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Quinones-Olvera N, Owen SV, McCully LM, Marin MG, Rand EA, Fan AC, Martins Dosumu OJ, Paul K, Sanchez Castaño CE, Petherbridge R, Paull JS, Baym M. Diverse and abundant phages exploit conjugative plasmids. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3197. [PMID: 38609370 PMCID: PMC11015023 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47416-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Phages exert profound evolutionary pressure on bacteria by interacting with receptors on the cell surface to initiate infection. While the majority of phages use chromosomally encoded cell surface structures as receptors, plasmid-dependent phages exploit plasmid-encoded conjugation proteins, making their host range dependent on horizontal transfer of the plasmid. Despite their unique biology and biotechnological significance, only a small number of plasmid-dependent phages have been characterized. Here we systematically search for new plasmid-dependent phages targeting IncP and IncF plasmids using a targeted discovery platform, and find that they are common and abundant in wastewater, and largely unexplored in terms of their genetic diversity. Plasmid-dependent phages are enriched in non-canonical types of phages, and all but one of the 65 phages we isolated were non-tailed, and members of the lipid-containing tectiviruses, ssDNA filamentous phages or ssRNA phages. We show that plasmid-dependent tectiviruses exhibit profound differences in their host range which is associated with variation in the phage holin protein. Despite their relatively high abundance in wastewater, plasmid-dependent tectiviruses are missed by metaviromic analyses, underscoring the continued importance of culture-based phage discovery. Finally, we identify a tailed phage dependent on the IncF plasmid, and find related structural genes in phages that use the orthogonal type 4 pilus as a receptor, highlighting the evolutionarily promiscuous use of these distinct contractile structures by multiple groups of phages. Taken together, these results indicate plasmid-dependent phages play an under-appreciated evolutionary role in constraining horizontal gene transfer via conjugative plasmids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Quinones-Olvera
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Siân V Owen
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Lucy M McCully
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Maximillian G Marin
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Eleanor A Rand
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alice C Fan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Oluremi J Martins Dosumu
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Roxbury Community College, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Kay Paul
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Roxbury Community College, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Cleotilde E Sanchez Castaño
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Roxbury Community College, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Rachel Petherbridge
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jillian S Paull
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Michael Baym
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
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Alav I, Pordelkhaki P, de Resende PE, Partington H, Gibbons S, Lord RM, Buckner MMC. Cobalt complexes modulate plasmid conjugation in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8103. [PMID: 38582880 PMCID: PMC10998897 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58895-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG), such as extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase genes, are commonly carried on plasmids. Plasmids can transmit between bacteria, disseminate globally, and cause clinically important resistance. Therefore, targeting plasmids could reduce ARG prevalence, and restore the efficacy of existing antibiotics. Cobalt complexes possess diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial and anticancer properties. However, their effect on plasmid conjugation has not been explored yet. Here, we assessed the effect of four previously characterised bis(N-picolinamido)cobalt(II) complexes lacking antibacterial activity on plasmid conjugation in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of these cobalt complexes confirmed the lack of antibacterial activity in E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Liquid broth and solid agar conjugation assays were used to screen the activity of the complexes on four archetypical plasmids in E. coli J53. The cobalt complexes significantly reduced the conjugation of RP4, R6K, and R388 plasmids, but not pKM101, on solid agar in E. coli J53. Owing to their promising activity, the impact of cobalt complexes was tested on the conjugation of fluorescently tagged extended-spectrum β-lactamase encoding pCTgfp plasmid in E. coli and carbapenemase encoding pKpQILgfp plasmid in K. pneumoniae, using flow cytometry. The complexes significantly reduced the conjugation of pKpQILgfp in K. pneumoniae but had no impact on pCTgfp conjugation in E. coli. The cobalt complexes did not have plasmid-curing activity, suggesting that they target conjugation rather than plasmid stability. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report reduced conjugation of clinically relevant plasmids with cobalt complexes. These cobalt complexes are not cytotoxic towards mammalian cells and are not antibacterial, therefore they could be optimised and employed as inhibitors of plasmid conjugation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilyas Alav
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Parisa Pordelkhaki
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Pedro Ernesto de Resende
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Hannah Partington
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Simon Gibbons
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Birkat Al Mauz, P.O. Box 33, Nizwa, 616, Oman
| | - Rianne M Lord
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Michelle M C Buckner
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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3
