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Antimicrobial Resistance Determinants in Genomes and Plasmids from Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Isolates. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10070753. [PMID: 34206348 PMCID: PMC8300758 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10070753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative coccoid rod species, clinically relevant as a human pathogen, included in the ESKAPE group. Carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) are considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a critical priority pathogen for the research and development of new antibiotics. Some of the most relevant features of this pathogen are its intrinsic multidrug resistance and its ability to acquire rapid and effective new resistant determinants against last-resort clinical antibiotics, mostly from other ESKAPE species. The presence of plasmids and mobile genetic elements in their genomes contributes to the acquisition of new antimicrobial resistance determinants. However, although A. baumannii has arisen as an important human pathogen, information about these elements is still not well understood. Current genomic analysis availability has increased our ability to understand the microevolution of bacterial pathogens, including point mutations, genetic dissemination, genomic stability, and pan- and core-genome compositions. In this work, we deeply studied the genomes of four clinical strains from our hospital, and the reference strain ATCC®19606TM, which have shown a remarkable ability to survive and maintain their effective capacity when subjected to long-term stress conditions. With that, our aim was presenting a detailed analysis of their genomes, including antibiotic resistance determinants and plasmid composition.
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152
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Sitter TL, Vaughan AL, Schoof M, Jackson SA, Glare TR, Cox MP, Fineran PC, Gardner PP, Hurst MRH. Evolution of virulence in a novel family of transmissible mega-plasmids. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:5289-5304. [PMID: 33989447 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Some Serratia entomophila isolates have been successfully exploited in biopesticides due to their ability to cause amber disease in larvae of the Aotearoa (New Zealand) endemic pasture pest, Costelytra giveni. Anti-feeding prophage and ABC toxin complex virulence determinants are encoded by a 153-kb single-copy conjugative plasmid (pADAP; amber disease-associated plasmid). Despite growing understanding of the S. entomophila pADAP model plasmid, little is known about the wider plasmid family. Here, we sequence and analyse mega-plasmids from 50 Serratia isolates that induce variable disease phenotypes in the C. giveni insect host. Mega-plasmids are highly conserved within S. entomophila, but show considerable divergence in Serratia proteamaculans with other variants in S. liquefaciens and S. marcescens, likely reflecting niche adaption. In this study to reconstruct ancestral relationships for a complex mega-plasmid system, strong co-evolution between Serratia species and their plasmids were found. We identify 12 distinct mega-plasmid genotypes, all sharing a conserved gene backbone, but encoding highly variable accessory regions including virulence factors, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, Nitrogen fixation genes and toxin-antitoxin systems. We show that the variable pathogenicity of Serratia isolates is largely caused by presence/absence of virulence clusters on the mega-plasmids, but notably, is augmented by external chromosomally encoded factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L Sitter
- Forage Science, AgResearch, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Amy L Vaughan
- Forage Science, AgResearch, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Marion Schoof
- Forage Science, AgResearch, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Simon A Jackson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Murray P Cox
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln, New Zealand.,Statistics and Bioinformatics Group, School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Peter C Fineran
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln, New Zealand.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Paul P Gardner
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln, New Zealand.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Mark R H Hurst
- Forage Science, AgResearch, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln, New Zealand
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153
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Yang J, Wang HH, Lu Y, Yi LX, Deng Y, Lv L, Burrus V, Liu JH. A ProQ/FinO family protein involved in plasmid copy number control favours fitness of bacteria carrying mcr-1-bearing IncI2 plasmids. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:3981-3996. [PMID: 33721023 PMCID: PMC8053102 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The plasmid-encoded colistin resistance gene mcr-1 challenges the use of polymyxins and poses a threat to public health. Although IncI2-type plasmids are the most common vector for spreading the mcr-1 gene, the mechanisms by which these plasmids adapt to host bacteria and maintain resistance genes remain unclear. Herein, we investigated the regulatory mechanism for controlling the fitness cost of an IncI2 plasmid carrying mcr-1. A putative ProQ/FinO family protein encoded by the IncI2 plasmid, designated as PcnR (plasmid copy number repressor), balances the mcr-1 expression and bacteria fitness by repressing the plasmid copy number. It binds to the first stem-loop structure of the repR mRNA to repress RepA expression, which differs from any other previously reported plasmid replication control mechanism. Plasmid invasion experiments revealed that pcnR is essential for the persistence of the mcr-1-bearing IncI2 plasmid in the bacterial populations. Additionally, single-copy mcr-1 gene still exerted a fitness cost to host bacteria, and negatively affected the persistence of the IncI2 plasmid in competitive co-cultures. These findings demonstrate that maintaining mcr-1 plasmid at a single copy is essential for its persistence, and explain the significantly reduced prevalence of mcr-1 following the ban of colistin as a growth promoter in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistant of Microorganisms in Animals, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs,Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hai-Hong Wang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaoyao Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistant of Microorganisms in Animals, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs,Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling-Xian Yi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistant of Microorganisms in Animals, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs,Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yinyue Deng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Luchao Lv
- College of Veterinary Medicine, National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistant of Microorganisms in Animals, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs,Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Vincent Burrus
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke J1K 2R1, Québec, Canada
| | - Jian-Hua Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistant of Microorganisms in Animals, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs,Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
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154
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Abstract
Plasmids play an important role in bacterial evolution by transferring niche-adaptive functional genes between lineages, thus driving genomic diversification. Bacterial genomes commonly contain multiple, coexisting plasmid replicons, which could fuel adaptation by increasing the range of gene functions available to selection and allowing their recombination. However, plasmid coexistence is difficult to explain because the acquisition of plasmids typically incurs high fitness costs for the host cell. Here, we show that plasmid coexistence was stably maintained without positive selection for plasmid-borne gene functions and was associated with compensatory evolution to reduce fitness costs. In contrast, with positive selection, plasmid coexistence was unstable despite compensatory evolution. Positive selection discriminated between differential fitness benefits of functionally redundant plasmid replicons, retaining only the more beneficial plasmid. These data suggest that while the efficiency of negative selection against plasmid fitness costs declines over time due to compensatory evolution, positive selection to maximize plasmid-derived fitness benefits remains efficient. Our findings help to explain the forces structuring bacterial genomes: coexistence of multiple plasmids in a genome is likely to require either rare positive selection in nature or nonredundancy of accessory gene functions among the coexisting plasmids.
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155
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Alonso-Del Valle A, León-Sampedro R, Rodríguez-Beltrán J, DelaFuente J, Hernández-García M, Ruiz-Garbajosa P, Cantón R, Peña-Miller R, San Millán A. Variability of plasmid fitness effects contributes to plasmid persistence in bacterial communities. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2653. [PMID: 33976161 PMCID: PMC8113577 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22849-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmid persistence in bacterial populations is strongly influenced by the fitness effects associated with plasmid carriage. However, plasmid fitness effects in wild-type bacterial hosts remain largely unexplored. In this study, we determined the fitness effects of the major antibiotic resistance plasmid pOXA-48_K8 in wild-type, ecologically compatible enterobacterial isolates from the human gut microbiota. Our results show that although pOXA-48_K8 produced an overall reduction in bacterial fitness, it produced small effects in most bacterial hosts, and even beneficial effects in several isolates. Moreover, genomic results showed a link between pOXA-48_K8 fitness effects and bacterial phylogeny, helping to explain plasmid epidemiology. Incorporating our fitness results into a simple population dynamics model revealed a new set of conditions for plasmid stability in bacterial communities, with plasmid persistence increasing with bacterial diversity and becoming less dependent on conjugation. These results help to explain the high prevalence of plasmids in the greatly diverse natural microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Alonso-Del Valle
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo León-Sampedro
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red. Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jerónimo Rodríguez-Beltrán
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red. Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier DelaFuente
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Hernández-García
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
- Red Española de Investigación en Patología Infecciosa. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Ruiz-Garbajosa
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
- Red Española de Investigación en Patología Infecciosa. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Cantón
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
- Red Española de Investigación en Patología Infecciosa. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Peña-Miller
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
| | - Alvaro San Millán
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red. Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
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156
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Shawa M, Furuta Y, Mulenga G, Mubanga M, Mulenga E, Zorigt T, Kaile C, Simbotwe M, Paudel A, Hang'ombe B, Higashi H. Novel chromosomal insertions of ISEcp1-bla CTX-M-15 and diverse antimicrobial resistance genes in Zambian clinical isolates of Enterobacter cloacae and Escherichia coli. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2021; 10:79. [PMID: 33971966 PMCID: PMC8111917 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-021-00941-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The epidemiology of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) has undergone dramatic changes, with CTX-M-type enzymes prevailing over other types. blaCTX-M genes, encoding CTX-M-type ESBLs, are usually found on plasmids, but chromosomal location is becoming common. Given that blaCTX-M-harboring strains often exhibit multidrug resistance (MDR), it is important to investigate the association between chromosomally integrated blaCTX-M and the presence of additional antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, and to identify other relevant genetic elements. Methods A total of 46 clinical isolates of cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (1 Enterobacter cloacae, 9 Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 36 Escherichia coli) from Zambia were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS) using MiSeq and MinION. By reconstructing nearly complete genomes, blaCTX-M genes were categorized as either chromosomal or plasmid-borne. Results WGS-based genotyping identified 58 AMR genes, including four blaCTX-M alleles (i.e., blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-15, blaCTX-M-27, and blaCTX-M-55). Hierarchical clustering using selected phenotypic and genotypic characteristics suggested clonal dissemination of blaCTX-M genes. Out of 45 blaCTX-M gene-carrying strains, 7 harbored the gene in their chromosome. In one E. cloacae and three E. coli strains, chromosomal blaCTX-M-15 was located on insertions longer than 10 kb. These insertions were bounded by ISEcp1 at one end, exhibited a high degree of nucleotide sequence homology with previously reported plasmids, and carried multiple AMR genes that corresponded with phenotypic AMR profiles. Conclusion Our study revealed the co-occurrence of ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-15 and multiple AMR genes on chromosomal insertions in E. cloacae and E. coli, suggesting that ISEcp1 may be responsible for the transposition of diverse AMR genes from plasmids to chromosomes. Stable retention of such insertions in chromosomes may facilitate the successful propagation of MDR clones among these Enterobacteriaceae species. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13756-021-00941-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misheck Shawa
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Furuta
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Gillan Mulenga
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Maron Mubanga
- Department of Para-Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Evans Mulenga
- Department of Para-Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Tuvshinzaya Zorigt
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Christone Kaile
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Manyando Simbotwe
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Atmika Paudel
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Bernard Hang'ombe
- Department of Para-Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Hideaki Higashi
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
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157
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Lysinibacillus sphaericus III(3)7 and Plasmid Vector pMK4: New Challenges in Cloning Platforms. MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/microbiolres12020031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The acquisition and especially the maintenance of a plasmid usually brings a fitness cost that reduces the reproductive rate of the bacterial host; for strains like Lysinibacillus sphaericus III(3)7, which possesses important environmental properties, this alteration along with morphological changes and reduced sporulation rates may exert a negative effect on metabolic studies using plasmids as cloning platforms. The aim of this study is to approach the metabolic behavior of pMK4-bearing cells of L. sphaericus III(3)7 through the use of bioinformatic and in vitro analyses. An incompatibility model between the pMK4 vector and a predicted megaplasmid, pBsph, inside III(3)7 cells was constructed based on an incA region. Additionally, in vitro long-term plasmid stability was not found in plasmid-bearing cells. Alignments between replicons, mobile genetic elements and RNA-RNA interactions were assessed, pairwise alignment visualization, graphic models and morphological changes were evaluated by SEM. Metabolite analysis was done through HPLC coupled to a Q-TOF 6545, and electrospray ionization was used, finally, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae were used for larvicidal activity assessment. Results found, a decreased growth rate, spore formation reduction and morphological changes, which supported the idea of metabolic cost exerted by pMK4. An incompatibility between pMK4 and pBsph appears to take place inside L. sphaericus III(3)7 cells, however, further in vitro studies are needed to confirm it.
