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Wang J, Dong X, Wang F, Jiang J, Zhao Y, Gu J, Xu J, Mao X, Tu B. Molecular Characteristics and Genetic Analysis of Extensively Drug-Resistant Isolates with different Tn3 Mobile Genetic Elements. Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:246. [PMID: 37335402 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03340-x] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria are the main caues for causing clinical infectious diseases. Our aim was to distinguish the present molecular epidemiological situation of XDR Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Escherichia coli isolates recovered from local hospitals in Changzhou. Antibiotic susceptibility and phenotypic analysis, multilocus sequence typing and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis were performed to trace these isolates. Resistant phenotype and gene analysis from 29 XDR strains demonstrated that they mainly included TEM, CTX-M-1/2, OXA-48, and KPC products. A. baumannii strains belonged to sequence type (ST) ST224, and carrying the blaCTX-M-2/TEM gene. The quinolone genes aac(6')-ib-cr and qnrB were carrying only in A. baumannii and E.coli. Three (2.3%) of these strains were found to contain the blaNDM-1 or blaNDM-5 gene. A new genotype of K. pneumoniae was found as ST2639. Epidemic characteristics of the XDR clones showed that antibiotic resistance genes distributed unevenly in different wards in Changzhou's local hospitals. With the sequencing of blaNDM carrying isolates, the plasmids often carrying a highly conservative Tn3-relavent mobile genetic element. The especially coupled insert sequence ISKox3 may be a distinctive resistance gene transfer loci. The genotypic diversity variation of XDRs suggested that tracking and isolating the sources of antibiotic resistance especially MBL-encoding genes such as blaNDM-will help manage the risk of infection by these XDRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazhen Wang
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Xin Dong
- Pathogenic Biological Laboratory, Changzhou Disease Control and Prevention Centre, Changzhou Medical Centre, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fengming Wang
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
- Pathogenic Biological Laboratory, Changzhou Disease Control and Prevention Centre, Changzhou Medical Centre, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinyi Jiang
- Pathogenic Biological Laboratory, Changzhou Disease Control and Prevention Centre, Changzhou Medical Centre, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ying Zhao
- Pathogenic Biological Laboratory, Changzhou Disease Control and Prevention Centre, Changzhou Medical Centre, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingyue Gu
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Pathogenic Biological Laboratory, Changzhou Disease Control and Prevention Centre, Changzhou Medical Centre, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xujian Mao
- Pathogenic Biological Laboratory, Changzhou Disease Control and Prevention Centre, Changzhou Medical Centre, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bowen Tu
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
- Pathogenic Biological Laboratory, Changzhou Disease Control and Prevention Centre, Changzhou Medical Centre, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, Jiangsu, China.
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Li X, Mu X, Chen F, Lu X, He J, Zheng Y, Zhou D, Yin Z, Wang P. Characterization of Three Novel IMP Metallo-β-Lactamases, IMP-89, IMP-91, and IMP-96, and Diverse blaIMP-Carrying Accessory Genetic Elements from Chinese Clinical Isolates. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0498622. [PMID: 37092959 PMCID: PMC10269577 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04986-22] [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: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Three novel imipenemase (IMP)-type metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), referred to as IMP-89, IMP-91, and IMP-96, were detected in three clinical isolates from China. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests indicated these novel enzymes were resistant to most β-lactams, and IMP-96 with a Ser262Gly mutation had higher activity against meropenem than its point mutant. We then collected sequence data on all 91 available IMP variants for phylogenetic analysis. To further analyze the genetic environment of blaIMP, an extensive comparison was applied to nine accessory genetic elements (AGEs), including six sequenced blaIMP-carrying AGEs in this study and three others from GenBank. These nine AGEs were divided into three groups: three IncpJBCL41 plasmids, Tn6417 and its two derivatives, and three Tn6879-related integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs). All blaIMP genes in this study were captured by class 1 integrons. In the integrons, blaIMP genes usually coexisted with other resistance genes, which further impeded clinical antibacterial treatment. The emergence of new IMP variants and the diversity and complexity of their genetic environment make the prevention and control of drug-resistant strains critical, requiring serious attention from clinical and public health management departments. IMPORTANCE The spread of IMP-type MBLs has increased dramatically in recent years. We discovered three novel IMP variants from three clinical isolates in China. We summarized the classification and evolutionary relationship of all available IMP variants. Moreover, we detailed the genetic characteristics of blaIMP-carrying accessory genetic elements in five clinical isolates. Given the risk of rapid and extensive spread of blaIMP genes, we suggest that continuous surveillance is crucial to combat the acquisition and transmission of blaIMP genes by bacteria, which can impede clinical therapy effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofei Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Fangzhou Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuhui Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi He
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yali Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
