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Jung H, Pitout JDD, Matsumura Y, Strydom KA, Kingsburgh C, Ehlers MM, Kock MM. Genomic epidemiology and molecular characteristics of bla NDM-1-positive carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa belonging to international high-risk clone ST773 in the Gauteng region, South Africa. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 43:627-640. [PMID: 38265603 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-024-04763-5] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The emergence of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) harbouring acquired carbapenemase genes (blaVIM, blaIMP and blaNDM) has become a global public health threat. Three CRPA isolates included in the study had an extensively drug-resistant phenotype with susceptibility to colistin only and were positive for the blaNDM-1 gene. The current study aimed to investigate the genomic epidemiology and molecular characteristics of the blaNDM-1-positive CRPA isolates collected from the Gauteng region, South Africa. METHODS Short read whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to determine sequence types (STs), genetic relatedness, resistome, virulome and the genetic environment of the blaNDM-1 gene. RESULTS The WGS and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the study isolates belonged to an international high-risk clone ST773 and belonged to the same clade with eight blaNDM-1-positive ST773 isolates from Hungary, India, Nigeria, South Korea and USA. The study isolates harboured a wide repertoire of intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) related with mobile genetic elements, porins and efflux pumps, as well as virulence factor genes. The clade-specific ARGs (blaNDM-1, floR2/cmlA9, rmtB4, tetG) were found in a putative integrative and conjugative element (ICE) region similar to ICE6660-like. CONCLUSION As ICE carrying the blaNDM-1 gene can easily spread to other P. aeruginosa isolates and other Gram-negative bacteria, the findings in this study highlight the need for appropriate management strategies and active surveillance of CRPA isolates in the Gauteng region, South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunsul Jung
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Johann D D Pitout
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Division of Microbiology, Alberta Public Laboratories, Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Yasufumi Matsumura
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kathy-Anne Strydom
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Ampath National Reference Laboratory, Centurion, South Africa
| | - Chanel Kingsburgh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Ampath National Reference Laboratory, Centurion, South Africa
| | - Marthie M Ehlers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Marleen M Kock
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Pretoria, South Africa.
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Tan YH, Arros P, Berríos-Pastén C, Wijaya I, Chu WHW, Chen Y, Cheam G, Mohamed Naim AN, Marcoleta AE, Ravikrishnan A, Nagarajan N, Lagos R, Gan YH. Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae employs genomic island encoded toxins against bacterial competitors in the gut. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae054. [PMID: 38547398 PMCID: PMC11020217 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
The hypervirulent lineages of Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKp) cause invasive infections such as Klebsiella-liver abscess. Invasive infection often occurs after initial colonization of the host gastrointestinal tract by HvKp. Over 80% of HvKp isolates belong to the clonal group 23 sublineage I that has acquired genomic islands (GIs) GIE492 and ICEKp10. Our analysis of 12 361 K. pneumoniae genomes revealed that GIs GIE492 and ICEKp10 are co-associated with the CG23-I and CG10118 HvKp lineages. GIE492 and ICEKp10 enable HvKp to make a functional bacteriocin microcin E492 (mccE492) and the genotoxin colibactin, respectively. We discovered that GIE492 and ICEKp10 play cooperative roles and enhance gastrointestinal colonization by HvKp. Colibactin is the primary driver of this effect, modifying gut microbiome diversity. Our in vitro assays demonstrate that colibactin and mccE492 kill or inhibit a range of Gram-negative Klebsiella species and Escherichia coli strains, including Gram-positive bacteria, sometimes cooperatively. Moreover, mccE492 and colibactin kill human anaerobic gut commensals that are similar to the taxa found altered by colibactin in the mouse intestines. Our findings suggest that GIs GIE492 and ICEKp10 enable HvKp to kill several commensal bacterial taxa during interspecies interactions in the gut. Thus, acquisition of GIE492 and ICEKp10 could enable better carriage in host populations and explain the dominance of the CG23-I HvKp lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Han Tan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4, Level 2, Singapore 117545, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Republic of Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Patricio Arros
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camilo Berríos-Pastén
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Indrik Wijaya
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Wilson H W Chu
- National Public Health Laboratory, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, 16 Jln Tan Tock Seng, Singapore 308442, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yahua Chen
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4, Level 2, Singapore 117545, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Republic of Singapore
| | - Guoxiang Cheam
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4, Level 2, Singapore 117545, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ahmad Nazri Mohamed Naim
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Andrés E Marcoleta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Aarthi Ravikrishnan
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Niranjan Nagarajan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4, Level 2, Singapore 117545, Republic of Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Rosalba Lagos