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158
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Li L, Nesme J, Quintela-Baluja M, Balboa S, Hashsham S, Williams MR, Yu Z, Sørensen SJ, Graham DW, Romalde JL, Dechesne A, Smets BF. Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase and Carbapenemase Genes are Substantially and Sequentially Reduced during Conveyance and Treatment of Urban Sewage. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:5939-5949. [PMID: 33886308 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Urban wastewater systems (UWSs) are a main receptacle of excreted antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their host microorganisms. However, we lack integrated and quantitative observations of the occurrence of ARGs in the UWS to characterize the sources and identify processes that contribute to their fate. We sampled the UWSs from three medium-size cities in Denmark, Spain, and the United Kingdom and quantified 70 clinically important extended-spectrum β-lactamase and carbapenemase genes along with the mobile genetic elements and microbial communities. Results from all three countries showed that sewage-especially from hospitals-carried substantial loads of ARGs (106-107 copies per person equivalent), but these loads progressively declined along sewers and through sewage treatment plants, resulting in minimal emissions (101-104 copies per person equivalent). Removal was primarily during sewage conveyance (65 ± 36%) rather than within sewage treatment (34 ± 23%). The extended-spectrum β-lactamase and carbapenemase genes were clustered in groups based on their persistence in the UWS compartments. The less-persistent groups were associated to putative host taxa (especially Enterobacteriaceae and Moraxellaceae), while the more persistent groups appeared horizontally transferred and correlated significantly with total cell numbers and mobile genetic elements. This documentation of a substantial ARG reduction during sewage conveyance provides opportunities for antibiotic resistance management and a caution for sewage-based antibiotic resistance surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liguan Li
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby 2800, DK
| | - Joseph Nesme
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | | | - Sabela Balboa
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, CIBUS-Faculty of Biology & Institute CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela 15782, Spain
| | - Syed Hashsham
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, Michigan, USA
| | - Maggie R Williams
- School of Engineering and Technology, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant 48859, Michigan, USA
| | - Zhuofeng Yu
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Søren J Sørensen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Jesús L Romalde
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, CIBUS-Faculty of Biology & Institute CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela 15782, Spain
| | - Arnaud Dechesne
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby 2800, DK
| | - Barth F Smets
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby 2800, DK
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159
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Mitchell S, Bull M, Muscatello G, Chapman B, Coleman NV. The equine hindgut as a reservoir of mobile genetic elements and antimicrobial resistance genes. Crit Rev Microbiol 2021; 47:543-561. [PMID: 33899656 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2021.1907301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens is a growing problem for both human and veterinary medicine. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as plasmids, transposons, and integrons enable the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) among bacteria, and the overuse of antibiotics drives this process by providing the selection pressure for resistance genes to establish and persist in bacterial populations. Because bacteria, MGEs, and resistance genes can readily spread between different ecological compartments (e.g. soil, plants, animals, humans, wastewater), a "One Health" approach is needed to combat this problem. The equine hindgut is an understudied but potentially significant reservoir of ARGs and MGEs, since horses have close contact with humans, their manure is used in agriculture, they have a dense microbiome of both bacteria and fungi, and many antimicrobials used for equine treatment are also used in human medicine. Here, we collate information to date about resistance genes, plasmids, and class 1 integrons from equine-derived bacteria, we discuss why the equine hindgut deserves increased attention as a potential reservoir of ARGs, and we suggest ways to minimize the selection for ARGs in horses, in order to prevent their spread to the wider community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Mitchell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Gary Muscatello
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Nicholas V Coleman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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160
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Law A, Solano O, Brown CJ, Hunter SS, Fagnan M, Top EM, Stalder T. Biosolids as a Source of Antibiotic Resistance Plasmids for Commensal and Pathogenic Bacteria. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:606409. [PMID: 33967971 PMCID: PMC8098119 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.606409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a threat to modern medicine, and plasmids are driving the global spread of AR by horizontal gene transfer across microbiomes and environments. Determining the mobile resistome responsible for this spread of AR among environments is essential in our efforts to attenuate the current crisis. Biosolids are a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) byproduct used globally as fertilizer in agriculture. Here, we investigated the mobile resistome of biosolids that are used as fertilizer. This was done by capturing resistance plasmids that can transfer to human pathogens and commensal bacteria. We used a higher-throughput version of the exogenous plasmid isolation approach by mixing several ESKAPE pathogens and a commensal Escherichia coli with biosolids and screening for newly acquired resistance to about 10 antibiotics in these strains. Six unique resistance plasmids transferred to Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella aerogenes, and E. coli. All the plasmids were self-transferable and carried 3-6 antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) conferring resistance to 2-4 antibiotic classes. These plasmids-borne resistance genes were further embedded in genetic elements promoting intracellular recombination (i.e., transposons or class 1 integrons). The plasmids belonged to the broad-host-range plasmid (BHR) groups IncP-1 or PromA. Several of them were persistent in their new hosts when grown in the absence of antibiotics, suggesting that the newly acquired drug resistance traits would be sustained over time. This study highlights the role of BHRs in the spread of ARG between environmental bacteria and human pathogens and commensals, where they may persist. The work further emphasizes biosolids as potential vehicles of highly mobile plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Law
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Olubunmi Solano
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Celeste J. Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Samuel S. Hunter
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
- UC-Davis Genome Center, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Matt Fagnan
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Eva M. Top
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Thibault Stalder
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
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161
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Ecology and evolution of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial communities. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:939-948. [PMID: 33219299 PMCID: PMC8115348 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00832-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that the response of bacteria to antibiotics is significantly affected by the presence of other interacting microbes. These interactions are not typically accounted for when determining pathogen sensitivity to antibiotics. In this perspective, we argue that resistance and evolutionary responses to antibiotic treatments should not be considered only a trait of an individual bacteria species but also an emergent property of the microbial community in which pathogens are embedded. We outline how interspecies interactions can affect the responses of individual species and communities to antibiotic treatment, and how these responses could affect the strength of selection, potentially changing the trajectory of resistance evolution. Finally, we identify key areas of future research which will allow for a more complete understanding of antibiotic resistance in bacterial communities. We emphasise that acknowledging the ecological context, i.e. the interactions that occur between pathogens and within communities, could help the development of more efficient and effective antibiotic treatments.
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162
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Detection of a New Resistance-Mediating Plasmid Chimera in a blaOXA-48-Positive Klebsiella pneumoniae Strain at a German University Hospital. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9040720. [PMID: 33807212 PMCID: PMC8066831 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids, facilitate the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in Enterobacterales. In line with this, we investigated the plasmid-resistome of seven blaOXA-48 gene-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, which were isolated between 2013 and 2014 at the University Medical Center in Göttingen, Germany. All isolates were subjected to complete genome sequencing including the reconstruction of entire plasmid sequences. In addition, phenotypic resistance testing was conducted. The seven isolates comprised both disease-associated isolates and colonizers isolated from five patients. They fell into two clusters of three sequence type (ST)101 and two ST11 isolates, respectively; and ST15 and ST23 singletons. The seven isolates harbored various plasmids of the incompatibility (Inc) groups IncF, IncL/M, IncN, IncR, and a novel plasmid chimera. All blaOXA-48 genes were encoded on the IncL/M plasmids. Of note, distinct phenotypical resistance patterns associated with different sets of resistance genes encoded by IncL/M and IncR plasmids were observed among isolates of the ST101 cluster in spite of high phylogenetic relatedness of the bacterial chromosomes, suggesting nosocomial transmission. This highlights the importance of plasmid uptake and plasmid recombination events for the fast generation of resistance variability after clonal transmission. In conclusion, this study contributes a piece in the puzzle of molecular epidemiology of resistance gene-carrying plasmids in K. pneumoniae in Germany.
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163
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Kloos J, Gama JA, Hegstad J, Samuelsen Ø, Johnsen PJ. Piggybacking on Niche Adaptation Improves the Maintenance of Multidrug-Resistance Plasmids. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:3188-3201. [PMID: 33760032 PMCID: PMC8321521 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The persistence of plasmids in bacterial populations represents a puzzling evolutionary problem with serious clinical implications due to their role in the ongoing antibiotic resistance crisis. Recently, major advancements have been made toward resolving this “plasmid paradox” but mainly in a nonclinical context. Here, we propose an additional explanation for the maintenance of multidrug‐resistance plasmids in clinical Escherichia coli strains. After coevolving two multidrug‐resistance plasmids encoding resistance to last resort carbapenems with an extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli strain, we observed that chromosomal media adaptive mutations in the global regulatory systems CCR (carbon catabolite repression) and ArcAB (aerobic respiration control) pleiotropically improved the maintenance of both plasmids. Mechanistically, a net downregulation of plasmid gene expression reduced the fitness cost. Our results suggest that global chromosomal transcriptional rewiring during bacterial niche adaptation may facilitate plasmid maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Kloos
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - João A Gama
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Joachim Hegstad
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ørjan Samuelsen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Pål J Johnsen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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164
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Marincola G, Jaschkowitz G, Kieninger AK, Wencker FDR, Feßler AT, Schwarz S, Ziebuhr W. Plasmid-Chromosome Crosstalk in Staphylococcus aureus: A Horizontally Acquired Transcription Regulator Controls Polysaccharide Intercellular Adhesin-Mediated Biofilm Formation. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:660702. [PMID: 33829001 PMCID: PMC8019970 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.660702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) of clonal complex CC398 typically carry various antimicrobial resistance genes, many of them located on plasmids. In the bovine LA-MRSA isolate Rd11, we previously identified plasmid pAFS11 in which resistance genes are co-localized with a novel ica-like gene cluster, harboring genes required for polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA)-mediated biofilm formation. The ica genes on pAFS11 were acquired in addition to a pre-existing ica locus on the S. aureus Rd11 chromosomal DNA. Both loci consist of an icaADBC operon and icaR, encoding a corresponding icaADBC repressor. Despite carrying two biofilm gene copies, strain Rd11 did not produce PIA and transformation of pAFS11 into another S. aureus strain even slightly diminished PIA-mediated biofilm formation. By focusing on the molecular background of the biofilm-negative phenotype of pAFS11-carrying S. aureus, we identified the pAFS11-borne ica locus copy as functionally fully active. However, transcription of both plasmid- and core genome-derived icaADBC operons were efficiently suppressed involving IcaR. Surprisingly, although being different on the amino acid sequence level, the two IcaR repressor proteins are mutually replaceable and are able to interact with the icaA promoter region of the other copy. We speculate that this regulatory crosstalk causes the biofilm-negative phenotype in S. aureus Rd11. The data shed light on an unexpected regulatory interplay between pre-existing and newly acquired DNA traits in S. aureus. This also raises interesting general questions regarding functional consequences of gene transfer events and their putative implications for the adaptation and evolution of bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Marincola
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Greta Jaschkowitz
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ann-Katrin Kieninger
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Freya D R Wencker
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andrea T Feßler
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Schwarz
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wilma Ziebuhr
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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165
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Plasmid- and strain-specific factors drive variation in ESBL-plasmid spread in vitro and in vivo. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:862-878. [PMID: 33149210 PMCID: PMC8026971 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00819-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer, mediated by conjugative plasmids, is a major driver of the global rise of antibiotic resistance. However, the relative contributions of factors that underlie the spread of plasmids and their roles in conjugation in vivo are unclear. To address this, we investigated the spread of clinical Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing plasmids in the absence of antibiotics in vitro and in the mouse intestine. We hypothesised that plasmid properties would be the primary determinants of plasmid spread and that bacterial strain identity would also contribute. We found clinical Escherichia coli strains natively associated with ESBL-plasmids conjugated to three distinct E. coli strains and one Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain. Final transconjugant frequencies varied across plasmid, donor, and recipient combinations, with qualitative consistency when comparing transfer in vitro and in vivo in mice. In both environments, transconjugant frequencies for these natural strains and plasmids covaried with the presence/absence of transfer genes on ESBL-plasmids and were affected by plasmid incompatibility. By moving ESBL-plasmids out of their native hosts, we showed that donor and recipient strains also modulated transconjugant frequencies. This suggests that plasmid spread in the complex gut environment of animals and humans can be predicted based on in vitro testing and genetic data.