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Characterization of a Conjugative Multidrug Resistance IncP-2 Megaplasmid, pPAG5, from a Clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolate. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0199221. [PMID: 35171033 PMCID: PMC8849076 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01992-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The spread of resistance genes via horizontal plasmid transfer plays a significant role in the formation of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. Here, we identified a megaplasmid (ca. 513 kb), designated pPAG5, which was recovered from a clinical multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa PAG5 strain. The pPAG5 plasmid belonged to the IncP-2 incompatibility group. Two large multidrug resistance regions (MDR-1 and MDR-2) and two heavy metal resistance operons (merEDACPTR and terZABCDE) were identified in the pPAG5 plasmid. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the formation of MDR regions was mediated by several homologous recombination events. Further conjugation assays identified that pPAG5 could be transferred to P. aeruginosa but not Escherichia coli. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing on transconjugants demonstrated that pPAG5 was capable of transferring resistance genes to transconjugants and producing a multidrug-resistant phenotype. Comparative analysis revealed that pPAG5 and related plasmids shared an overall similar backbone, including genes essential for replication (repA), partition (par), and conjugal transfer (tra). Further phylogenetic analysis showed that pPAG5 was closely related to plasmids pOZ176 and pJB37, both of which are members of the IncP-2-type plasmid group. IMPORTANCE The emergence and spread of plasmid-associated multidrug resistance in bacterial pathogens is a key global threat to public health. It is important to understand the mechanisms of the formation and evolution of these plasmids in patients, hospitals, and the environment. In this study, we detailed the genetic characteristics of a multidrug resistance IncP-2 megaplasmid, pPAG5, and investigated the formation of its MDR regions and evolution. To the best of our knowledge, plasmid pPAG5 is the largest multidrug resistance plasmid ever sequenced in the Pseudomonas genus. Our results may provide further insight into the formation of multidrug resistance plasmids in bacteria and the molecular evolution of plasmids.
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Abstract
Naturally occurring plasmids come in different sizes. The smallest are less than a kilobase of DNA, while the largest can be over three orders of magnitude larger. Historically, research has tended to focus on smaller plasmids that are usually easier to isolate, manipulate and sequence, but with improved genome assemblies made possible by long-read sequencing, there is increased appreciation that very large plasmids—known as megaplasmids—are widespread, diverse, complex, and often encode key traits in the biology of their host microorganisms. Why are megaplasmids so big? What other features come with large plasmid size that could affect bacterial ecology and evolution? Are megaplasmids 'just' big plasmids, or do they have distinct characteristics? In this perspective, we reflect on the distribution, diversity, biology, and gene content of megaplasmids, providing an overview to these large, yet often overlooked, mobile genetic elements. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The secret lives of microbial mobile genetic elements’.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P J Hall
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - João Botelho
- Antibiotic Resistance Evolution Group, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.,Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Adrian Cazares
- EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.,Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - David A Baltrus
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Hall JPJ, Harrison E, Baltrus DA. Introduction: the secret lives of microbial mobile genetic elements. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200460. [PMID: 34839706 PMCID: PMC8628069 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James P. J. Hall
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Ellie Harrison
- Department of Animal Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 1EA, UK
| | - David A. Baltrus
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721‐0036, USA
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Lau MSH, Sheng L, Zhang Y, Minton NP. Development of a Suite of Tools for Genome Editing in Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius and Their Use to Identify the Potential of a Native Plasmid in the Generation of Stable Engineered Strains. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:1739-1749. [PMID: 34197093 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The relentless rise in the levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases caused by the exploitation of fossil fuel necessitates the development of more environmentally friendly routes to the manufacture of chemicals and fuels. The exploitation of a fermentative process that uses a thermophilic chassis represents an attractive option. Its use, however, is hindered by a dearth of genetic tools. Here we expand on those available for the engineering of the industrial chassis Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius through the assembly and testing of a range of promoters, ribosome binding sites, reporter genes, and the implementation of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing based on two different thermostable Cas9 nucleases. The latter were used to demonstrate that the deletion of the two native plasmids carried by P. thermoglucosidasius, pNCI001 and pNCI002, either singly or in combination, had no discernible effects on the overall phenotypic characteristics of the organism. Through the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated insertion of the gene encoding a novel fluorescent reporter, eCGP123, we showed that pNCI001 exhibited a high degree of segregational stability. As the relatively higher copy number of pNCI001 led to higher levels of eCGP123 expression than when the same gene was integrated into the chromosome, we propose that pNCI001 represents the preferred option for the integration of metabolic operons when stable commercial strains are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. H. Lau