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Eisenhofer R, Nesme J, Santos-Bay L, Koziol A, Sørensen SJ, Alberdi A, Aizpurua O. A comparison of short-read, HiFi long-read, and hybrid strategies for genome-resolved metagenomics. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0359023. [PMID: 38451230 PMCID: PMC10986573 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03590-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Shotgun metagenomics enables the reconstruction of complex microbial communities at a high level of detail. Such an approach can be conducted using both short-read and long-read sequencing data, as well as a combination of both. To assess the pros and cons of these different approaches, we used 22 fecal DNA extracts collected weekly for 11 weeks from two respective lab mice to study seven performance metrics over four combinations of sequencing depth and technology: (i) 20 Gbp of Illumina short-read data, (ii) 40 Gbp of short-read data, (iii) 20 Gbp of PacBio HiFi long-read data, and (iv) 40 Gbp of hybrid (20 Gbp of short-read +20 Gbp of long-read) data. No strategy was best for all metrics; instead, each one excelled across different metrics. The long-read approach yielded the best assembly statistics, with the highest N50 and lowest number of contigs. The 40 Gbp short-read approach yielded the highest number of refined bins. Finally, the hybrid approach yielded the longest assemblies and the highest mapping rate to the bacterial genomes. Our results suggest that while long-read sequencing significantly improves the quality of reconstructed bacterial genomes, it is more expensive and requires deeper sequencing than short-read approaches to recover a comparable amount of reconstructed genomes. The most optimal strategy is study-specific and depends on how researchers assess the trade-off between the quantity and quality of recovered genomes.IMPORTANCEMice are an important model organism for understanding the gut microbiome. When studying these gut microbiomes using DNA techniques, researchers can choose from technologies that use short or long DNA reads. In this study, we perform an extensive benchmark between short- and long-read DNA sequencing for studying mice gut microbiomes. We find that no one approach was best for all metrics and provide information that can help guide researchers in planning their experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Eisenhofer
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joseph Nesme
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Luisa Santos-Bay
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam Koziol
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Johannes Sørensen
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Antton Alberdi
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ostaizka Aizpurua
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Fraikin N, Couturier A, Lesterlin C. The winding journey of conjugative plasmids toward a novel host cell. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102449. [PMID: 38432159 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Horizontal transfer of plasmids by conjugation is a fundamental mechanism driving the widespread dissemination of drug resistance among bacterial populations. The successful colonization of a new host cell necessitates the plasmid to navigate through a series of sequential steps, each dependent on specific plasmid or host factors. This review explores recent advancements in comprehending the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern plasmid transmission, establishment, and long-term maintenance. Adopting a plasmid-centric perspective, we describe the critical steps and bottlenecks in the plasmid's journey toward a new host cell, encompassing exploration and contact initiation, invasion, establishment and control, and assimilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Fraikin
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB), Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, UMR5086, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Agathe Couturier
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB), Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, UMR5086, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Christian Lesterlin
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB), Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, UMR5086, 69007 Lyon, France.
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Abdulkadir N, Saraiva JP, Zhang J, Stolte S, Gillor O, Harms H, Rocha U. Genome-centric analyses of 165 metagenomes show that mobile genetic elements are crucial for the transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes to pathogens in activated sludge and wastewater. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0291823. [PMID: 38289113 PMCID: PMC10913551 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02918-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Wastewater is considered a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), where the abundant antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and mobile genetic elements facilitate horizontal gene transfer. However, the prevalence and extent of these phenomena in different taxonomic groups that inhabit wastewater are still not fully understood. Here, we determined the presence of ARGs in metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and evaluated the risks of MAG-carrying ARGs in potential human pathogens. The potential of these ARGs to be transmitted horizontally or vertically was also determined. A total of 5,916 MAGs (completeness >50%, contamination <10%) were recovered, covering 68 phyla and 279 genera. MAGs were dereplicated into 1,204 genome operational taxonomic units (gOTUs) as a proxy for species ( average nucleotide identity >0.95). The dominant ARG classes detected were bacitracin, multi-drug, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS), glycopeptide, and aminoglycoside, and 10.26% of them were located on plasmids. The main hosts of ARGs belonged to Escherichia, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Gresbergeria, Mycobacterium, and Thauera. Our data showed that 253 MAGs carried virulence factor genes (VFGs) divided into 44 gOTUs, of which 45 MAGs were carriers of ARGs, indicating that potential human pathogens carried ARGs. Alarmingly, the MAG assigned as Escherichia coli contained 159 VFGs, of which 95 were located on chromosomes and 10 on plasmids. In addition to shedding light on the prevalence of ARGs in individual genomes recovered from activated sludge and wastewater, our study demonstrates a workflow that can identify antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in complex microbial communities. IMPORTANCE Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens the health of humans, animals, and natural ecosystems. In our study, an analysis of 165 metagenomes from wastewater revealed antibiotic-targeted alteration, efflux, and inactivation as the most prevalent AMR mechanisms. We identified several genera correlated with multiple ARGs, including Klebsiella, Escherichia, Acinetobacter, Nitrospira, Ottowia, Pseudomonas, and Thauera, which could have significant implications for AMR transmission. The abundance of bacA, mexL, and aph(3")-I in the genomes calls for their urgent management in wastewater. Our approach could be applied to different ecosystems to assess the risk of potential pathogens containing ARGs. Our findings highlight the importance of managing AMR in wastewater and can help design measures to reduce the transmission and evolution of AMR in these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafi’u Abdulkadir