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166
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Prensky H, Gomez‐Simmonds A, Uhlemann A, Lopatkin AJ. Conjugation dynamics depend on both the plasmid acquisition cost and the fitness cost. Mol Syst Biol 2021; 17:e9913. [PMID: 33646643 PMCID: PMC7919528 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20209913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmid conjugation is a major mechanism responsible for the spread of antibiotic resistance. Plasmid fitness costs are known to impact long-term growth dynamics of microbial populations by providing plasmid-carrying cells a relative (dis)advantage compared to plasmid-free counterparts. Separately, plasmid acquisition introduces an immediate, but transient, metabolic perturbation. However, the impact of these short-term effects on subsequent growth dynamics has not previously been established. Here, we observed that de novo transconjugants grew significantly slower and/or with overall prolonged lag times, compared to lineages that had been replicating for several generations, indicating the presence of a plasmid acquisition cost. These effects were general to diverse incompatibility groups, well-characterized and clinically captured plasmids, Gram-negative recipient strains and species, and experimental conditions. Modeling revealed that both fitness and acquisition costs modulate overall conjugation dynamics, validated with previously published data. These results suggest that the hours immediately following conjugation may play a critical role in both short- and long-term plasmid prevalence. This time frame is particularly relevant to microbiomes with high plasmid/strain diversity considered to be hot spots for conjugation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angela Gomez‐Simmonds
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Anne‐Catrin Uhlemann
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Allison J Lopatkin
- Department of BiologyBarnard CollegeNew YorkNYUSA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental BiologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
- Data Science InstituteColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
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167
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Abstract
Plasmids have largely contributed to the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes among Staphylococcus strains. Knowledge about the fitness cost that plasmids confer on clinical staphylococcal isolates and the coevolutionary dynamics that drive plasmid maintenance is still scarce. In this study, we aimed to analyze the initial fitness cost of plasmids in the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus and the plasmid-host adaptations that occur over time. For that, we first designed a CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats)-based tool that enables the removal of native S. aureus plasmids and then transferred three different plasmids isolated from clinical S. aureus strains to the same-background clinical cured strain. One of the plasmids, pUR2940, obtained from a livestock-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (LA-MRSA) ST398 strain, imposed a significant fitness cost on both its native and the new host. Experimental evolution in a nonselective medium resulted in a high rate pUR2940 loss and selected for clones with an alleviated fitness cost in which compensatory adaptation occurred via deletion of a 12.8-kb plasmid fragment, contained between two ISSau10 insertion sequences and harboring several antimicrobial resistance genes. Overall, our results describe the relevance of plasmid-borne insertion sequences in plasmid rearrangement and maintenance and suggest the potential benefits of reducing the use of antibiotics both in animal and clinical settings for the loss of clinical multidrug resistance plasmids.
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168
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Baltrus DA, Smith C, Derrick M, Leligdon C, Rosenthal Z, Mollico M, Moore A, Clark M. Genomic Background Governs Opposing Responses to Nalidixic Acid upon Megaplasmid Acquisition in Pseudomonas. mSphere 2021; 6:e00008-21. [PMID: 33597171 PMCID: PMC8544880 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00008-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer is a significant driver of evolutionary dynamics across microbial populations. Although the benefits of the acquisition of new genetic material are often quite clear, experiments across systems have demonstrated that gene transfer events can cause significant phenotypic changes and entail fitness costs in a way that is dependent on the genomic and environmental context. Here, we test for the generality of one previously identified cost, sensitization of cells to the antibiotic nalidixic acid after acquisition of an ∼1-Mb megaplasmid, across Pseudomonas strains and species. Overall, we find that the presence of this megaplasmid sensitizes many different Pseudomonas strains to nalidixic acid but that this same horizontal gene transfer event increases resistance of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 to nalidixic acid across assays as well as to ciprofloxacin under competitive conditions. These phenotypic results are not easily explained away as secondary consequences of overall fitness effects and appear to occur independently of another cost associated with this megaplasmid, sensitization to higher temperatures. Lastly, we draw parallels between these reported results and the phenomenon of sign epistasis for de novo mutations and explore how context dependence of effects of plasmid acquisition could impact overall evolutionary dynamics and the evolution of antimicrobial resistance.IMPORTANCE Numerous studies have demonstrated that gene transfer events (e.g., plasmid acquisition) can entail a variety of costs that arise as by-products of the incorporation of foreign DNA into established physiological and genetic systems. These costs can be ameliorated through evolutionary time by the occurrence of compensatory mutations, which stabilize the presence of a horizontally transferred region within the genome but which also may skew future adaptive possibilities for these lineages. Here, we demonstrate another possible outcome, that phenotypic changes arising as a consequence of the same horizontal gene transfer (HGT) event are costly to some strains but may actually be beneficial in other genomic backgrounds under the right conditions. These results provide a new viewpoint for considering conditions that promote plasmid maintenance and highlight the influence of genomic and environmental contexts when considering amelioration of fitness costs after HGT events.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Baltrus
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Caitlin Smith
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - MacKenzie Derrick
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Courtney Leligdon
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Zoe Rosenthal
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Madison Mollico
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Andrew Moore
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Meara Clark
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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169
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Millar JA, Raghavan R. Modulation of Bacterial Fitness and Virulence Through Antisense RNAs. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:596277. [PMID: 33747974 PMCID: PMC7968456 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.596277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory RNAs contribute to gene expression control in bacteria. Antisense RNAs (asRNA) are a class of regulatory RNAs that are transcribed from opposite strands of their target genes. Typically, these untranslated transcripts bind to cognate mRNAs and rapidly regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. In this article, we review asRNAs that modulate bacterial fitness and increase virulence. We chose examples that underscore the variety observed in nature including, plasmid- and chromosome-encoded asRNAs, a riboswitch-regulated asRNA, and asRNAs that require other RNAs or RNA-binding proteins for stability and activity. We explore how asRNAs improve bacterial fitness and virulence by modulating plasmid acquisition and maintenance, regulating transposon mobility, increasing resistance against bacteriophages, controlling flagellar production, and regulating nutrient acquisition. We conclude with a brief discussion on how this knowledge is helping to inform current efforts to develop new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jess A Millar
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Rahul Raghavan
- Department of Biology and Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, Portland, OR, United States.,Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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170
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Mao Y, Zeineldin M, Usmani M, Uprety S, Shisler JL, Jutla A, Unnikrishnan A, Nguyen TH. Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Salmonella enterica in Rural Areas of North Carolina After Hurricane Florence in 2018. GEOHEALTH 2021; 5:e2020GH000294. [PMID: 33709047 PMCID: PMC7892206 DOI: 10.1029/2020gh000294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study, water samples were analyzed from a rural area of North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2018 and the distribution of the ttrC virulence gene of Salmonella enterica were investigated. We also examined the distribution of culturable S. enterica and determined their antibiotic resistance profiles. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the classes of aminoglycoside, beta-lactam, and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) were targeted in this study. The ttrC gene was detected in 23 out of 25 locations. There was a wider and higher range of the ttrC gene in flooded water versus unflooded water samples (0-2.12 × 105 copies/L vs. 0-4.86 × 104 copies/L). Culturable S. enterica was isolated from 10 of 25 sampling locations, which was less prevalent than the distribution of the ttrC gene. The antibiotic resistance profiles were not distinct among the S. enterica isolates. The aminoglycoside resistance gene aac(6')-Iy had the highest relative abundance (around 0.05 copies/16S rRNA gene copy in all isolates) among all ARGs. These findings suggested that the 2018 flooding event led to higher copy numbers of the ttrC genes of S. enterica in some flooded water bodies compared to those in unflooded water bodies. The high ARG level and similar ARG profiles were observed in all S. enterica isolates from both flooded and unflooded samples, suggesting that the antibiotic resistance was prevalent in S. enterica within this region, regardless of flooding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Mao
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - Mohamed Zeineldin
- Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
- Animal Medicine DepartmentCollege of Veterinary MedicineBenha UniversityBenhaEgypt
| | - Moiz Usmani
- Environmental Engineering SciencesUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
| | - Sital Uprety
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - Joanna L. Shisler
- Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - Antarpreet Jutla
- Environmental Engineering SciencesUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
| | | | - Thanh H. Nguyen
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
- Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
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171
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Indirect Selection against Antibiotic Resistance via Specialized Plasmid-Dependent Bacteriophages. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020280. [PMID: 33572937 PMCID: PMC7911639 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance genes of important Gram-negative bacterial pathogens are residing in mobile genetic elements such as conjugative plasmids. These elements rapidly disperse between cells when antibiotics are present and hence our continuous use of antimicrobials selects for elements that often harbor multiple resistance genes. Plasmid-dependent (or male-specific or, in some cases, pilus-dependent) bacteriophages are bacterial viruses that infect specifically bacteria that carry certain plasmids. The introduction of these specialized phages into a plasmid-abundant bacterial community has many beneficial effects from an anthropocentric viewpoint: the majority of the plasmids are lost while the remaining plasmids acquire mutations that make them untransferable between pathogens. Recently, bacteriophage-based therapies have become a more acceptable choice to treat multi-resistant bacterial infections. Accordingly, there is a possibility to utilize these specialized phages, which are not dependent on any particular pathogenic species or strain but rather on the resistance-providing elements, in order to improve or enlengthen the lifespan of conventional antibiotic approaches. Here, we take a snapshot of the current knowledge of plasmid-dependent bacteriophages.
