in S. aureus persistent isolates culminating in increased biofilm biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghais Houtak
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - George Bouras
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Roshan Nepal
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Gohar Shaghayegh
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Clare Cooksley
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Alkis James Psaltis
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Peter-John Wormald
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Sarah Vreugde
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
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Hernández-Navarro L, Asker M, Rucklidge AM, Mobilia M. Coupled environmental and demographic fluctuations shape the evolution of cooperative antimicrobial resistance. J R Soc Interface 2023; 20:20230393. [PMID: 37907094 PMCID: PMC10618063 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a pressing need to better understand how microbial populations respond to antimicrobial drugs, and to find mechanisms to possibly eradicate antimicrobial-resistant cells. The inactivation of antimicrobials by resistant microbes can often be viewed as a cooperative behaviour leading to the coexistence of resistant and sensitive cells in large populations and static environments. This picture is, however, greatly altered by the fluctuations arising in volatile environments, in which microbial communities commonly evolve. Here, we study the eco-evolutionary dynamics of a population consisting of an antimicrobial-resistant strain and microbes sensitive to antimicrobial drugs in a time-fluctuating environment, modelled by a carrying capacity randomly switching between states of abundance and scarcity. We assume that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a shared public good when the number of resistant cells exceeds a certain threshold. Eco-evolutionary dynamics is thus characterised by demographic noise (birth and death events) coupled to environmental fluctuations which can cause population bottlenecks. By combining analytical and computational means, we determine the environmental conditions for the long-lived coexistence and fixation of both strains, and characterise a fluctuation-driven AMR eradication mechanism, where resistant microbes experience bottlenecks leading to extinction. We also discuss the possible applications of our findings to laboratory-controlled experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lluís Hernández-Navarro
- Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Matthew Asker
- Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Alastair M. Rucklidge
- Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Mauro Mobilia
- Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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41
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Sun H, Li H, Zhang X, Liu Y, Chen H, Zheng L, Zhai Y, Zheng H. The honeybee gut resistome and its role in antibiotic resistance dissemination. Integr Zool 2023; 18:1014-1026. [PMID: 36892101 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
There is now general concern about widespread antibiotic resistance, and growing evidence indicates that gut microbiota is critical in providing antibiotic resistance. Honeybee is an important pollinator; the incidence of antibiotic resistance genes in honeybee gut causes potential risks to not only its own health but also to public and animal health, for its potential disseminator role, thus receiving more attention from the public. Recent analysis results reveal that the gut of honeybee serves as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes, probably due to antibiotics application history in beekeeping and horizontal gene transfer from the highly polluted environment. These antibiotic resistance genes accumulate in the honeybee gut and could be transferred to the pathogen, even having the potential to spread during pollination, tending, social interactions, etc. Newly acquired resistance traits may cause fitness reduction in bacteria whereas facilitating adaptive evolution as well. This review outlines the current knowledge about the resistome in honeybee gut and emphasizes its role in antibiotic resistance dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center on Biocontrol of Crops Diseases and Insect Pests, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center on Biocontrol of Crops Diseases and Insect Pests, Jinan, China
| | - Li Zheng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center on Biocontrol of Crops Diseases and Insect Pests, Jinan, China
| | - Yifan Zhai
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center on Biocontrol of Crops Diseases and Insect Pests, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center on Biocontrol of Crops Diseases and Insect Pests, Jinan, China
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Allain M, Mahérault AC, Gachet B, Martinez C, Condamine B, Magnan M, Kempf I, Denamur E, Landraud L. Dissemination of IncI plasmid encoding bla CTX-M-1 is not hampered by its fitness cost in the pig's gut. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0011123. [PMID: 37702541 PMCID: PMC10583664 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00111-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiresistance plasmids belonging to the IncI incompatibility group have become one of the most pervasive plasmid types in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli of animal origin. The extent of the burden imposed on the bacterial cell by these plasmids seems to modulate the emergence of "epidemic" plasmids. However, in vivo data in the natural environment of the strains are scarce. Here, we investigated the cost of a bla CTX-M-1-IncI1 epidemic plasmid in a commensal E. coli animal strain, UB12-RC, before and after oral inoculation of 15 6- to 8-week- old specific-pathogen-free pigs. Growth rate in rich medium was determined on (i) UB12-RC and derivatives, with or without plasmid, in vivo and/or in vitro evolved, and (ii) strains that acquired the plasmid in the gut during the experiment. Although bla CTX-M-1-IncI1 plasmid imposed no measurable burden on the recipient strain after conjugation and during the longitudinal carriage in the pig's gut, we observed a significant difference in the bacterial growth rate between IncI1 plasmid-carrying and plasmid-free isolates collected during in vivo carriage. Only a few mutations on the chromosome of the UB12-RC derivatives were detected by whole-genome sequencing. RNA-Seq analysis of a selected set of these strains showed that transcriptional responses to the bla CTX-M-1-IncI1 acquisition were limited, affecting metabolism, stress response, and motility functions. Our data suggest that the effect of IncI plasmid on host cells is limited, fitness cost being insufficient to act as a barrier to IncI plasmid spread among natural population of E. coli in the gut niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Allain