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Lili Sheng
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Ying Zhang
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Nigel P. Minton
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
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Li R, Peng K, Xiao X, Liu Y, Peng D, Wang Z. Emergence of a multidrug resistance efflux pump with carbapenem resistance gene blaVIM-2 in a Pseudomonas putida megaplasmid of migratory bird origin. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 76:1455-1458. [PMID: 33758948 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tigecycline and carbapenems are regarded as vital antimicrobials to treat serious bacterial infections. Co-occurrence of resistance genes conferring resistance to both tigecycline and carbapenems in Pseudomonas spp. was not investigated. OBJECTIVES To characterize a megaplasmid co-harbouring tmexCD1-toprJ1 and blaVIM-2 in Pseudomonas putida of migratory bird origin. METHODS One tigecycline- and carbapenem-resistant strain was isolated and characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation assay, WGS and bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS The strain P. putida ZXPA-20 resistant to meropenem and tigecycline was positive for blaVIM-2 and tmexCD1-toprJ1 genes. The gene blaVIM-2 was inserted into the backbone of the megaplasmid pZXPA-20 within a Tn5090-like structure. The genetic context of tmexCD1-toprJ1 in the megaplasmid was identical to many chromosomal tmexCD1-toprJ1 of Pseudomonas species. Plasmid-mediated tmexCD1-toprJ1 gene cluster in Pseudomonas spp. was more common than that in Klebsiella pneumoniae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of co-occurrence of blaVIM-2 and tmexCD1-toprJ1 in one plasmid. CONCLUSIONS Emergence of plasmid-mediated carbapenem and tigecycline resistance genes in P. putida from migratory birds highlighted the importance of surveillance of novel mobile resistance genes in migratory birds, which may play a vital role in global transmission of novel resistance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruichao Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.,Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Kai Peng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Xia Xiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.,Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Daxin Peng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
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Lood C, Peeters C, Lamy-Besnier Q, Wagemans J, De Vos D, Proesmans M, Pirnay JP, Echahidi F, Piérard D, Thimmesch M, Boeras A, Lagrou K, De Canck E, De Wachter E, van Noort V, Lavigne R, Vandamme P. Genomics of an endemic cystic fibrosis Burkholderia multivorans strain reveals low within-patient evolution but high between-patient diversity. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009418. [PMID: 33720991 PMCID: PMC7993779 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Burkholderia multivorans is a member of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), notorious for its pathogenicity in persons with cystic fibrosis. Epidemiological surveillance suggests that patients predominantly acquire B. multivorans from environmental sources, with rare cases of patient-to-patient transmission. Here we report on the genomic analysis of thirteen isolates from an endemic B. multivorans strain infecting four cystic fibrosis patients treated in different pediatric cystic fibrosis centers in Belgium, with no evidence of cross-infection. All isolates share an identical sequence type (ST-742) but whole genome analysis shows that they exhibit peculiar patterns of genomic diversity between patients. By combining short and long reads sequencing technologies, we highlight key differences in terms of small nucleotide polymorphisms indicative of low rates of adaptive evolution within patient, and well-defined, hundred kbps-long segments of high enrichment in mutations between patients. In addition, we observed large structural genomic variations amongst the isolates which revealed different plasmid contents, active roles for transposase IS3 and IS5 in the deactivation of genes, and mobile prophage elements. Our study shows limited within-patient B. multivorans evolution and high between-patient strain diversity, indicating that an environmental microdiverse reservoir must be present for this endemic strain, in which active diversification is taking place. Furthermore, our analysis also reveals a set of 30 parallel adaptations across multiple patients, indicating that the specific genomic background of a given strain may dictate the route of adaptation within the cystic fibrosis lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Lood
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Laboratory of Computational Systems Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Peeters
- Belgian National Reference Centre for Burkholderia, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Quentin Lamy-Besnier
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Wagemans
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daniel De Vos
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology (LabMCT), Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marijke Proesmans
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean-Paul Pirnay
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology (LabMCT), Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fedoua Echahidi
- Belgian National Reference Centre for Burkholderia, Department of Microbiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Denis Piérard
- Belgian National Reference Centre for Burkholderia, Department of Microbiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Anca Boeras
- Department of Microbiology, CHC MontLégia, Liège, Belgique
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Clinical department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Evelien De Canck
- Belgian National Reference Centre for Burkholderia, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elke De Wachter
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vera van Noort
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Laboratory of Computational Systems Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- * E-mail: (RL); (PV)