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172
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Herencias C, Rodríguez-Beltrán J, León-Sampedro R, Alonso-del Valle A, Palkovičová J, Cantón R, San Millán Á. Collateral sensitivity associated with antibiotic resistance plasmids. eLife 2021; 10:e65130. [PMID: 33470194 PMCID: PMC7837676 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Collateral sensitivity (CS) is a promising alternative approach to counteract the rising problem of antibiotic resistance (ABR). CS occurs when the acquisition of resistance to one antibiotic produces increased susceptibility to a second antibiotic. Recent studies have focused on CS strategies designed against ABR mediated by chromosomal mutations. However, one of the main drivers of ABR in clinically relevant bacteria is the horizontal transfer of ABR genes mediated by plasmids. Here, we report the first analysis of CS associated with the acquisition of complete ABR plasmids, including the clinically important carbapenem-resistance conjugative plasmid pOXA-48. In addition, we describe the conservation of CS in clinical E. coli isolates and its application to selectively kill plasmid-carrying bacteria. Our results provide new insights that establish the basis for developing CS-informed treatment strategies to combat plasmid-mediated ABR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Herencias
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación SanitariaMadridSpain
| | - Jerónimo Rodríguez-Beltrán
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación SanitariaMadridSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
| | - Ricardo León-Sampedro
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación SanitariaMadridSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
| | - Aida Alonso-del Valle
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación SanitariaMadridSpain
| | - Jana Palkovičová
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical SciencesBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Rafael Cantón
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación SanitariaMadridSpain
- Red Española de Investigación en Patología Infecciosa. Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
| | - Álvaro San Millán
- Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación SanitariaMadridSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-CSICMadridSpain
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173
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Beyond horizontal gene transfer: the role of plasmids in bacterial evolution. Nat Rev Microbiol 2021; 19:347-359. [PMID: 33469168 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-020-00497-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Plasmids have a key role in bacterial ecology and evolution because they mobilize accessory genes by horizontal gene transfer. However, recent studies have revealed that the evolutionary impact of plasmids goes above and beyond their being mere gene delivery platforms. Plasmids are usually kept at multiple copies per cell, producing islands of polyploidy in the bacterial genome. As a consequence, the evolution of plasmid-encoded genes is governed by a set of rules different from those affecting chromosomal genes, and these rules are shaped by unusual concepts in bacterial genetics, such as genetic dominance, heteroplasmy or segregational drift. In this Review, we discuss recent advances that underscore the importance of plasmids in bacterial ecology and evolution beyond horizontal gene transfer. We focus on new evidence that suggests that plasmids might accelerate bacterial evolution, mainly by promoting the evolution of plasmid-encoded genes, but also by enhancing the adaptation of their host chromosome. Finally, we integrate the most relevant theoretical and empirical studies providing a global understanding of the forces that govern plasmid-mediated evolution in bacteria.
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174
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Birmes L, Freese HM, Petersen J. RepC_soli: a novel promiscuous plasmid type of Rhodobacteraceae mediates horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistances in the ocean. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:5395-5411. [PMID: 33393148 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Alphaproteobacteria are typically characterized by a multipartite genome organization with a chromosome, stable chromids and accessory plasmids. Extrachromosomal elements determine the lifestyle of roseobacters and their horizontal transfer was previously correlated with rapid adaptations to novel ecological niches. We characterized the distribution and biology of a novel Rhodobacteraceae-specific plasmid type that was designated RepC_soli according to its diagnostic solitary replicase. This low copy number replicon exhibits an exceptional stability, which is likely ensured by non-canonical separate parA and parB partitioning genes. RepC_soli plasmids occur frequently in the surface-associated marine genus Phaeobacter and comparative genome analyses revealed the emergence of four compatibility groups. The universal presence of conserved type IV secretion systems in RepC_soli plasmids is indicative of their recurrent mobilization, a prediction that was experimentally validated by conjugation of the 57 kb Phaeobacter inhibens P72 plasmid (pP72_e) over genus borders. RepC_soli plasmids harbour a diverse collection of beneficial genes including transporters for heavy metal detoxification, prokaryotic defence systems and a conspicuous abundance of antibiotic resistance genes. The pP72_e-encoded efflux pump FloR conferred an about 50-fold increase of resistance against chloramphenicol. Its specific occurrence in Phaeobacter likely reflects a genetic footprint of (former) antimicrobial use in marine aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Birmes
- Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Braunschweig, Inhoffenstraße 7 B, D-38124, Germany
| | - Heike M Freese
- Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Braunschweig, Inhoffenstraße 7 B, D-38124, Germany
| | - Jörn Petersen
- Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Braunschweig, Inhoffenstraße 7 B, D-38124, Germany
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175
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Zwanzig M. The ecology of plasmid-coded antibiotic resistance: a basic framework for experimental research and modeling. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 19:586-599. [PMID: 33510864 PMCID: PMC7807137 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Many antibiotic resistance genes are associated with plasmids. The ecological success of these mobile genetic elements within microbial communities depends on varying mechanisms to secure their own propagation, not only on environmental selection. Among the most important are the cost of plasmids and their ability to be transferred to new hosts through mechanisms such as conjugation. These are regulated by dynamic control systems of the conjugation machinery and genetic adaptations that plasmid-host pairs can acquire in coevolution. However, in complex communities, these processes and mechanisms are subject to a variety of interactions with other bacterial species and other plasmid types. This article summarizes basic plasmid properties and ecological principles particularly important for understanding the persistence of plasmid-coded antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments. Through selected examples, it further introduces to the features of different types of simulation models such as systems of ordinary differential equations and individual-based models, which are considered to be important tools to understand these complex systems. This ecological perspective aims to improve the way we study and understand the dynamics, diversity and persistence of plasmids and associated antibiotic resistance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Zwanzig
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Technische Universität Dresden, Pienner Str. 8, D-01737 Tharandt, Germany
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176
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Hua X, Zhang L, Moran RA, Xu Q, Sun L, van Schaik W, Yu Y. Cointegration as a mechanism for the evolution of a KPC-producing multidrug resistance plasmid in Proteus mirabilis. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 9:1206-1218. [PMID: 32438864 PMCID: PMC7448864 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1773322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The incidence and transmission of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) producing plasmids have been well documented. However, the evolutionary dynamics of KPC plasmids and their fitness costs are not well characterized. Here, two carbapenemase-producing plasmids from Proteus mirabilis, pT18 and pT211 (both carrying bla KPC-2), were characterized through whole genome sequencing. pT211 is a 24.2 kbp N-type plasmid that contains bla KPC-2 and a single copy of the IS6-family insertion sequence IS26. pT18 is a 59 kbp cointegrate plasmid comprised of sequences derived from three different plasmids: a close relative of pT211 (containing bla KPC-2), an FII-33 plasmid (bla TEM-1B, bla CTX-M-65, rmtB and fosA3) and a rolling-circle plasmid. The segments of pT18 derived from each of the different plasmids are separated by copies of IS26, and sequence analysis indicated that pT18 was likely generated by both conservative and replicative IS26-mediated cointegrate formation. pT18 and pT211 were transferred into Escherichia coli DH5α separately to assess the impact of plasmids on host fitness. Only DH5α harbouring pT18 grew slower than the wild type in antibiotic-free media. However, in sub-inhibitory concentrations of fosfomycin and amikacin, cells containing pT18 grew faster than the wild type, and the minimum concentrations of fosfomycin and amikacin required to observe an advantage for plasmid-carrying cells were 1/3 and 1/20 the DH5α MIC, respectively. This study highlights the importance of the role of cointegrate plasmids in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes between pathogenic bacterial species, and highlights the importance of sub-inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics to the persistence of such plasmids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Hua
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Linyue Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Robert A. Moran
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Qingye Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Long Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hangzhou Women’ s Hospital (Hangzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hangzhou Hospital of Zhejiang Provincial Corps, Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Willem van Schaik
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Yunsong Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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177
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Hall JPJ, Wright RCT, Guymer D, Harrison E, Brockhurst MA. Extremely fast amelioration of plasmid fitness costs by multiple functionally diverse pathways. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2020; 166:56-62. [PMID: 31613206 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The acquisition of plasmids is often accompanied by fitness costs such that compensatory evolution is required to allow plasmid survival, but it is unclear whether compensatory evolution can be extensive or rapid enough to maintain plasmids when they are very costly. The mercury-resistance plasmid pQBR55 drastically reduced the growth of its host, Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25, immediately after acquisition, causing a small colony phenotype. However, within 48 h of growth on agar plates we observed restoration of the ancestral large colony morphology, suggesting that compensatory mutations had occurred. Relative fitness of these evolved strains, in lab media and in soil microcosms, varied between replicates, indicating different mutational mechanisms. Using genome sequencing we identified that restoration was associated with chromosomal mutations in either a hypothetical DNA-binding protein PFLU4242, RNA polymerase or the GacA/S two-component system. Targeted deletions in PFLU4242, gacA or gacS recapitulated the ameliorated phenotype upon plasmid acquisition, indicating three distinct mutational pathways to compensation. Our data shows that plasmid compensatory evolution is fast enough to allow survival of a plasmid despite it imposing very high fitness costs upon its host, and indeed may regularly occur during the process of isolating and selecting individual plasmid-containing clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P J Hall
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK.,Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.,Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Rosanna C T Wright
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - David Guymer
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Ellie Harrison
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Michael A Brockhurst
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
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178
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Dissemination and Stability of the bla NDM-5-Carrying IncX3-Type Plasmid among Multiclonal Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates. mSphere 2020; 5:5/6/e00917-20. [PMID: 33148824 PMCID: PMC7643832 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00917-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence and spread of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacteriaceae have been a serious challenge to public health, and NDM-5 shows increased resistance to carbapenems compared with other variants. NDM-5 has been identified mostly in E. coli but has rarely been described in K. pneumoniae and other Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Here, we present the dissemination of highly similar 46-kb IncX3 blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids among multiclonal K. pneumoniae strains in children, highlighting the horizontal gene transfer of blaNDM-5 among K. pneumoniae strains via the IncX3 plasmid. Moreover, the IncX3 blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids displayed strong stability in clinical strains when cultured in antibiotic-free medium, and the plasmid maintenance was attributed partly to conjugal transfer. Plasmid conjugation is mediated by the type IV secretion system (T4SS), and T4SS is conserved among all epidemic IncX3 blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids. Therefore, combining conjugation inhibition and promotion of plasmid loss would be an effective strategy to limit the conjugation-assisted persistence of IncX3 blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids. NDM-5 carbapenemase was mainly identified in Escherichia coli, while the rapid transmission of blaNDM-5 among Enterobacteriaceae has raised serious public attention. This study identified 14 NDM-5-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from 107 carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates, recovered from blood, urine, and normally sterile body fluids of pediatric patients from January 2016 to December 2018. All NDM-5-producing isolates were highly resistant to β-lactams, while tigecycline and polymyxin B exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity. These 14 strains belonged to 9 different sequence types (STs) and displayed various pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, suggesting that they were not clonally related. S1-PFGE followed by Southern blotting showed that the blaNDM-5 gene was located on an ∼46-kb IncX3 plasmid in all strains. All blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids were successfully transferred into recipient E. coli J53. PCR-based sequencing demonstrated that all of the blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids shared highly similar backbones, with nucleotide sequence identity of >99%. Moreover, this plasmid displayed high sequence similarity to the previously reported epidemic IncX3 blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids, with dynamic changes observed only in blaNDM-5-surrounding elements. Interestingly, the IncX3 blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids showed strong stability in clinical isolates when cultured in antibiotic-free medium. However, after the conjugation inhibitor linoleic acid was added, a gradual increase in the level of IncX3 plasmid loss could be observed. Clinical isolates displayed 10% to 15% blaNDM-5-carrying plasmid loss after coculture with linoleic acid for 5 days. These results showed that the IncX3 plasmid facilitated the dissemination of blaNDM-5 among multiclonal K. pneumoniae strains in children and that conjugal transfer contributed significantly to IncX3 plasmid stability within K. pneumoniae. IMPORTANCE The emergence and spread of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacteriaceae have been a serious challenge to public health, and NDM-5 shows increased resistance to carbapenems compared with other variants. NDM-5 has been identified mostly in E. coli but has rarely been described in K. pneumoniae and other Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Here, we present the dissemination of highly similar 46-kb IncX3 blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids among multiclonal K. pneumoniae strains in children, highlighting the horizontal gene transfer of blaNDM-5 among K. pneumoniae strains via the IncX3 plasmid. Moreover, the IncX3 blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids displayed strong stability in clinical strains when cultured in antibiotic-free medium, and the plasmid maintenance was attributed partly to conjugal transfer. Plasmid conjugation is mediated by the type IV secretion system (T4SS), and T4SS is conserved among all epidemic IncX3 blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids. Therefore, combining conjugation inhibition and promotion of plasmid loss would be an effective strategy to limit the conjugation-assisted persistence of IncX3 blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids.