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Laboratoire de Microbiologie Hygiène, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Colombes, France
| | - Anne Claire Mahérault
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Laboratoire de Microbiologie Hygiène, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Colombes, France
| | - Benoit Gachet
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
| | - Caroline Martinez
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
| | - Bénédicte Condamine
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
| | - Mélanie Magnan
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Kempf
- ANSES, Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort, Ploufragan, France
| | - Erick Denamur
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France
| | - Luce Landraud
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, IAME, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Laboratoire de Microbiologie Hygiène, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Colombes, France
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Weiss A, Wang T, You L. Promotion of plasmid maintenance by heterogeneous partitioning of microbial communities. Cell Syst 2023; 14:895-905.e5. [PMID: 37820728 PMCID: PMC10591896 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Transferable plasmids play a critical role in shaping the functions of microbial communities. Previous studies suggested multiple mechanisms underlying plasmid persistence and abundance. Here, we focus on the interplay between heterogeneous community partitioning and plasmid fates. Natural microbiomes often experience partitioning that creates heterogeneous local communities with reduced population sizes and biodiversity. Little is known about how population partitioning affects the plasmid fate through the modulation of community structure. By modeling and experiments, we show that heterogeneous community partitioning can paradoxically promote the persistence of a plasmid that would otherwise not persist in a global community. Among the local communities created by partitioning, a minority will primarily consist of members able to transfer the plasmid fast enough to support its maintenance by serving as a local plasmid haven. Our results provide insights into plasmid maintenance and suggest a generalizable approach to modulate plasmid persistence for engineering and medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Weiss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Teng Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Lingchong You
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Center for Quantitative Biodesign, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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Zhang Y, Xu D, He Z, Han J, Qu D. Characterization and fitness cost analysis of two plasmids carrying different subtypes of bla NDM in aquaculture farming. Food Microbiol 2023; 115:104327. [PMID: 37567620 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the blaNDM gene, which mediate resistance to carbapenems, has disseminated all over the world, and has also been detected in animals. Understanding the dissemination and accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in a human-impacted environment is essential to solve the food safety problems caused by antibiotics. In this study, two strains of carbapenem bacteria carrying blaNDM were screened from 244 strains isolated from two T. sinensis farms in Zhejiang province, China. After their plasmids were isolated and sequenced, their structure and gene environment were analyzed and the mechanism of blaNDM gene transfer was explored. The study measured the fitness cost of plasmids carrying different blaNDM subtypes by four biological characteristics experiments. The results showed that the fitness cost of IncC plasmid carrying blaNDM-1 was higher than that of IncX3 plasmid carrying blaNDM-5. Furthermore, the real-time PCR showed that the decrease of transcription level of fitness-related genes lead to the different fitness cost of plasmids carrying different blaNDM subtypes. Fitness of many blaNDM-harboring plasmids enhanced the further dissemination of this gene and increase the risk of blaNDM gene spreading in aquatic environment, and thus further investigation of carbapenem-resistant bacterias among food animals are in urgent need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaru Zhang
- Food Safety Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Dingting Xu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311100, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ze He
- Food Safety Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Jianzhong Han
- Food Safety Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Daofeng Qu
- Food Safety Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