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Joao Pedro Saraiva
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Junya Zhang
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Stefan Stolte
- Institute of Water Chemistry, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Osnat Gillor
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, J. Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Midreshet Ben Gurion, Israel
| | - Hauke Harms
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulisses Rocha
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
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6
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Manageiro V, Cano M, Furtado C, Iglesias C, Reis L, Vieira P, Teixeira A, Martins C, Veloso I, Machado J, Paiva JA, Caniça M. Genomic and epidemiological insight of an outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in a Portuguese hospital with the emergence of the new KPC-124. J Infect Public Health 2024; 17:386-395. [PMID: 38246112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) is an increasing problem in healthcare settings. This study aimed to identify the source of a CPE outbreak that occurred in 2022, in a tertiary hospital in the North of Portugal, to identify exposed patients, and to assess the risk of becoming CPE-positive following hospital admission. METHODS A multi-disciplinary investigation was conducted including descriptive, analytical, and molecular epidemiology, environmental screening, and assessment of infection control measures. Clinical and environmental isolates were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, a prospective observational cohort study was conducted to further investigate the risk factors associated with the emergence of new cases in cohorts of CPE-negative admitted patients. RESULTS We observed the presence of multispecies KPC-, IMP-, and/or NDM-producing isolates. Genetically indistinguishable clinical and environmental isolates were found on the same room/ward. The ST45 KPC-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae clone was the responsible for the outbreak. During patients' treatment, we detected the emergence of resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam, associated with mutations in the blaKPC-3 gene (blaKPC-46, blaKPC-66 and blaKPC-124, the last variant never previously reported), suggesting a vertical evolutionary trajectory. Patients aged ≥ 75 years, hygiene/feeding-care dependent, and/or subjected to secretion aspiration were risk factors for CPE colonization after hospital admission. Additionally, cases with previous admission to the emergency department suggest that CPE dissemination may occur not only during hospitalization but also in the emergency department. CONCLUSION Overall, the study highlights that selection pressure with antibiotics, like ceftazidime-avibactam, is a contributing factor to the emergence of new β-lactamase variants and antibiotic resistance. It also shows that the hospital environment can be a significant source of CPE transmission, and that routine use of infection control measures and real-time molecular epidemiology investigations are essential to ensure the long-term termination of CPE outbreaks and prevent future resurgences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Manageiro
- National Reference Laboratory of Antibiotic Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal; ECDC fellowship Programme, Public Health Microbiology path (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Manuela Cano
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cristina Furtado
- Reference and Surveillance Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carmen Iglesias
- Clinical Pathology Service, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Lígia Reis
- National Reference Laboratory of Antibiotic Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Vieira
- National Reference Laboratory of Antibiotic Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Aida Teixeira
- Local Unit of the Program for Prevention and Control of Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance (UL-PPCIRA), Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Martins
- Local Unit of the Program for Prevention and Control of Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance (UL-PPCIRA), Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Isabel Veloso
- Local Unit of the Program for Prevention and Control of Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance (UL-PPCIRA), Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Jorge Machado
- Coordination of the Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José Artur Paiva
- Intensive Care Medicine Service, Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João (CHUSJ), Porto, Portugal; Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention Programme, Directorate General of Health, Portugal
| | - Manuela Caniça
- National Reference Laboratory of Antibiotic Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal; Centre for the Studies of Animal Science, Institute of Agrarian and Agri-Food Sciences and Technologies, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; AL4AnimalS, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Portugal.
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7
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Yan Y, Li X, Yu K, Wu Z, Sun Y, Cheng Z, Zhao B, Nie C, Xia Y. Systematic evaluation of the impact of standard storage conditions on plasmid conjugation behavior in wastewater samples. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123283. [PMID: 38176637 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Filter mating experiment is widely used to study the conjugation behavior of plasmids and associated antibiotic resistance in environmental settings, however, the influence and biases brought by sample storage conditions (temperature and duration) were not yet systematically elaborated. This study systematically investigated the influence of standard storage conditions (4 °C, -20 °C, -80 °C) on plasmid conjugation behavior in influent (Inf) and activated sludge (AS) samples from sewage treatment plants (STP). The findings revealed a significant reduction in conjugation efficiency under all the tested storage conditions except for 1-week storage at 4 °C. Notably, storing at -80 °C maintained conjugation activities in activated sludge more effectively compared to -20 °C. However, the preservation performance was less effective for influent samples, which consist mainly of anaerobe-dominant communities. Systematic loss of IncH-type plasmids was observed in influent samples stored at 4 °C and -20 °C. Correspondingly, the plasmid-carrying resistome genotypes detected in the influent samples showed a clear downward trend with the increase in storage duration when stored at 4 °C and -20 °C. A relatively uniform composition in terms of incompatibility type and resistome profile was observed across activated sludge samples, regardless of the varied storage conditions. This study highlights the critical impact of storage conditions on plasmid conjugation behavior and resistome composition, offering valuable insights for optimal sample handling in resistome research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxi Yan