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179
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Kim JW, Bugata V, Cortés-Cortés G, Quevedo-Martínez G, Camps M. Mechanisms of Theta Plasmid Replication in Enterobacteria and Implications for Adaptation to Its Host. EcoSal Plus 2020; 9:10.1128/ecosalplus.ESP-0026-2019. [PMID: 33210586 PMCID: PMC7724965 DOI: 10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0026-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Plasmids are autonomously replicating sequences that help cells adapt to diverse stresses. Theta plasmids are the most frequent plasmid class in enterobacteria. They co-opt two host replication mechanisms: replication at oriC, a DnaA-dependent pathway leading to replisome assembly (theta class A), and replication fork restart, a PriA-dependent pathway leading to primosome assembly through primer extension and D-loop formation (theta classes B, C, and D). To ensure autonomy from the host's replication and to facilitate copy number regulation, theta plasmids have unique mechanisms of replication initiation at the plasmid origin of replication (ori). Tight plasmid copy number regulation is essential because of the major and direct impact plasmid gene dosage has on gene expression. The timing of plasmid replication and segregation are also critical for optimizing plasmid gene expression. Therefore, we propose that plasmid replication needs to be understood in its biological context, where complex origins of replication (redundant origins, mosaic and cointegrated replicons), plasmid segregation, and toxin-antitoxin systems are often present. Highlighting their tight functional integration with ori function, we show that both partition and toxin-antitoxin systems tend to be encoded in close physical proximity to the ori in a large collection of Escherichia coli plasmids. We also propose that adaptation of plasmids to their host optimizes their contribution to the host's fitness while restricting access to broad genetic diversity, and we argue that this trade-off between adaptation to host and access to genetic diversity is likely a determinant factor shaping the distribution of replicons in populations of enterobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay W Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
| | - Vega Bugata
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
| | - Gerardo Cortés-Cortés
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
| | - Giselle Quevedo-Martínez
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
| | - Manel Camps
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
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180
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Genetic Determinants of Resistance to Extended-Spectrum Cephalosporin and Fluoroquinolone in Escherichia coli Isolated from Diseased Pigs in the United States. mSphere 2020; 5:5/5/e00990-20. [PMID: 33115839 PMCID: PMC8534314 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00990-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins are critically important antimicrobial classes for both human and veterinary medicine. We previously found a drastic increase in enrofloxacin resistance in clinical Escherichia coli isolates collected from diseased pigs from the United States over 10 years (2006 to 2016). However, the genetic determinants responsible for this increase have yet to be determined. The aim of the present study was to identify and characterize the genetic basis of resistance against fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin) and extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ceftiofur) in swine E. coli isolates using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). blaCMY-2 (carried by IncA/C2, IncI1, and IncI2 plasmids), blaCTX-M (carried by IncF, IncHI2, and IncN plasmids), and blaSHV-12 (carried by IncHI2 plasmids) genes were present in 87 (82.1%), 19 (17.9%), and 3 (2.83%) of the 106 ceftiofur-resistant isolates, respectively. Of the 110 enrofloxacin-resistant isolates, 90 (81.8%) had chromosomal mutations in gyrA, gyrB, parA, and parC genes. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes [qnrB77, qnrB2, qnrS1, qnrS2, and aac-(6)-lb′-cr] borne on ColE, IncQ2, IncN, IncF, and IncHI2 plasmids were present in 24 (21.8%) of the enrofloxacin-resistant isolates. Virulent IncF plasmids present in swine E. coli isolates were highly similar to epidemic plasmids identified globally. High-risk E. coli clones, such as ST744, ST457, ST131, ST69, ST10, ST73, ST410, ST12, ST127, ST167, ST58, ST88, ST617, ST23, etc., were also found in the U.S. swine population. Additionally, the colistin resistance gene (mcr-9) was present in several isolates. This study adds valuable information regarding resistance to critical antimicrobials with implications for both animal and human health. IMPORTANCE Understanding the genetic mechanisms conferring resistance is critical to design informed control and preventive measures, particularly when involving critically important antimicrobial classes such as extended-spectrum cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. The genetic determinants of extended-spectrum cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone resistance were highly diverse, with multiple plasmids, insertion sequences, and genes playing key roles in mediating resistance in swine Escherichia coli. Plasmids assembled in this study are known to be disseminated globally in both human and animal populations and environmental samples, and E. coli in pigs might be part of a global reservoir of key antimicrobial resistance (AMR) elements. Virulent plasmids found in this study have been shown to confer fitness advantages to pathogenic E. coli strains. The presence of international, high-risk zoonotic clones provides worrisome evidence that resistance in swine isolates may have indirect public health implications, and the swine population as a reservoir for these high-risk clones should be continuously monitored.
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181
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Virolle C, Goldlust K, Djermoun S, Bigot S, Lesterlin C. Plasmid Transfer by Conjugation in Gram-Negative Bacteria: From the Cellular to the Community Level. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11111239. [PMID: 33105635 PMCID: PMC7690428 DOI: 10.3390/genes11111239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial conjugation, also referred to as bacterial sex, is a major horizontal gene transfer mechanism through which DNA is transferred from a donor to a recipient bacterium by direct contact. Conjugation is universally conserved among bacteria and occurs in a wide range of environments (soil, plant surfaces, water, sewage, biofilms, and host-associated bacterial communities). Within these habitats, conjugation drives the rapid evolution and adaptation of bacterial strains by mediating the propagation of various metabolic properties, including symbiotic lifestyle, virulence, biofilm formation, resistance to heavy metals, and, most importantly, resistance to antibiotics. These properties make conjugation a fundamentally important process, and it is thus the focus of extensive study. Here, we review the key steps of plasmid transfer by conjugation in Gram-negative bacteria, by following the life cycle of the F factor during its transfer from the donor to the recipient cell. We also discuss our current knowledge of the extent and impact of conjugation within an environmentally and clinically relevant bacterial habitat, bacterial biofilms.
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182
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Álvarez-Martínez FJ, Barrajón-Catalán E, Micol V. Tackling Antibiotic Resistance with Compounds of Natural Origin: A Comprehensive Review. Biomedicines 2020; 8:E405. [PMID: 33050619 PMCID: PMC7601869 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8100405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-resistant bacteria pose a serious threat to human health worldwide. Current antibiotics are losing efficacy and new antimicrobial agents are urgently needed. Living organisms are an invaluable source of antimicrobial compounds. The antimicrobial activity of the most representative natural products of animal, bacterial, fungal and plant origin are reviewed in this paper. Their activity against drug-resistant bacteria, their mechanisms of action, the possible development of resistance against them, their role in current medicine and their future perspectives are discussed. Electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect were used to search scientific contributions until September 2020, using relevant keywords. Natural compounds of heterogeneous origins have been shown to possess antimicrobial capabilities, including against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The most commonly found mechanisms of antimicrobial action are related to protein biosynthesis and alteration of cell walls and membranes. Various natural compounds, especially phytochemicals, have shown synergistic capacity with antibiotics. There is little literature on the development of specific resistance mechanisms against natural antimicrobial compounds. New technologies such as -omics, network pharmacology and informatics have the potential to identify and characterize new natural antimicrobial compounds in the future. This knowledge may be useful for the development of future therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Álvarez-Martínez
- Institute of Research, Development and Innovation in Health Biotechnology of Elche (IDiBE), Universitas Miguel Hernández (UMH), 03202 Elche, Spain; (F.J.Á.-M.); (V.M.)
| | - Enrique Barrajón-Catalán
- Institute of Research, Development and Innovation in Health Biotechnology of Elche (IDiBE), Universitas Miguel Hernández (UMH), 03202 Elche, Spain; (F.J.Á.-M.); (V.M.)
| | - Vicente Micol
- Institute of Research, Development and Innovation in Health Biotechnology of Elche (IDiBE), Universitas Miguel Hernández (UMH), 03202 Elche, Spain; (F.J.Á.-M.); (V.M.)