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Carscadden KA, Batstone RT, Hauser FE. Origins and evolution of biological novelty. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1472-1491. [PMID: 37056155 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the origins and impacts of novel traits has been a perennial interest in many realms of ecology and evolutionary biology. Here, we build on previous evolutionary and philosophical treatments of this subject to encompass novelties across biological scales and eco-evolutionary perspectives. By defining novelties as new features at one biological scale that have emergent effects at other biological scales, we incorporate many forms of novelty that have previously been treated in isolation (such as novelty from genetic mutations, new developmental pathways, new morphological features, and new species). Our perspective is based on the fundamental idea that the emergence of a novelty, at any biological scale, depends on its environmental and genetic context. Through this lens, we outline a broad array of generative mechanisms underlying novelty and highlight how genomic tools are transforming our understanding of the origins of novelty. Lastly, we present several case studies to illustrate how novelties across biological scales and systems can be understood based on common mechanisms of change and their environmental and genetic contexts. Specifically, we highlight how gene duplication contributes to the evolution of new complex structures in visual systems; how genetic exchange in symbiosis alters functions of both host and symbiont, resulting in a novel organism; and how hybridisation between species can generate new species with new niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A Carscadden
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, 1900 Pleasant St, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Rebecca T Batstone
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Frances E Hauser
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
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Sünderhauf D, Klümper U, Gaze WH, Westra ER, van Houte S. Interspecific competition can drive plasmid loss from a focal species in a microbial community. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:1765-1773. [PMID: 37558861 PMCID: PMC10504238 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01487-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Plasmids are key disseminators of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors, and it is therefore critical to predict and reduce plasmid spread within microbial communities. The cost of plasmid carriage is a key metric that can be used to predict plasmids' ecological fate, and it is unclear whether plasmid costs are affected by growth partners in a microbial community. We carried out competition experiments and tracked plasmid maintenance using a model system consisting of a synthetic and stable five-species community and a broad host-range plasmid, engineered to carry different payloads. We report that both the cost of plasmid carriage and its long-term maintenance in a focal strain depended on the presence of competitors, and that these interactions were species specific. Addition of growth partners increased the cost of a high-payload plasmid to a focal strain, and accordingly, plasmid loss from the focal species occurred over a shorter time frame. We propose that the destabilising effect of interspecific competition on plasmid maintenance may be leveraged in clinical and natural environments to cure plasmids from focal strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Sünderhauf
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Environment and Sustainability Institute, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK.
| | - Uli Klümper
- Department Hydrosciences, Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Hydrobiology, Dresden, Germany
| | - William H Gaze
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Environment and Sustainability Institute, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Edze R Westra
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Environment and Sustainability Institute, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Stineke van Houte
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Environment and Sustainability Institute, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK.
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Wu W, Wang J, Zhang P, Wang N, Yuan Q, Shi W, Zhang X, Li X, Qu T. Emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter hormaechei ST93 plasmids co-harbouring bla NDM-1, bla KPC-2, and mcr-9 in bloodstream infection. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2023; 34:67-73. [PMID: 37369326 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We isolated a strain of Enterobacter hormaechei, ECC2783, co-harbouring blaNDM-1, blaKPC-2 and mcr-9 plasmids from a bloodstream infection and investigated its biological features. METHODS The presence of carbapenemase genes and mcr-9 was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Whole genome sequencing and genomic analysis were performed on ECC2783. Experiments assessing the conjugation and stability of plasmids carrying the carbapenemase gene were performed. We also performed a colistin resistance induction experiment and studied the fitness cost of transconjugants. RESULTS ECC2783 has an extensive drug resistance phenotype. Multilocus sequence typing analysis results showed that ECC2783 belongs to sequence type 93. Bioinformatics analysis confirmed that ECC2783 has four plasmids, of which pECC2783_a, carrying mcr-9, is the IncHI2 type, and pECC2783_c, carrying blaNDM-1, is the IncX3 type. pECC2783_d, carrying blaKPC-2, is an unclassified type. We successfully obtained two transconjugants (J53/ECC2783_1, carrying blaNDM-1, and J53/ECC2783_2, carrying blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1). There was no statistically significant difference in the relative growth rate between J53 and J53/ECC2783_2. CONCLUSION For the first time, we isolated carbapenem-resistant E. hormaechei plasmids co-harbouring blaNDM-1, blaKPC-2, and mcr-9 from a patient with a blood stream infection. This isolate has a survival advantage in a hospital environment, and its clinical monitoring should be strengthened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Respiratory Department, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Piaopiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nanfei Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weixiao Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofan Zhang
- Laboratory Medicine Centre, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xi Li