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yunn-Hwen Gan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4, Level 2, Singapore 117545, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Republic of Singapore
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Benigno V, Carraro N, Sarton-Lohéac G, Romano-Bertrand S, Blanc DS, van der Meer JR. Diversity and evolution of an abundant ICE clc family of integrative and conjugative elements in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. mSphere 2023; 8:e0051723. [PMID: 37902330 PMCID: PMC10732049 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00517-23] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Microbial populations swiftly adapt to changing environments through horizontal gene transfer. While the mechanisms of gene transfer are well known, the impact of environmental conditions on the selection of transferred gene functions remains less clear. We investigated ICEs, specifically the ICEclc-type, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates. Our findings revealed co-evolution between ICEs and their hosts, with ICE transfers occurring within strains. Gene functions carried by ICEs are positively selected, including potential virulence factors and heavy metal resistance. Comparison to publicly available P. aeruginosa genomes unveiled widespread antibiotic-resistance determinants within ICEclc clades. Thus, the ubiquitous ICEclc family significantly contributes to P. aeruginosa's adaptation and fitness in diverse environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Benigno
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Carraro
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Garance Sarton-Lohéac
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sara Romano-Bertrand
- Hydrosciences Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Hospital Hygiene and Infection Control Team, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Dominique S. Blanc
- Prevention and Infection Control Unit, Infectious Diseases Service, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Lee C, Polo RO, Zaheer R, Van Domselaar G, Zovoilis A, McAllister TA. Evaluation of metagenomic assembly methods for the detection and characterization of antimicrobial resistance determinants and associated mobilizable elements. J Microbiol Methods 2023; 213:106815. [PMID: 37699502 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2023.106815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) can be transferred between members of a bacterial population by mobile genetic elements (MGE). Understanding the risk of these transfer events is important in monitoring and predicting antimicrobial resistance (AMR), especially in the context of a One Health Continuum. However, there is no universally accepted method for detection of ARGs and MGEs, and especially for determining their linkages. This study used publicly available shotgun metagenomic DNA short-read (Illumina, 100 bp paired-end) sequence data from samples across the One Health Continuum (including beef cattle composite feces from feedlots, catch basin water at feedlots, agricultural soil from feedlot manured surrounding fields, and urban/municipal sewage influent from two municipal wastewater treatment plants) to develop a workflow to identify and associate ARGs and MGEs. ARG- and MGE-based targeted-assemblies with available short-read data were unable to meet this analysis goal. In contrast, de novo assembly of contigs provided enough sequence context to associate ARGs and MGEs, without compromising discovery rate. However, to estimate the relative abundance of these elements, unassembled sequence data must still be used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catrione Lee
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Government of Canada, 5403 1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, AB T3M 2L7, Canada
| | - Rodrigo Ortega Polo
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Government of Canada, 5403 1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Rahat Zaheer
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Government of Canada, 5403 1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Gary Van Domselaar
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Government of Canada, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
| | - Athanasios Zovoilis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, AB T3M 2L7, Canada
| | - Tim A McAllister
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Government of Canada, 5403 1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada.
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Balasubramanian D, López-Pérez M, Almagro-Moreno S. Cholera Dynamics and the Emergence of Pandemic Vibrio cholerae. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1404:127-147. [PMID: 36792874 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-22997-8_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the aquatic bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Interestingly, to date, only one major clade has emerged to cause pandemic disease in humans: the clade that encompasses the strains from the O1 and O139 serogroups. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive perspective on the virulence factors and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) associated with the emergence of pandemic V. cholerae strains and highlight novel findings such as specific genomic background or interactions between MGEs that explain their confined distribution. Finally, we discuss pandemic cholera dynamics contextualizing them within the evolution of the bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Balasubramanian
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
- National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Mario López-Pérez
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
- National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, División de Microbiología, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain
| | - Salvador Almagro-Moreno
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.