| | - Peter Vandamme
- Belgian National Reference Centre for Burkholderia, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- * E-mail: (RL); (PV)
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Ghaly TM, Paulsen IT, Sajjad A, Tetu SG, Gillings MR. A Novel Family of Acinetobacter Mega-Plasmids Are Disseminating Multi-Drug Resistance Across the Globe While Acquiring Location-Specific Accessory Genes. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:605952. [PMID: 33343549 PMCID: PMC7738440 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.605952] [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] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter species are emerging as major nosocomial pathogens, aided by their ability to acquire resistance to all classes of antibiotics. A key factor leading to their multi-drug resistance phenotypes is the acquisition of a wide variety of mobile genetic elements, particularly large conjugative plasmids. Here, we characterize a family of 21 multi-drug resistance mega-plasmids in 11 different Acinetobacter species isolated from various locations across the globe. The plasmid family exhibits a highly dynamic and diverse accessory genome, including 221 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that confer resistance to 13 classes of antibiotics. We show that plasmids isolated within the same geographic region are often evolutionarily divergent members of this family based on their core-genome, yet they exhibit a more similar accessory genome. Individual plasmids, therefore, can disseminate to different locations around the globe, where they then appear to acquire diverse sets of accessory genes from their local surroundings. Further, we show that plasmids from several geographic regions were enriched with location-specific functional traits. Together, our findings show that these mega-plasmids can transmit across species boundaries, have the capacity for global dissemination, can accumulate a diverse suite of location-specific accessory genes, and can confer multi-drug resistance phenotypes of significant concern for human health. We therefore highlight this previously undescribed plasmid family as a serious threat to healthcare systems worldwide. These findings also add to the growing concern that mega-plasmids are key disseminators of antibiotic resistance and require global surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M. Ghaly
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ian T. Paulsen
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ammara Sajjad
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sasha G. Tetu
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael R. Gillings
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Completed Genomic Sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis HER1410 Reveals a Cry-Containing Chromosome, Two Megaplasmids, and an Integrative Plasmidial Prophage. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:2927-2939. [PMID: 32690586 PMCID: PMC7466992 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis is the most used biopesticide in agriculture. Its entomopathogenic capacity stems from the possession of plasmid-borne insecticidal crystal genes (cry), traditionally used as discriminant taxonomic feature for that species. As such, crystal and plasmid identification are key to the characterization of this species. To date, about 600 B. thuringiensis genomes have been reported, but less than 5% have been completed, while the other draft genomes are incomplete, hindering full plasmid delineation. Here we present the complete genome of Bacillus thuringiensis HER1410, a strain closely related to B. thuringiensis entomocidus and a known host for a variety of Bacillus phages. The combination of short and long-read techniques allowed fully resolving the genome and delineation of three plasmids. This enabled the accurate detection of an unusual location of a unique cry gene, cry1Ba4, located in a genomic island near the chromosome replication origin. Two megaplasmids, pLUSID1 and pLUSID2 could be delineated: pLUSID1 (368 kb), a likely conjugative plasmid involved in virulence, and pLUSID2 (156 kb) potentially related to the sporulation process. A smaller plasmidial prophage pLUSID3, with a dual lifestyle whose integration within the chromosome causes the disruption of a flagellar key component. Finally, phylogenetic analysis placed this strain within a clade comprising members from the B. thuringiensis serovar thuringiensis and other serovars and with B. cereus s. s. in agreement with the intermingled taxonomy of B. cereus sensu lato group.
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11
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Botelho J, Schulenburg H. The Role of Integrative and Conjugative Elements in Antibiotic Resistance Evolution. Trends Microbiol 2020; 29:8-18. [PMID: 32536522 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as plasmids and integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), are main drivers for the spread of antibiotic resistance (AR). Coevolution between bacteria and plasmids shapes the transfer and stability of plasmids across bacteria. Although ICEs outnumber conjugative plasmids, the dynamics of ICE-bacterium coevolution, ICE transfer rates, and fitness costs are as yet largely unexplored. Conjugative plasmids and ICEs are both transferred by type IV secretion systems, but ICEs are typically immune to segregational loss, suggesting that the evolution of ICE-bacterium associations varies from that of plasmid-bacterium associations. Considering the high abundance of ICEs among bacteria, ICE-bacterium dynamics represent a promising challenge for future research that will enhance our understanding of AR spread in human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Botelho
- Antibiotic Resistance Evolution Group, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany; Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Hinrich Schulenburg
- Antibiotic Resistance Evolution Group, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany; Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
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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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