- Laboratory Medicine Centre, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Tingting Qu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
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Liu HW, Roisné-Hamelin F, Gruber S. SMC-based immunity against extrachromosomal DNA elements. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:1571-1583. [PMID: 37584323 PMCID: PMC10586767 DOI: 10.1042/bst20221395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
SMC and SMC-like complexes promote chromosome folding and genome maintenance in all domains of life. Recently, they were also recognized as factors in cellular immunity against foreign DNA. In bacteria and archaea, Wadjet and Lamassu are anti-plasmid/phage defence systems, while Smc5/6 and Rad50 complexes play a role in anti-viral immunity in humans. This raises an intriguing paradox - how can the same, or closely related, complexes on one hand secure the integrity and maintenance of chromosomal DNA, while on the other recognize and restrict extrachromosomal DNA? In this minireview, we will briefly describe the latest understanding of each of these complexes in immunity including speculations on how principles of SMC(-like) function may explain how the systems recognize linear or circular forms of invading DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hon Wing Liu
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology (DMF), Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Florian Roisné-Hamelin
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology (DMF), Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Gruber
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology (DMF), Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Liu C, Goh SG, You L, Yuan Q, Mohapatra S, Gin KYH, Chen B. Low concentration quaternary ammonium compounds promoted antibiotic resistance gene transfer via plasmid conjugation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 887:163781. [PMID: 37149193 PMCID: PMC10158037 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
During the pandemic of COVID-19, the amounts of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) used to inactivate the virus in public facilities, hospitals and households increased, which raised concerns about the evolution and transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Although QACs may play an important role in the propagation of antibiotic resistance gene (ARGs), the potential contribution and mechanism remains unclear. Here, the results showed that benzyl dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC) and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) significantly promoted plasmid RP4-mediated ARGs transfer within and across genera at environmental relevant concentrations (0.0004-0.4 mg/L). Low concentrations of QACs did not contribute to the permeability of the cell plasma membrane, but significantly increased the permeability of the cell outer membrane due to the decrease in content of lipopolysaccharides. QACs altered the composition and content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and were positively correlated with the conjugation frequency. Furthermore, transcriptional expression levels of genes encode for mating pairing formation (trbB), DNA replication and translocation (trfA), and global regulators (korA, korB, trbA) are regulated by QACs. And we demonstrate for the first time that QACs decreased the concentration of extracellular AI-2 signals, which was verified to be involved in regulating conjugative transfer genes (trbB, trfA). Collectively, our findings underscore the risk of increased disinfectant concentrations of QACs on the ARGs transfer and provide new mechanisms of plasmid conjugation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Liu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shin Giek Goh
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Luhua You
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Qiyi Yuan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Sanjeeb Mohapatra
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore.
| | - Baoliang Chen
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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Fernández-Calvet A, Toribio-Celestino L, Alonso-del Valle A, Sastre-Dominguez J, Valdes-Chiara P, San Millan A, DelaFuente J. The distribution of fitness effects of plasmid pOXA-48 in clinical enterobacteria. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001369. [PMID: 37505800 PMCID: PMC10433420 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria is a major public health problem. The main route for AMR acquisition in clinically important bacteria is the horizontal transfer of plasmids carrying resistance genes. AMR plasmids allow bacteria to survive antibiotics, but they also entail physiological alterations in the host cell. Multiple studies over the last few years have indicated that these alterations can translate into a fitness cost when antibiotics are absent. However, due to technical limitations, most of these studies are based on analysing new associations between plasmids and bacteria generated in vitro, and we know very little about the effects of plasmids in their native bacterial hosts. In this study, we used a CRISPR-Cas9-tool to selectively cure plasmids from clinical enterobacteria to overcome this limitation. Using this approach, we were able to study the fitness effects of the carbapenem resistance plasmid pOXA-48 in 35 pOXA-48-carrying isolates recovered from hospitalized patients. Our results revealed that pOXA-48 produces variable effects across the collection of wild-type enterobacterial strains naturally carrying the plasmid, ranging from fitness costs to fitness benefits. Importantly, the plasmid was only associated with a significant fitness reduction in four out of 35 clones, and produced no significant changes in fitness in the great majority of isolates. Our results suggest that plasmids produce neutral fitness effects in most native bacterial hosts, helping to explain the great prevalence of plasmids in natural microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Alvaro San Millan
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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