- CIBER, Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición, CIBERobn, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CB12/03/30038), 28220 Madrid, Spain
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183
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Wein T, Wang Y, Hülter NF, Hammerschmidt K, Dagan T. Antibiotics Interfere with the Evolution of Plasmid Stability. Curr Biol 2020; 30:3841-3847.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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184
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Elnekave E, Hong SL, Lim S, Johnson TJ, Perez A, Alvarez J. Comparing serotyping with whole-genome sequencing for subtyping of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica: a large-scale analysis of 37 serotypes with a public health impact in the USA. Microb Genom 2020; 6:mgen000425. [PMID: 32845830 PMCID: PMC7643971 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Serotyping has traditionally been used for subtyping of non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) isolates. However, its discriminatory power is limited, which impairs its use for epidemiological investigations of source attribution. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis allows more accurate subtyping of strains. However, because of the relative newness and cost of routine WGS, large-scale studies involving NTS WGS are still rare. We aimed to revisit the big picture of subtyping NTS with a public health impact by using traditional serotyping (i.e. reaction between antisera and surface antigens) and comparing the results with those obtained using WGS. For this purpose, we analysed 18 282 sequences of isolates belonging to 37 serotypes with a public health impact that were recovered in the USA between 2006 and 2017 from multiple sources, and were available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Phylogenetic trees were reconstructed for each serotype using the core genome for the identification of genetic subpopulations. We demonstrated that WGS-based subtyping allows better identification of sources potentially linked with human infection and emerging subpopulations, along with providing information on the risk of dissemination of plasmids and acquired antimicrobial resistance genes (AARGs). In addition, by reconstructing a phylogenetic tree with representative isolates from all serotypes (n=370), we demonstrated genetic variability within and between serotypes, which formed monophyletic, polyphyletic and paraphyletic clades. Moreover, we found (in the entire data set) an increased detection rate for AARGs linked to key antimicrobials (such as quinolones and extended-spectrum cephalosporins) over time. The outputs of this large-scale analysis reveal new insights into the genetic diversity within and between serotypes; the polyphyly and paraphyly of certain serotypes may suggest that the subtyping of NTS to serotypes may not be sufficient. Moreover, the results and the methods presented here, leading to differentiation between genetic subpopulations based on their potential risk to public health, as well as narrowing down the possible sources of these infections, may be used as a baseline for subtyping of future NTS infections and help efforts to mitigate and prevent infections in the USA and globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehud Elnekave
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Samuel L. Hong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Seunghyun Lim
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, University of Minnesota, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Timothy J. Johnson
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Andres Perez
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Julio Alvarez
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
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185
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Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are an increasing problem in the NICU. Ineffective empiric antibiotic therapy is associated with increased risk for morbidity and mortality. Organisms that are resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents (multidrug-resistant organisms) are particularly problematic. These organisms may be transmitted to infants if infection control practices are not adhered to, or they may be created by antibiotic exposure. Therefore, meticulous infection prevention-including hand hygiene, surveillance cultures, contact precautions, and selective decolonization-and antibiotic stewardship are important strategies to minimize drug resistance in the NICU.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph B Cantey
- Division of Neonatology and.,Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
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186
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Manure as a Potential Hotspot for Antibiotic Resistance Dissemination by Horizontal Gene Transfer Events. Vet Sci 2020; 7:vetsci7030110. [PMID: 32823495 PMCID: PMC7558842 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci7030110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing demand for animal-derived foods has led to intensive and large-scale livestock production with the consequent formation of large amounts of manure. Livestock manure is widely used in agricultural practices as soil fertilizer worldwide. However, several antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria are frequently detected in manure and manure-amended soils. This review explores the role of manure in the persistence and dissemination of ARGs in the environment, analyzes the procedures used to decrease antimicrobial resistance in manure and the potential impact of manure application in public health. We highlight that manure shows unique features as a hotspot for antimicrobial gene dissemination by horizontal transfer events: richness in nutrients, a high abundance and diversity of bacteria populations and antibiotic residues that may exert a selective pressure on bacteria and trigger gene mobilization; reduction methodologies are able to reduce the concentrations of some, but not all, antimicrobials and microorganisms. Conjugation events are often seen in the manure environment, even after composting. Antibiotic resistance is considered a growing threat to human, animal and environmental health. Therefore, it is crucial to reduce the amount of antimicrobials and the load of antimicrobial resistant bacteria that end up in soil.
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187
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Lewicka E, Dolowy P, Godziszewska J, Litwin E, Ludwiczak M, Jagura-Burdzy G. Transcriptional Organization of the Stability Module of Broad-Host-Range Plasmid RA3, from the IncU Group. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:e00847-20. [PMID: 32532870 PMCID: PMC7414963 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00847-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The broad-host-range (BHR) conjugative plasmids have developed diverse adaptive mechanisms defining the range of their promiscuity. The BHR conjugative RA3 plasmid, the archetype of the IncU group, can transfer between, replicate in, and be maintained in representatives of Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria Its stability module encompasses ten open reading frames (ORFs) apparently organized into five operons, all transcribed in the same direction from several strong promoters that are tightly regulated either by autorepressors or by global plasmid-encoded regulators. In this paper, we demonstrate that owing to an efficient RNA polymerase (RNAP) read-through, the transcription from the first promoter, orf02p, may continue through the whole module. Moreover, an analysis of mRNA produced from the wild-type (WT) stability module and its deletion variants deprived of particular internal transcription initiation sites reveals that in fact each operon may be transcribed from any upstream promoter, giving rise to multicistronic transcripts of variable length and creating an additional level of gene expression control by transcript dosage adjustment. The gene expression patterns differ among various hosts, indicating that promoter recognition, regulation, and the RNAP read-through mechanisms are modulated in a species-specific manner.IMPORTANCE The efficiently disseminating conjugative or mobilizable BHR plasmids play key roles in the horizontal spread of genetic information between closely related and phylogenetically distant species, which can be harmful from the medical, veterinary, or industrial point of view. Understanding the mechanisms determining the plasmid's ability to function in diverse hosts is essential to help limit the spread of undesirable plasmid-encoded traits, e.g., antibiotic resistance. The range of a plasmid's promiscuity depends on the adaptations of its transfer, replication, and stability functions to the various hosts. IncU plasmids, with the archetype plasmid RA3, are considered to constitute a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic environments; however, the molecular mechanisms determining their adaptability to a broad range of hosts are rather poorly characterized. Here, we present the transcriptional organization of the stability module and show that the gene transcript dosage effect is an important determinant of the stable maintenance of RA3 in different hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Lewicka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Patrycja Dolowy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jolanta Godziszewska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Emilia Litwin
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Ludwiczak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grazyna Jagura-Burdzy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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188
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Jiang B, Du P, Jia P, Liu E, Kudinha T, Zhang H, Li D, Xu Y, Xie L, Yang Q. Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Virulence of mcr-1-Positive Enterobacteriaceae in China, a Multicenter Longitudinal Epidemiological Study. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1611. [PMID: 32849334 PMCID: PMC7399235 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was to investigate the prevalence of mcr-1-positive Enterobacteriaceae (MPE) in intra-abdominal infections (IAIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in China. A total of 6,401 Enterobacteriaceae isolates were collected consecutively from IAI, UTI, and LRTI patients in 19 hospitals across mainland China during 2014–2016. MPE isolates were screened by PCR detection for the mcr gene. The resistance profiles were tested by antimicrobial susceptibility test. All MPE isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multi-locus-sequence typing, O and H serotyping, and whole-genome sequencing. Among the 6,401 Enterobacteriaceae isolates, 17 Escherichia coli strains (0.27%) were positive for the mcr-1 gene. The MPE prevalence rates in IAI, UTI, and LRTI patients were 0.34% (12/3502), 0.23% (5/2154), and 0% (0/745), respectively. The minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) of colistin against 3 isolates were of 0.5–2 mg/L, and 4–8 mg/L against other 14 isolates. All the 17 isolates were susceptible to meropenem, imipenem, tigecycline, and ceftazidime/avibactam. The 17 MPE isolates belonged to 14 different ST types, and those that belonged to the same STs were not clonal by PFGE. The mcr-1-harboring plasmid of ten MPE isolates could transfer to the recipients by conjugation and the colistin MICs of the transconjugants ranged from 0.5 to 8 mg/L. Mcr-1-carrying plasmids from the 17 MPE isolates could be grouped into four clusters, including 8 IncX4 type, 4 IncI2 type, 4 IncHI2A type, and 1 p0111 type. Multiple-drug resistance genes and virulence genes were detected. In conclusion, the prevalence of MPE in IAI, UTI, and LRTI were low in China, and no clonal transmission was identified in our study. Most MPE isolates exhibited low-level colistin resistance. However, our study indicated that MPE isolates always carried a variety of drug resistance and virulence genes, which should be paid more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Jiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Pengcheng Du
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Peiyao Jia
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Enbo Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Timothy Kudinha
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dongxue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liangyi Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiwen Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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189
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Campos M, San Millán Á, Sempere JM, Lanza VF, Coque TM, Llorens C, Baquero F. Simulating the Influence of Conjugative-Plasmid Kinetic Values on the Multilevel Dynamics of Antimicrobial Resistance in a Membrane Computing Model. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:e00593-20. [PMID: 32457104 PMCID: PMC7526830 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00593-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial plasmids harboring antibiotic resistance genes are critical in the spread of antibiotic resistance. It is known that plasmids differ in their kinetic values, i.e., conjugation rate, segregation rate by copy number incompatibility with related plasmids, and rate of stochastic loss during replication. They also differ in cost to the cell in terms of reducing fitness and in the frequency of compensatory mutations compensating plasmid cost. However, we do not know how variation in these values influences the success of a plasmid and its resistance genes in complex ecosystems, such as the microbiota. Genes are in plasmids, plasmids are in cells, and cells are in bacterial populations and microbiotas, which are inside hosts, and hosts are in human communities at the hospital or the community under various levels of cross-colonization and antibiotic exposure. Differences in plasmid kinetics might have consequences on the global spread of antibiotic resistance. New membrane computing methods help to predict these consequences. In our simulation, conjugation frequency of at least 10-3 influences the dominance of a strain with a resistance plasmid. Coexistence of different antibiotic resistances occurs if host strains can maintain two copies of similar plasmids. Plasmid loss rates of 10-4 or 10-5 or plasmid fitness costs of ≥0.06 favor plasmids located in the most abundant species. The beneficial effect of compensatory mutations for plasmid fitness cost is proportional to this cost at high mutation frequencies (10-3 to 10-5). The results of this computational model clearly show how changes in plasmid kinetics can modify the entire population ecology of antibiotic resistance in the hospital setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelino Campos
- Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
- Valencian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence (VRAIN), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Álvaro San Millán
- Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
- National Center for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Network Research Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Sempere
- Valencian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence (VRAIN), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Val F Lanza
- Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
- Bioinformatics Support Unit, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
- Network Research Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa M Coque
- Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
- Network Research Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Llorens
- Biotechvana, Valencia Technological Park, Paterna, Spain
| | - Fernando Baquero
- Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
- Network Research Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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190
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Hall RJ, Whelan FJ, McInerney JO, Ou Y, Domingo-Sananes MR. Horizontal Gene Transfer as a Source of Conflict and Cooperation in Prokaryotes. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1569. [PMID: 32849327 PMCID: PMC7396663 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is one of the most important processes in prokaryote evolution. The sharing of DNA can spread neutral or beneficial genes, as well as genetic parasites across populations and communities, creating a large proportion of the variability acted on by natural selection. Here, we highlight the role of HGT in enhancing the opportunities for conflict and cooperation within and between prokaryote genomes. We discuss how horizontally acquired genes can cooperate or conflict both with each other and with a recipient genome, resulting in signature patterns of gene co-occurrence, avoidance, and dependence. We then describe how interactions involving horizontally transferred genes may influence cooperation and conflict at higher levels (populations, communities, and symbioses). Finally, we consider the benefits and drawbacks of HGT for prokaryotes and its fundamental role in understanding conflict and cooperation from the gene-gene to the microbiome level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Hall
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona J Whelan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - James O McInerney
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Yaqing Ou
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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191
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Horizontal Plasmid Transfer among Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates Is the Key Factor for Dissemination of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases among Children in Tanzania. mSphere 2020; 5:5/4/e00428-20. [PMID: 32669470 PMCID: PMC7364214 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00428-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal spread of plasmids carrying multiple resistance genes is considered an important mechanism behind the global health problem caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Nevertheless, knowledge about spread of plasmids in a community is limited. Our detailed molecular analyses of K. pneumoniae isolated from hospitalized and healthy children in Tanzania disclosed an epidemic spread of a resistance plasmid. In this study population, we revealed horizontal plasmid transfer among K. pneumoniae as the key factor for dissemination of ESBLs. Traditional outbreak investigation and surveillance focus on the spread of bacterial clones, and short-read sequencing can result in erroneous plasmid composition. Our approach using long-read sequencing reveals horizontal gene transfer of antimicrobial resistance, and therefore has a potential impact on outbreak investigations and approaches to limit spread of AMR. Increased knowledge about the role of horizontal gene transfer is key to improve our understanding of the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human populations. We therefore studied the dissemination of the blaCTX-M-15 extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) gene in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates obtained from stool samples from hospitalized children and healthy controls below 2 years of age in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from August 2010 to July 2011. We performed Illumina whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize resistance genes, multilocus sequence type (MLST), plasmid incompatibility group (Inc), and plasmid MLST of 128 isolates of K. pneumoniae with blaCTX-M-15 recovered from both healthy and hospitalized children. We assessed the phylogenetic relationship using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based analysis and resolved the sequences of five reference plasmids by Oxford Nanopore technology to investigate plasmid dissemination. The WGS analyses revealed the presence of a blaCTX-M-15-positive IncFIIK5/IncR plasmid with a highly conserved backbone in 70% (90/128) of the isolates. This plasmid, harboring genes encoding resistance to most β-lactams, aminoglycosides, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and chloramphenicol, was present in phylogenetically very diverse K. pneumoniae strains (48 different MLSTs) carried by both hospitalized and healthy children. Our data strongly suggest widespread horizontal transfer of this ESBL-carrying plasmid both in hospitals and in the general population. IMPORTANCE Horizontal spread of plasmids carrying multiple resistance genes is considered an important mechanism behind the global health problem caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Nevertheless, knowledge about spread of plasmids in a community is limited. Our detailed molecular analyses of K. pneumoniae isolated from hospitalized and healthy children in Tanzania disclosed an epidemic spread of a resistance plasmid. In this study population, we revealed horizontal plasmid transfer among K. pneumoniae as the key factor for dissemination of ESBLs. Traditional outbreak investigation and surveillance focus on the spread of bacterial clones, and short-read sequencing can result in erroneous plasmid composition. Our approach using long-read sequencing reveals horizontal gene transfer of antimicrobial resistance, and therefore has a potential impact on outbreak investigations and approaches to limit spread of AMR.