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiang Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Kaiqiang Yu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ziqi Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuhong Sun
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhanwen Cheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bixi Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Cailong Nie
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yu Xia
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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8
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Guitart-Matas J, Espunyes J, Illera L, Gonzalez-Escalona N, Ribas MP, Marco I, Migura-Garcia L. High-risk lineages of extended spectrum cephalosporinase producing Escherichia coli from Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) foraging in landfills in north-eastern Spain. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168625. [PMID: 37977396 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Extended-spectrum cephalosporinase producing (ESC) E. coli are regarded as key indicator microorganisms of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), calling for a One Health integrated global surveillance strategy. Wildlife is exposed to antibiotic contaminants and/or resistant bacteria that have been released into the environment, potentially acting as reservoirs and spreaders of resistance genes as well as sentinels of anthropogenic pressure. Monitoring AMR in wildlife has become crucial in determining anthropogenic environmental impacts as well as transmission routes. In this study, we determined the occurrence and potential sources of ESC E. coli in 218 Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) foraging regularly on human waste disposed at a dumpsite in north-eastern Spain. Minimal inhibitory concentration for 14 different antimicrobials was performed to evaluate the phenotype of the isolates, and whole genome sequencing was carried out to investigate lineages and plasmids harbouring ESC genes. Our sequences were compared to previously published Spanish sequences of human, animal, and wildlife origin. We report a high prevalence of CTX-M-15, as well as the presence of other resistance genes such as OXA-10, CTX-M-27, and CTX-M-65 which are rarely described in European livestock, suggesting a human origin. The isolates also carried a diverse range of additional AMR genes for a broad spectrum of drug families, with the majority being multi-drug resistant. The phylogenomic analyses suggests the transmission of high-risk lineages from humans to vultures, with 49 % of our isolates matching the most common extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) lineages described in humans worldwide, including ST131, ST10 and ST58. We conclude that anthropogenically altered habitats, such as landfills, are hotspots for the acquisition and spread of high-risk ESC E. coli lineages associated with hospital infections. Measures must be implemented to limit their spread into natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Guitart-Matas
- Joint Research Unit IRTA-UAB in Animal Health, Animal Health Research Centre (CReSA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Catalonia, Spain; Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Animal Health Program (CReSA), WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Swine Diseases in Europe, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Catalonia, Spain
| | - Johan Espunyes
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lucia Illera
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Maria Puig Ribas
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ignasi Marco
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lourdes Migura-Garcia
- Joint Research Unit IRTA-UAB in Animal Health, Animal Health Research Centre (CReSA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Catalonia, Spain; Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Animal Health Program (CReSA), WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Swine Diseases in Europe, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Catalonia, Spain.
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Castañeda-Barba S, Top EM, Stalder T. Plasmids, a molecular cornerstone of antimicrobial resistance in the One Health era. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:18-32. [PMID: 37430173 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00926-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a substantial threat to human health. The widespread prevalence of AMR is, in part, due to the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), typically mediated by plasmids. Many of the plasmid-mediated resistance genes in pathogens originate from environmental, animal or human habitats. Despite evidence that plasmids mobilize ARGs between these habitats, we have a limited understanding of the ecological and evolutionary trajectories that facilitate the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) plasmids in clinical pathogens. One Health, a holistic framework, enables exploration of these knowledge gaps. In this Review, we provide an overview of how plasmids drive local and global AMR spread and link different habitats. We explore some of the emerging studies integrating an eco-evolutionary perspective, opening up a discussion about the factors that affect the ecology and evolution of plasmids in complex microbial communities. Specifically, we discuss how the emergence and persistence of MDR plasmids can be affected by varying selective conditions, spatial structure, environmental heterogeneity, temporal variation and coexistence with other members of the microbiome. These factors, along with others yet to be investigated, collectively determine the emergence and transfer of plasmid-mediated AMR within and between habitats at the local and global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvador Castañeda-Barba
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Eva M Top
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
- Institute for Modelling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Thibault Stalder
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.
- Institute for Modelling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.
