A novel SHV-type beta-lactamase variant (SHV-89) in clinical isolates in China

Identification and molecular characterization of Escherichia coli blaSHV genes in a Chinese teaching hospital

Escherichia coli (E. coli) commonly reside in human intestine and most E. coli strains are harmless, but some serotypes cause serious food poisoning. This study identified and molecularly characterized bla_SHV genes from 490 E. coli strains with multi-drug resistance in a hospital population. PCR and molecular cloning and southern blot were performed to assess functions and localizations of this resistant E. coli gene and the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was utilized to demonstrate the clonal relatedness of the positive E. coli strains. The data showed that 4 of these 490 E. coli strains (4/499, 0.8%) carried bla_SHV genes that included EC D2485 (bla_SHV-5), EC D2487 (bla_SHV-5), EC D2684 (bla_SHV-11) and EC D2616 (bla_SHV-195, a novel bla_SHV). Analysis of bla_SHV open-reading frame showed that bla_SHV-5 had a high hydrolysis activity to the broad-spectrum penicillin (ampicillin or piperacillin), ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime and aztreonam. bla_SHV-195 and bla_SHV-11 had similar resistant characteristics with high hydrolysis activities to ampicillin and piperacillin, but low activities to cephalosporins. Moreover, the two bla_SHV-5 genes were located on a transferable plasmid (23kb), whereas the other two bla_SHV variants (bla_SHV-11 and bla_SHV-195) seemed to be located in the chromosomal material. Both EC D2485 and EC D2487 clones isolated in 2010 had the same DNA finger printing profile and they might be the siblings of clonal dissemination. The data from the current study suggest that the novel bla_SHV and clonal dissemination may be developed, although bla_SHV genes were infrequently identified in this hospital population. The results of the work demonstrate the necessity for molecular surveillance in tracking bla_SHV-producing strains in large teaching hospital settings and emphasize the need for epidemiological monitoring.

Multidrug-resistant phenotype and isolation of a novel SHV- beta-Lactamase variant in a clinical isolate of Enterobacter cloacae

Background

ESBL-producing bacteria are a clinical problem in the management of diseases caused by these pathogens. Worldwide, systemic infections with BL enzymes are evolving by mutations from classical bla genes in an intensified manner and they continue to be transferred across species.

Results

E.cloacae BF1417 isolate and its transconjugants gave positive results with the DDST, suggesting the presence of ESBL. Sequence analysis revealed a bla_SHV-ESBL-type gene that differs from the gene encoding SHV-1 by five point mutations resulting in three amino acid substitutions in the coding region: C123R, I282T and L286P. This novel SHV-type enzyme was designated SHV-128. The conjugation tests and plasmid characterization showed that the bla_SHV-128 is located on a conjugative plasmid IncFII type. Expression studies demonstrated that the above mutations participated in drug resistance, hydrolysis of extended spectrum β-lactam and the change of the isoelectric point of the protein.

Conclusion

These findings underscore the diversity by which antibiotic resistance can arise and the evolutionary potential of the clinically important ESBL enzymes. In addition, this study highlights the need for systematic surveillance of ESBL-mediated resistance as well as in clinical areas and communities.

Prevalence of extended-spectrum b-lactamase-producing Salmonella on retail chicken in six provinces and two national cities in the People's Republic of China

Prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Salmonella in food is not well documented. This study investigated the prevalence of ESBL-producing Salmonella in 699 Salmonella isolates recovered from 1,152 retail chickens collected from six provinces and two national cities in the People's Republic of China in 2011. ESBL-producing isolates were screened by double-disk synergy test and confirmed using PCR and DNA sequencing. Of the 699 isolates tested, 60 (8.58%) were identified to be ESBL-producing Salmonella. Prevalence of ESBL-producing Salmonella was the highest in Shanghai city (17 [24.64%] of 69), followed by Shaanxi (10 [15.38%] of 65), Fujian (9 [11.69%] of 77), Guangdong (9 [7.69%] of 117), Sichuan (5 [7.25%] of 69), Beijing (6 [5.17%] of 116), Henan (4 [4.65%] of 86), and Guangxi (0 [0%] of 100) province. Significant difference (P < 0.05) in the prevalence of ESBL-producing Salmonella was found among six provinces and two cities. No significant difference (P > 0.05) in the prevalence was found between wet markets and supermarkets or between whole chickens and chopped chickens. The prevalence of ESBL-producing Salmonella differed significantly (P < 0.05) among different seasons, being higher in autumn than in spring and winter. Overall, ESBL-producing Salmonella varied significantly (P < 0.05) among 12 detected Salmonella serotypes: Abony (1 [33.33%] of 3), Indiana (28 [28.57%] of 98), Edinburg (6 [24.00%] of 25), Shubra (2 [20.00%] of 10), Uppsala (1 [16.67%] of 6), Thompson (8 [14.81%] of 54), Haardt (1 [12.50%] of 8), Agona (3 [9.68%] of 31), Gueuletapee (1 [6.25%] of 16), Typhimurium (4 [5.56%] of 72), Heidelberg (1 [4.55%] of 22), and Enteritidis (4 [3.17%] of 126). This study revealed that ESBL-producing Salmonella do exist in retail chicken in the People's Republic of China and that the potential risk of their presence in foods needs further exploration.