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192
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Kawano H, Suzuki-Minakuchi C, Sugiyama D, Watanabe N, Takahashi Y, Okada K, Nojiri H. A Novel Small RNA on the Pseudomonas putida KT2440 Chromosome Is Involved in the Fitness Cost Imposed by IncP-1 Plasmid RP4. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1328. [PMID: 32655527 PMCID: PMC7324555 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmids can provide advantageous traits to host bacteria, although they may impose a fitness cost. Chromosome-encoded factors are important for regulating the expression of genes on plasmids, and host chromosomes may differ in terms of their interactions with a given plasmid. Accordingly, differences in fitness cost loading and compensatory co-evolution may occur for various host chromosome/plasmid combinations. However, the mechanisms of compensatory evolution are highly divergent and require further insights. Here, we reveal novel evolutionally mechanisms of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 to improve the fitness cost imposed by the incompatibility P-1 (IncP-1) multidrug resistance plasmid RP4. A mixed culture of RP4-harboring and -free KT2440 cells was serially transferred every 24 h under non-selective conditions. Initially, the proportion of RP4-harboring cells decreased rapidly, but it immediately recovered, suggesting that the fitness of RP4-harboring strains improved during cultivation. Larger-sized colonies appeared during 144-h mixed culture, and evolved strains isolated from larger-sized colonies showed higher growth rates and fitness than those of the ancestral strain. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that evolved strains had one of two mutations in the same intergenic region of the chromosome. Based on the research of another group, this region is predicted to contain a stress-inducible small RNA (sRNA). Identification of the transcriptional start site in this sRNA indicated that one mutation occurred within the sRNA region, whereas the other was in its promoter region. Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR showed that the expression of this sRNA was strongly induced by RP4 carriage in the ancestral strain but repressed in the evolved strains. When the sRNA region was overexpressed in the RP4-free strain, the fitness decreased, and the colony size became smaller. Using transcriptome analysis, we also showed that the genes involved in amino acid metabolism and stress responses were differentially transcribed by overexpression of the sRNA region. These results indicate that the RP4-inducible chromosomal sRNA was responsible for the fitness cost of RP4 on KT2440 cells, where this sRNA is of key importance in host evolution toward rapid amelioration of the cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hibiki Kawano
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chiho Suzuki-Minakuchi
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sugiyama
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Natsuki Watanabe
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yurika Takahashi
- Biotechnology Research Center and Department of Biotechnology, Toyama Prefectural University, Toyama, Japan
| | - Kazunori Okada
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideaki Nojiri
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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193
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Comparative Genomic Analysis of Third-Generation-Cephalosporin-Resistant Escherichia coli Harboring the bla CMY-2-Positive IncI1 Group, IncB/O/K/Z, and IncC Plasmids Isolated from Healthy Broilers in Japan. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.02385-19. [PMID: 32366721 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02385-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The off-label use of third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs) during in ovo vaccination or vaccination of newly hatched chicks has been a common practice worldwide. CMY-2-producing Escherichia coli strains have been disseminated in broiler chicken production. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiological linkage of bla CMY-2-positive plasmids among broilers both within and outside Japan, because the grandparent stock and parent stock were imported into Japan. We examined the whole-genome sequences of 132 3GC-resistant E. coli isolates collected from healthy broilers during 2002 to 2014. The predominant 3GC resistance gene was bla CMY-2, which was detected in the plasmids of 87 (65.9%) isolates. The main plasmid replicon types were IncI1-Iγ (n = 21; 24.1%), IncI (n = 12; 13.8%), IncB/O/K/Z (n = 28; 32.2%), and IncC (n = 22; 25.3%). Those plasmids were subjected to gene clustering, network analyses, and plasmid multilocus sequence typing (pMLST). The chromosomal DNA of isolates was subjected to MLST and single-nucleotide variant (SNV)-based phylogenetic analysis. MLST and SNV-based phylogenetic analysis revealed high diversity of E. coli isolates. The sequence type 429 (ST429) cluster harboring bla CMY-2-positive IncB/O/K/Z was closely related to isolates from broilers in Germany harboring bla CMY-2-positive IncB/O/K/Z. pST55-IncI, pST12-IncI1-Iγ, and pST3-IncC were prevalent in western Japan. pST12-IncI1-Iγ and pST3-IncC were closely related to plasmids detected in E. coli isolates from chickens in North America, whereas 26 IncB/O/K/Z types were related to those in Europe. These data will be useful to reveal the whole picture of transmission of CMY-2-producing bacteria inside and outside Japan.
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194
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Köbbing S, Blank LM, Wierckx N. Characterization of Context-Dependent Effects on Synthetic Promoters. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:551. [PMID: 32596224 PMCID: PMC7303508 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the composability of genetic elements is central to synthetic biology. Even for seemingly well-known elements such as a sigma 70 promoter the genetic context-dependent variability of promoter activity remains poorly understood. The lack of understanding of sequence to function results in highly limited de novo design of novel genetic element combinations. To address this issue, we characterized in detail concatenated "stacked" synthetic promoters including varying spacer sequence lengths and compared the transcription strength to the output of the individual promoters. The proxy for promoter activity, the msfGFP synthesis from stacked promoters was consistently lower than expected from the sum of the activities of the single promoters. While the spacer sequence itself had no activity, it drastically affected promoter activities when placed up- or downstream of a promoter. Single promoter-spacer combinations revealed a bivalent effect on msfGFP synthesis. By systematic analysis of promoter and spacer combinations, a semi-empirical correlation was developed to determine the combined activity of stacked promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Köbbing
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1: Biotechnology), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
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195
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Touchon M, Perrin A, de Sousa JAM, Vangchhia B, Burn S, O’Brien CL, Denamur E, Gordon D, Rocha EPC. Phylogenetic background and habitat drive the genetic diversification of Escherichia coli. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008866. [PMID: 32530914 PMCID: PMC7314097 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli is mostly a commensal of birds and mammals, including humans, where it can act as an opportunistic pathogen. It is also found in water and sediments. We investigated the phylogeny, genetic diversification, and habitat-association of 1,294 isolates representative of the phylogenetic diversity of more than 5,000 isolates from the Australian continent. Since many previous studies focused on clinical isolates, we investigated mostly other isolates originating from humans, poultry, wild animals and water. These strains represent the species genetic diversity and reveal widespread associations between phylogroups and isolation sources. The analysis of strains from the same sequence types revealed very rapid change of gene repertoires in the very early stages of divergence, driven by the acquisition of many different types of mobile genetic elements. These elements also lead to rapid variations in genome size, even if few of their genes rise to high frequency in the species. Variations in genome size are associated with phylogroup and isolation sources, but the latter determine the number of MGEs, a marker of recent transfer, suggesting that gene flow reinforces the association of certain genetic backgrounds with specific habitats. After a while, the divergence of gene repertoires becomes linear with phylogenetic distance, presumably reflecting the continuous turnover of mobile element and the occasional acquisition of adaptive genes. Surprisingly, the phylogroups with smallest genomes have the highest rates of gene repertoire diversification and fewer but more diverse mobile genetic elements. This suggests that smaller genomes are associated with higher, not lower, turnover of genetic information. Many of these genomes are from freshwater isolates and have peculiar traits, including a specific capsule, suggesting adaptation to this environment. Altogether, these data contribute to explain why epidemiological clones tend to emerge from specific phylogenetic groups in the presence of pervasive horizontal gene transfer across the species. Previous large scale studies on the evolution of E. coli focused on clinical isolates emphasizing virulence and antibiotic resistance in medically important lineages. Yet, most E. coli strains are either human commensals or not associated with humans at all. Here, we analyzed a large collection of non-clinical isolates of the species to assess the mechanisms of gene repertoire diversification in the light of isolation sources and phylogeny. We show that gene repertoires evolve so rapidly by the high turnover of mobile genetic elements that epidemiologically indistinguishable strains can be phenotypically extremely heterogeneous, illustrating the velocity of bacterial adaptation and the importance of accounting for the information on the whole genome at the epidemiological scale. Phylogeny and habitat shape the genetic diversification of E. coli to similar extents. Surprisingly, freshwater strains seem specifically adapted to this environment, breaking the paradigm that E. coli environmental isolates are systematically fecal contaminations. As a consequence, the evolution of this species is also shaped by environmental habitats, and it may diversify by acquiring genes and mobile elements from environmental bacteria (and not just from gut bacteria). This may facilitate the acquisition of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance in the strains that become pathogenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Touchon
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, 25-28 rue Dr Roux, Paris, 75015, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Amandine Perrin
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, 25-28 rue Dr Roux, Paris, 75015, France
- Sorbonne Université, Collège doctoral, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Jorge André Moura de Sousa
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, 25-28 rue Dr Roux, Paris, 75015, France
| | - Belinda Vangchhia
- Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University, Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram, India
| | - Samantha Burn
- Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Claire L. O’Brien
- School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave Wollongong, Australia
| | - Erick Denamur
- Université de Paris, IAME, UMR 1137, INSERM, Paris, 75018, France
- AP-HP, Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, Hôpital Bichat, 75018, Paris, France
| | - David Gordon
- Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Eduardo PC Rocha
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, 25-28 rue Dr Roux, Paris, 75015, France
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196