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10
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Sarquis A, Ladero V, Díaz M, Sánchez-Llana E, Fernández M, Alvarez MA. The gene cluster associated with strong biofilm-formation capacity by histamine-producing Lentilactobacillus parabuchneri encodes a sortase-mediated pilus and is located on a plasmid. Food Res Int 2024; 175:113777. [PMID: 38129064 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Histamine is a biogenic amine synthesized through the enzymatic decarboxylation of the amino acid histidine. It can accumulate at high concentrations in foods through the metabolism of certain bacteria, sometimes leading to adverse reactions in consumers. In cheese, histamine can accumulate at toxic levels; Lentilactobacillus parabuchneri has been identified the major cause of this problem. Previous studies have shown some L. parabuchneri strains to form biofilms on different surfaces, posing a contamination risk during cheese production, particularly for cheeses that are processed post-ripening (e.g., grating or slicing). The food contamination they cause can result in economic losses and even foodborne illness if histamine accumulates in the final product. The aim of the present work was to identify the genes of L. parabuchneri involved in biofilm formation, and to determine their function. The genomes of six strains with different biofilm-production capacities (strong, moderate and weak) were sequenced and analysed. A cluster of four genes, similar to those involved in sortase-mediated pilus formation, was identified in the strong biofilm-producers, suggesting it to have a role in surface adhesion. Cloning and heterologous expression in Lactococcus cremoris NZ9000 confirmed its functionality and involvement in adhesion and, therefore, in biofilm formation. PacBio sequencing showed this cluster to be located on a 33.4 kb plasmid, which might increase its chances of horizontal transmission. These findings provide insight into the genetic factors associated with biofilm formation in histamine-producing L. parabuchneri, and into the risks associated with this bacterium in cheese production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Sarquis
- Dairy Research Institute, IPLA, CSIC, Paseo Rio Linares s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Víctor Ladero
- Dairy Research Institute, IPLA, CSIC, Paseo Rio Linares s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
| | - María Díaz
- Dairy Research Institute, IPLA, CSIC, Paseo Rio Linares s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain
| | - Esther Sánchez-Llana
- Dairy Research Institute, IPLA, CSIC, Paseo Rio Linares s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain
| | - María Fernández
- Dairy Research Institute, IPLA, CSIC, Paseo Rio Linares s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Miguel A Alvarez
- Dairy Research Institute, IPLA, CSIC, Paseo Rio Linares s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
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11
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Li X, Brejnrod A, Thorsen J, Zachariasen T, Trivedi U, Russel J, Vestergaard GA, Stokholm J, Rasmussen MA, Sørensen SJ. Differential responses of the gut microbiome and resistome to antibiotic exposures in infants and adults. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8526. [PMID: 38135681 PMCID: PMC10746713 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44289-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite their crucial importance for human health, there is still relatively limited knowledge on how the gut resistome changes or responds to antibiotic treatment across ages, especially in the latter case. Here, we use fecal metagenomic data from 662 Danish infants and 217 young adults to fill this gap. The gut resistomes are characterized by a bimodal distribution driven by E. coli composition. The typical profile of the gut resistome differs significantly between adults and infants, with the latter distinguished by higher gene and plasmid abundances. However, the predominant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are the same. Antibiotic treatment reduces bacterial diversity and increased ARG and plasmid abundances in both cohorts, especially core ARGs. The effects of antibiotic treatments on the gut microbiome last longer in adults than in infants, and different antibiotics are associated with distinct impacts. Overall, this study broadens our current understanding of gut resistome dynamics and the impact of antibiotic treatment across age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanji Li
- Department of Biology, Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Asker Brejnrod
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Section of Bioinformatics, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jonathan Thorsen
- COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Trine Zachariasen
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Section of Bioinformatics, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Urvish Trivedi
- Department of Biology, Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jakob Russel
- Department of Biology, Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gisle Alberg Vestergaard
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Section of Bioinformatics, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob Stokholm
- COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Food Science, Section of Microbiology and Fermentation, University of Copenhagen, 1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Morten Arendt Rasmussen
- COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Food Science, Section of Microbiology and Fermentation, University of Copenhagen, 1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Søren Johannes Sørensen
- Department of Biology, Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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12
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Alonso-del Valle A, Toribio-Celestino L, Quirant A, Pi CT, DelaFuente J, Canton R, Rocha EPC, Ubeda C, Peña-Miller R, San Millan A. Antimicrobial resistance level and conjugation permissiveness shape plasmid distribution in clinical enterobacteria. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2314135120. [PMID: 38096417 PMCID: PMC10741383 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314135120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Conjugative plasmids play a key role in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes across bacterial pathogens. AMR plasmids are widespread in clinical settings, but their distribution is not random, and certain associations between plasmids and bacterial clones are particularly successful. For example, the globally spread carbapenem resistance plasmid pOXA-48 can use a wide range of enterobacterial species as hosts, but it is usually associated with a small number of specific Klebsiella pneumoniae clones. These successful associations represent an important threat for hospitalized patients. However, knowledge remains limited about the factors determining AMR plasmid distribution in clinically relevant bacteria. Here, we combined in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches to analyze pOXA-48-associated AMR levels and conjugation dynamics in a collection of wild-type enterobacterial strains isolated from hospitalized patients. Our results revealed significant variability in these traits across different bacterial hosts, with Klebsiella spp. strains showing higher pOXA-48-mediated AMR and conjugation frequencies than Escherichia coli strains. Using experimentally determined parameters, we developed a simple mathematical model to interrogate the contribution of AMR levels and conjugation permissiveness to plasmid distribution in bacterial communities. The simulations revealed that a small subset of clones, combining high AMR levels and conjugation permissiveness, play a critical role in stabilizing the plasmid in different polyclonal microbial communities. These results help to explain the preferential association of plasmid pOXA-48 with K. pneumoniae clones in clinical settings. More generally, our study reveals that species- and strain-specific variability in plasmid-associated phenotypes shape AMR evolution in clinically relevant bacterial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Alonso-del Valle
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid28049, Spain
| | - Laura Toribio-Celestino
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid28049, Spain
| | - Anna Quirant
- Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunitat Valenciana, Valencia46020, Spain
| | - Carles Tardio Pi
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca62209, México
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Unidad Académica Yucatán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Yucatán04510, México
| | - Javier DelaFuente
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid28049, Spain
| | - Rafael Canton
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal-Instituto Ramon y Cajal de Investigacion Sanitaria, Madrid28034, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
| | - Eduardo P. C. Rocha
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris75015, France
| | - Carles Ubeda
- Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunitat Valenciana, Valencia46020, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
| | - Rafael Peña-Miller
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca62209, México
| | - Alvaro San Millan
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid28049, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
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13
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Geoffroy F, Uecker H. Limits to evolutionary rescue by conjugative plasmids. Theor Popul Biol 2023; 154:102-117. [PMID: 37923145 DOI: 10.1016/j.tpb.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Plasmids may carry genes coding for beneficial traits and thus contribute to adaptation of bacterial populations to environmental stress. Conjugative plasmids can horizontally transfer between cells, which a priori facilitates the spread of adaptive alleles. However, if the potential recipient cell is already colonized by another incompatible plasmid, successful transfer may be prevented. Competition between plasmids can thus limit horizontal transfer. Previous modeling has indeed shown that evolutionary rescue by a conjugative plasmid is hampered by incompatible resident plasmids in the population. If the rescue plasmid is a mutant variant of the resident plasmid, both plasmids transfer at the same rates. A high conjugation rate then has two, potentially opposing, effects - a direct positive effect on spread of the rescue plasmid and an increase in the fraction of resident plasmid cells. This raises the question whether a high conjugation rate always benefits evolutionary rescue. In this article, we systematically analyze three models of increasing complexity to disentangle the benefits and limits of increasing horizontal gene transfer in the presence of plasmid competition and plasmid costs. We find that the net effect can be positive or negative and that the optimal transfer rate is thus not always the highest one. These results can contribute to our understanding of the many facets of plasmid-driven adaptation and the wide range of transfer rates observed in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix Geoffroy
- Research group Stochastic Evolutionary Dynamics, Department of Evolutionary Theory, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.
| | - Hildegard Uecker
- Research group Stochastic Evolutionary Dynamics, Department of Evolutionary Theory, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
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14
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Libertini G. Phenoptosis and the Various Types of Natural Selection. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:2007-2022. [PMID: 38462458 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923120052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
In the first description of evolution, the fundamental mechanism is the natural selection favoring the individuals best suited for survival and reproduction (selection at the individual level or classical Darwinian selection). However, this is a very reductive description of natural selection that does not consider or explain a long series of known phenomena, including those in which an individual sacrifices or jeopardizes his life on the basis of genetically determined mechanisms (i.e., phenoptosis). In fact, in addition to (i) selection at the individual level, it is essential to consider other types of natural selection such as those concerning: (ii) kin selection and some related forms of group selection; (iii) the interactions between the innumerable species that constitute a holobiont; (iv) the origin of the eukaryotic cell from prokaryotic organisms; (v) the origin of multicellular eukaryotic organisms from unicellular organisms; (vi) eusociality (e.g., in many species of ants, bees, termites); (vii) selection at the level of single genes, or groups of genes; (viii) the interactions between individuals (or more precisely their holobionts) of the innumerable species that make up an ecosystem. These forms of natural selection, which are all effects and not violations of the classical Darwinian selection, also show how concepts as life, species, individual, and phenoptosis are somewhat not entirely defined and somehow arbitrary. Furthermore, the idea of organisms selected on the basis of their survival and reproduction capabilities is intertwined with that of organisms also selected on the basis of their ability to cooperate and interact, even by losing their lives or their distinct identities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacinto Libertini
- Italian Society for Evolutionary Biology (ISEB), Asti, 14100, Italy.
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, 80131, Italy
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15
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Yang J, Wu R, Xia Q, Yu J, Yi LX, Huang Y, Deng M, He WY, Bai Y, Lv L, Burrus V, Wang C, Liu JH. The evolution of infectious transmission promotes the persistence of mcr-1 plasmids. mBio 2023; 14:e0044223. [PMID: 37314200 PMCID: PMC10470590 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00442-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Conjugative plasmids play a vital role in bacterial evolution and promote the spread of antibiotic resistance. They usually cause fitness costs that diminish the growth rates of the host bacteria. Compensatory mutations are known as an effective evolutionary solution to reduce the fitness cost and improve plasmid persistence. However, whether the plasmid transmission by conjugation is sufficient to improve plasmid persistence is debated since it is an inherently costly process. Here, we experimentally evolved an unstable and costly mcr-1 plasmid pHNSHP24 under laboratory conditions and assessed the effects of plasmid cost and transmission on the plasmid maintenance by the plasmid population dynamics model and a plasmid invasion experiment designed to measure the plasmid's ability to invade a plasmid-free bacterial population. The persistence of pHNSHP24 improved after 36 days evolution due to the plasmid-borne mutation A51G in the 5'UTR of gene traJ. This mutation largely increased the infectious transmission of the evolved plasmid, presumably by impairing the inhibitory effect of FinP on the expression of traJ. We showed that increased conjugation rate of the evolved plasmid could compensate for the plasmid loss. Furthermore, we determined that the evolved high transmissibility had little effect on the mcr-1-deficient ancestral plasmid, implying that high conjugation transfer is vital for maintaining the mcr-1-bearing plasmid. Altogether, our findings emphasized that, besides compensatory evolution that reduces fitness costs, the evolution of infectious transmission can improve the persistence of antibiotic-resistant plasmids, indicating that inhibition of the conjugation process could be useful to combat the spread of antibiotic-resistant plasmids. IMPORTANCE Conjugative plasmids play a key role in the spread of antibiotic resistance, and they are well-adapted to the host bacteria. However, the evolutionary adaptation of plasmid-bacteria associations is not well understood. In this study, we experimentally evolved an unstable colistin resistance (mcr-1) plasmid under laboratory conditions and found that increased conjugation rate was crucial for the persistence of this plasmid. Interestingly, the evolved conjugation was caused by a single-base mutation, which could rescue the unstable plasmid from extinction in bacterial populations. Our findings imply that inhibition of the conjugation process could be necessary for combating the persistence of antibiotic-resistance plasmids.