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van Dijk B, Hogeweg P, Doekes HM, Takeuchi N. Slightly beneficial genes are retained by bacteria evolving DNA uptake despite selfish elements. eLife 2020; 9:e56801. [PMID: 32432548 PMCID: PMC7316506 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and gene loss result in rapid changes in the gene content of bacteria. While HGT aids bacteria to adapt to new environments, it also carries risks such as selfish genetic elements (SGEs). Here, we use modelling to study how HGT of slightly beneficial genes impacts growth rates of bacterial populations, and if bacterial collectives can evolve to take up DNA despite selfish elements. We find four classes of slightly beneficial genes: indispensable, enrichable, rescuable, and unrescuable genes. Rescuable genes - genes with small fitness benefits that are lost from the population without HGT - can be collectively retained by a community that engages in costly HGT. While this 'gene-sharing' cannot evolve in well-mixed cultures, it does evolve in a spatial population like a biofilm. Despite enabling infection by harmful SGEs, the uptake of foreign DNA is evolutionarily maintained by the hosts, explaining the coexistence of bacteria and SGEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram van Dijk
- Utrecht University, Theoretical BiologyUtrechtNetherlands
| | | | - Hilje M Doekes
- Utrecht University, Theoretical BiologyUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Nobuto Takeuchi
- University of Auckland, Biological SciencesAucklandNew Zealand
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197
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Díaz-Jiménez D, García-Meniño I, Herrera A, García V, López-Beceiro AM, Alonso MP, Blanco J, Mora A. Genomic Characterization of Escherichia coli Isolates Belonging to a New Hybrid aEPEC/ExPEC Pathotype O153:H10-A-ST10 eae-beta1 Occurred in Meat, Poultry, Wildlife and Human Diarrheagenic Samples. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9040192. [PMID: 32316613 PMCID: PMC7235894 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9040192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Different surveillance studies (2005–2015) in northwest Spain revealed the presence of eae-positive isolates of Escherichia coli O153:H10 in meat for human consumption, poultry farm, wildlife and human diarrheagenic samples. The aim of this study was to explore the genetic and genomic relatedness between human and animal/meat isolates, as well as the mechanism of its persistence. We also wanted to know whether it was a geographically restricted lineage, or whether it was also reported elsewhere. Conventional typing showed that 32 isolates were O153:H10-A-ST10 fimH54, fimAvMT78, traT and eae-beta1. Amongst these, 21 were CTX-M-32 or SHV-12 producers. The PFGE XbaI-macrorestriction comparison showed high similarity (>85%). The plasmidome analysis revealed a stable combination of IncF (F2:A-:B-), IncI1 (STunknown) and IncX1 plasmid types, together with non-conjugative Col-like plasmids. The core genome investigation based on the cgMLST scheme from EnteroBase proved close relatedness between isolates of human and animal origin. Our results demonstrate that a hybrid MDR aEPEC/ExPEC of the clonal group O153:H10-A-ST10 (CH11-54) is circulating in our region within different hosts, including wildlife. It seems implicated in human diarrhea via meat transmission, and in the spreading of ESBL genes (mainly of CTX-M-32 type). We found genomic evidence of a related hybrid aEPEC/ExPEC in at least one other country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafne Díaz-Jiménez
- Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002 Lugo, Spain; (D.D.-J.); (I.G.-M.); (A.H.); (V.G.); (J.B.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago, Spain
| | - Isidro García-Meniño
- Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002 Lugo, Spain; (D.D.-J.); (I.G.-M.); (A.H.); (V.G.); (J.B.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago, Spain
| | - Alexandra Herrera
- Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002 Lugo, Spain; (D.D.-J.); (I.G.-M.); (A.H.); (V.G.); (J.B.)
| | - Vanesa García
- Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002 Lugo, Spain; (D.D.-J.); (I.G.-M.); (A.H.); (V.G.); (J.B.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago, Spain
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Ana María López-Beceiro
- Departamento de Anatomía, Produción Animal e Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002 Lugo, Spain;
| | - María Pilar Alonso
- Unidade de Microbioloxía, Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti (HULA), 27003 Lugo, Spain;
| | - Jorge Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002 Lugo, Spain; (D.D.-J.); (I.G.-M.); (A.H.); (V.G.); (J.B.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago, Spain
| | - Azucena Mora
- Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002 Lugo, Spain; (D.D.-J.); (I.G.-M.); (A.H.); (V.G.); (J.B.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-982822110
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198
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Cazares A, Moore MP, Hall JPJ, Wright LL, Grimes M, Emond-Rhéault JG, Pongchaikul P, Santanirand P, Levesque RC, Fothergill JL, Winstanley C. A megaplasmid family driving dissemination of multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1370. [PMID: 32170080 PMCID: PMC7070040 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15081-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) represents a global threat to health. Here, we used whole genome sequencing to characterise Pseudomonas aeruginosa MDR clinical isolates from a hospital in Thailand. Using long-read sequence data we obtained complete sequences of two closely related megaplasmids (>420 kb) carrying large arrays of antibiotic resistance genes located in discrete, complex and dynamic resistance regions, and revealing evidence of extensive duplication and recombination events. A comprehensive pangenomic and phylogenomic analysis indicates that: 1) these large plasmids comprise an emerging family present in different members of the Pseudomonas genus, and associated with multiple sources (geographical, clinical or environmental); 2) the megaplasmids encode diverse niche-adaptive accessory traits, including multidrug resistance; 3) the accessory genome of the megaplasmid family is highly flexible and diverse. The history of the megaplasmid family, inferred from our analysis of the available database, suggests that members carrying multiple resistance genes date back to at least the 1970s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Cazares
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Matthew P Moore
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - James P J Hall
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Laura L Wright
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Macauley Grimes
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | | | - Roger C Levesque
- Institute for Integrative and Systems Biology (IBIS), University Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Joanne L Fothergill
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Craig Winstanley
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
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199
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Goswami C, Fox S, Holden MTG, Connor M, Leanord A, Evans TJ. Origin, maintenance and spread of antibiotic resistance genes within plasmids and chromosomes of bloodstream isolates of Escherichia coli. Microb Genom 2020; 6. [PMID: 32160146 PMCID: PMC7276700 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood stream invasion by Escherichia coli is the commonest cause of bacteremia in the UK and elsewhere with an attributable mortality of about 15-20 %; antibiotic resistance to multiple agents is common in this microbe and is associated with worse outcomes. Genes conferring antimicrobial resistance, and their frequent location on horizontally transferred genetic elements is well-recognised, but the origin of these determinants, and their ability to be maintained and spread within clinically-relevant bacterial populations is unclear. Here, we set out to examine the distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes in chromosomes and plasmids of 16 bloodstream isolates of E. coli from patients within Scotland, and how these genes are maintained and spread. Using a combination of short and long-read whole genome sequencing methods, we were able to assemble complete sequences of 44 plasmids, with 16 Inc group F and 20 col plasmids; antibiotic resistance genes located almost exclusively within the F group. bla CTX-M15 genes had re-arranged in some strains into the chromosome alone (five strains), while others contained plasmid copies alone (two strains). Integrons containing multiple antibiotic genes were widespread in plasmids, notably many with a dfrA7 gene encoding resistance to trimethoprim, thus linking trimethoprim resistance to the other antibiotic resistance genes within the plasmids. This will allow even narrow spectrum antibiotics such as trimethoprim to act as a selective agent for plasmids containing antibiotic resistance genes mediating much broader resistance, including blaCTX-M15. To our knowledge, this is the first analysis to provide complete sequence data of chromosomes and plasmids in a collection of pathogenic human bloodstream isolates of E. coli. Our findings reveal the interplay between plasmids and integrative and conjugative elements in the maintenance and spread of antibiotic resistance genes within pathogenic E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosmika Goswami
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Stephen Fox
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | | | - Alistair Leanord
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Thomas J Evans
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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200
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Ma T, Fu J, Xie N, Ma S, Lei L, Zhai W, Shen Y, Sun C, Wang S, Shen Z, Wang Y, Walsh TR, Shen J. Fitness Cost of blaNDM-5-Carrying p3R-IncX3 Plasmids in Wild-Type NDM-Free Enterobacteriaceae. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8030377. [PMID: 32156014 PMCID: PMC7143814 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8030377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The wide dissemination of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase genes (blaNDM) has resulted in the treatment failure of most available β-lactam antibiotics, with IncX3-type blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids recognised as having spread worldwide. In China, bacteria carrying these plasmids are increasingly being detected from diverse samples, including hospitals, communities, livestock and poultry, and the environment, suggesting that IncX3 plasmids are becoming a vital vehicle for blaNDM dissemination. To elucidate the fitness cost of these plasmids on the bacterial host, we collected blaNDM-negative strains from different sources and tested their ability to acquire the blaNDM-5-harboring p3R-IncX3 plasmid. We then measured changes in antimicrobial susceptibility, growth kinetics, and biofilm formation following plasmid acquisition. Overall, 70.7% (29/41) of our Enterobacteriaceae recipients successfully acquired the blaNDM-5-harboring p3R-IncX3 plasmid. Contrary to previous plasmid burden theory, 75.9% (22/29) of the transconjugates showed little fitness cost as a result of plasmid acquisition, with 6.9% (2/29) of strains exhibiting enhanced growth compared with their respective wild-type strains. Following plasmid acquisition, all transconjugates demonstrated resistance to most β-lactams, while several strains showed enhanced biofilm formation, further complicating treatment and prevention measures. Moreover, the highly virulent Escherichia coli sequence type 131 strain that already harbored mcr-1 also demonstrated the ability to acquire the blaNDM-5-carrying p3R-IncX3 plasmid, resulting in further limited therapeutic options. This low fitness cost may partly explain the rapid global dissemination of blaNDM-5-harboring IncX3 plasmids. Our study highlights the growing threat of IncX3 plasmids in spreading blaNDM-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Ma
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
| | - Jiani Fu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
| | - Ning Xie
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
| | - Shizhen Ma
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
| | - Lei Lei
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
| | - Weishuai Zhai
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
| | - Yingbo Shen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
| | - Chengtao Sun
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
| | - Shaolin Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
| | - Zhangqi Shen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
| | - Yang Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
| | - Timothy R. Walsh
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Institute of Infection & Immunity, Heath Park Hospital, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Jianzhong Shen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.M.); (J.F.); (S.M.); (L.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (C.S.); (S.W.); (Z.S.); (T.R.W.)
- Correspondence:
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