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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 South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Renjie Wu
- 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 South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiang Xia
- College of Mathematics and Informatics, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Yu
- 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 South China Agricultural University, 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 South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Huang
- 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 South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meixin Deng
- 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 South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wan-Yun He
- 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 South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuman Bai
- 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 South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 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 South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Vincent Burrus
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Chengzhen Wang
- 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 South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - 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 South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
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16
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Piscon B, Pia Esposito E, Fichtman B, Samburski G, Efremushkin L, Amselem S, Harel A, Rahav G, Zarrilli R, Gal-Mor O. The Effect of Outer Space and Other Environmental Cues on Bacterial Conjugation. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0368822. [PMID: 36995224 PMCID: PMC10269834 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03688-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial conjugation is one of the most abundant horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mechanisms, playing a fundamental role in prokaryote evolution. A better understanding of bacterial conjugation and its cross talk with the environment is needed for a more complete understanding of HGT mechanisms and to fight the dissemination of malicious genes between bacteria. Here, we studied the effect of outer space, microgravity, and additional key environmental cues on transfer (tra) gene expression and conjugation efficiency, using the under studied broad-host range plasmid pN3, as a model. High resolution scanning electron microscopy revealed the morphology of the pN3 conjugative pili and mating pair formation during conjugation. Using a nanosatellite carrying a miniaturized lab, we studied pN3 conjugation in outer space, and used qRT-PCR, Western blotting and mating assays to determine the effect of ground physicochemical parameters on tra gene expression and conjugation. We showed for the first time that bacterial conjugation can occur in outer space and on the ground, under microgravity-simulated conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrated that microgravity, liquid media, elevated temperature, nutrient depletion, high osmolarity and low oxygen significantly reduce pN3 conjugation. Interestingly, under some of these conditions we observed an inverse correlation between tra gene transcription and conjugation frequency and found that induction of at least traK and traL can negatively affect pN3 conjugation frequency in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these results uncover pN3 regulation by various environmental cues and highlight the diversity of conjugation systems and the different ways in which they may be regulated in response to abiotic signals. IMPORTANCE Bacterial conjugation is a highly ubiquitous and promiscuous process, by which a donor bacterium transfers a large portion of genetic material to a recipient cell. This mechanism of horizontal gene transfer plays an important role in bacterial evolution and in the ability of bacteria to acquire resistance to antimicrobial drugs and disinfectants. Bacterial conjugation is a complex and energy-consuming process, that is tightly regulated and largely affected by various environmental signals sensed by the bacterial cell. Comprehensive knowledge about bacterial conjugation and the ways it is affected by environmental cues is required to better understand bacterial ecology and evolution and to find new effective ways to counteract the threating dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes between bacterial populations. Moreover, characterizing this process under stress or suboptimal growth conditions such as elevated temperatures, high salinity or in the outer space, may provide insights relevant to future habitat environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bar Piscon
- The Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Eliana Pia Esposito
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Boris Fichtman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Guy Samburski
- SpacePharma R&D Israel LTD., Herzliya Pituach, Israel & SpacePharma SA, Courgenay, Switzerland
| | - Lihi Efremushkin
- SpacePharma R&D Israel LTD., Herzliya Pituach, Israel & SpacePharma SA, Courgenay, Switzerland
| | - Shimon Amselem
- SpacePharma R&D Israel LTD., Herzliya Pituach, Israel & SpacePharma SA, Courgenay, Switzerland
| | - Amnon Harel
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Galia Rahav
- The Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Raffaele Zarrilli
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Ohad Gal-Mor
- The Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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17
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Calderón-Franco D, van Loosdrecht MCM, Abeel T, Weissbrodt DG. Catch me if you can: capturing microbial community transformation by extracellular DNA using Hi-C sequencing. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2023:10.1007/s10482-023-01834-z. [PMID: 37156983 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-023-01834-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The transformation of environmental microorganisms by extracellular DNA is an overlooked mechanism of horizontal gene transfer and evolution. It initiates the acquisition of exogenous genes and propagates antimicrobial resistance alongside vertical and conjugative transfers. We combined mixed-culture biotechnology and Hi-C sequencing to elucidate the transformation of wastewater microorganisms with a synthetic plasmid encoding GFP and kanamycin resistance genes, in the mixed culture of chemostats exposed to kanamycin at concentrations representing wastewater, gut and polluted environments (0.01-2.5-50-100 mg L-1). We found that the phylogenetically distant Gram-negative Runella (102 Hi-C links), Bosea (35), Gemmobacter (33) and Zoogloea (24) spp., and Gram-positive Microbacterium sp. (90) were transformed by the foreign plasmid, under high antibiotic exposure (50 mg L-1). In addition, the antibiotic pressure shifted the origin of aminoglycoside resistance genes from genomic DNA to mobile genetic elements on plasmids accumulating in microorganisms. These results reveal the power of Hi-C sequencing to catch and surveil the transfer of xenogenetic elements inside microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Abeel
- Delft Bioinformatics Lab, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David G Weissbrodt
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
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Pitout JDD, Chen L. The Significance of Epidemic Plasmids in the Success of Multidrug-Resistant Drug Pandemic Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli. Infect Dis Ther 2023; 12:1029-1041. [PMID: 36947392 PMCID: PMC10147871 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-023-00791-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemic IncF plasmids have been pivotal in the selective advantage of multidrug-resistant (MDR) extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC). These plasmids have offered several advantages to their hosts that allowed them to coevolve with the bacterial host genomes and played an integral role in the success of ExPEC. IncF plasmids are large, mosaic, and often contain various types of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence associated factor (VAF) genes. The presence of AMR, VAF genes, several addition/restriction systems combined with truncated transfer regions, led to the fixation of IncF plasmids in certain ExPEC MDR clones, such as ST131 and ST410. IncF plasmids entered the ST131 ancestral lineage in the mid 1900s and different ST131 clade/CTX-M plasmid combinations coevolved over time. The IncF_CTX-M-15/ST131-C2 subclade combination emerged during the early 2000s, spread rapidly across the globe, and is one of the greatest clone/plasmid successes of the millennium. The ST410-B3 subclade containing blaCTX-M-15 incorporated the NDM-5 carbapenemase gene into existing IncF platforms, providing an additional positive selective advantage that included the carbapenems. A "plasmid-replacement" clade scenario occurred in the histories of ST131 and ST410 as different subclades gained different AMR genes on different IncF platforms. The use of antimicrobial agents will generate selection pressures that enhance the risks for the continuous emergence of MDR ExPEC clone/IncF plasmid combinations. The reasons for clade/IncF replacements and associations between certain clades and specific IncF plasmid types are unknown. Such information will aid in designing management and prevention strategies to combat AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann D D Pitout
- Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, #9, 3535 Research Road NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2K8, Canada.
- Dynacare Laboratories, Alberta, Canada.
- University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
| | - Liang Chen
- Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ, USA
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Sánchez-Arroyo A, Plaza-Vinuesa L, Rivas BDL, Mancheño JM, Muñoz R. The salicylate 1,2-dioxygenase from Pseudaminobacter salicylatoxidans DSM 6986T is a bifunctional enzyme that inactivates the mycotoxin ochratoxin A by a novel amidohydrolase activity. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 237:124230. [PMID: 36990411 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
The salicylate 1,2-dioxygenase from the bacterium Pseudaminobacter salicylatoxidans DSM 6986T (PsSDO) is a versatile metalloenzyme that participates in the aerobic biodegradation of aromatic compounds, such as gentisates and salicylates. Surprisingly, and unrelated to this metabolic role, it has been reported that PsSDO may transform the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA), a molecule that appears in numerous food products that results in serious biotechnological concern. In this work, we show that PsSDO, together with its dioxygenase activity, behaves as an amidohydrolase with a marked specificity for substrates containing a C-terminal phenylalanine residue, similar to OTA, although its presence is not an absolute requirement. This side chain would establish aromatic stacking interactions with the indole ring of Trp104. PsSDO hydrolysed the amide bond of OTA rendering the much less toxic ochratoxin α and L-β-phenylalanine. The binding mode of OTA and of a diverse set of synthetic carboxypeptidase substrates these substrates have been characterized by molecular docking simulations, which has permitted us to propose a catalytic mechanism of hydrolysis by PsSDO that, similarly to metallocarboxypeptidases, assumes a water-induced pathway following a general acid/base mechanism in which the side chain of Glu82 would provide the solvent nucleophilicity required for the enzymatic reaction. Since the PsSDO chromosomal region, absent in other Pseudaminobacter strains, contained a set of genes present in conjugative plasmids, it could have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer, probably from a Celeribacter strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sánchez-Arroyo
- Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN), CSIC, José Antonio Novais 6, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Plaza-Vinuesa
- Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN), CSIC, José Antonio Novais 6, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Blanca de Las Rivas
- Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN), CSIC, José Antonio Novais 6, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Miguel Mancheño
- Department of Crystallography and Structural Biology, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano, CSIC, Serrano 119, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rosario Muñoz
- Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN), CSIC, José Antonio Novais 6, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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