- National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.
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Nayar G, Terrizzano I, Seabolt E, Agarwal A, Boucher C, Ruiz J, Slizovskiy IB, Kaufman JH, Noyes NR. ggMOB: Elucidation of genomic conjugative features and associated cargo genes across bacterial genera using genus-genus mobilization networks. Front Genet 2022; 13:1024577. [PMID: 36568361 PMCID: PMC9779932 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1024577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer mediated by conjugation is considered an important evolutionary mechanism of bacteria. It allows organisms to quickly evolve new phenotypic properties including antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence. The frequency of conjugation-mediated cargo gene exchange has not yet been comprehensively studied within and between bacterial taxa. We developed a frequency-based network of genus-genus conjugation features and candidate cargo genes from whole-genome sequence data of over 180,000 bacterial genomes, representing 1,345 genera. Using our method, which we refer to as ggMOB, we revealed that over half of the bacterial genomes contained one or more known conjugation features that matched exactly to at least one other genome. Moreover, the proportion of genomes containing these conjugation features varied substantially by genus and conjugation feature. These results and the genus-level network structure can be viewed interactively in the ggMOB interface, which allows for user-defined filtering of conjugation features and candidate cargo genes. Using the network data, we observed that the ratio of AMR gene representation in conjugative versus non-conjugative genomes exceeded 5:1, confirming that conjugation is a critical force for AMR spread across genera. Finally, we demonstrated that clustering genomes by conjugation profile sometimes correlated well with classical phylogenetic structuring; but that in some cases the clustering was highly discordant, suggesting that the importance of the accessory genome in driving bacterial evolution may be highly variable across both time and taxonomy. These results can advance scientific understanding of bacterial evolution, and can be used as a starting point for probing genus-genus gene exchange within complex microbial communities that include unculturable bacteria. ggMOB is publicly available under the GNU licence at https://ruiz-hci-lab.github.io/ggMOB/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gowri Nayar
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | | | - Ed Seabolt
- IBM Research Almaden, San Jose, CA, United States
| | | | - Christina Boucher
- Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jaime Ruiz
- Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Ilya B. Slizovskiy
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | | | - Noelle R. Noyes
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States,*Correspondence: Noelle R. Noyes,
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Achromobacter spp. prevalence and adaptation in cystic fibrosis lung infection. Microbiol Res 2022; 263:127140. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Sulser S, Vucicevic A, Bellini V, Moritz R, Delavat F, Sentchilo V, Carraro N, van der Meer JR. A bistable prokaryotic differentiation system underlying development of conjugative transfer competence. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010286. [PMID: 35763548 PMCID: PMC9286271 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms and impact of horizontal gene transfer processes to distribute gene functions with potential adaptive benefit among prokaryotes have been well documented. In contrast, little is known about the life-style of mobile elements mediating horizontal gene transfer, whereas this is the ultimate determinant for their transfer fitness. Here, we investigate the life-style of an integrative and conjugative element (ICE) within the genus Pseudomonas that is a model for a widespread family transmitting genes for xenobiotic compound metabolism and antibiotic resistances. Previous work showed bimodal ICE activation, but by using single cell time-lapse microscopy coupled to combinations of chromosomally integrated single copy ICE promoter-driven fluorescence reporters, RNA sequencing and mutant analysis, we now describe the complete regulon leading to the arisal of differentiated dedicated transfer competent cells. The regulon encompasses at least three regulatory nodes and five (possibly six) further conserved gene clusters on the ICE that all become expressed under stationary phase conditions. Time-lapse microscopy indicated expression of two regulatory nodes (i.e., bisR and alpA-bisDC) to precede that of the other clusters. Notably, expression of all clusters except of bisR was confined to the same cell subpopulation, and was dependent on the same key ICE regulatory factors. The ICE thus only transfers from a small fraction of cells in a population, with an estimated proportion of between 1.7–4%, which express various components of a dedicated transfer competence program imposed by the ICE, and form the centerpiece of ICE conjugation. The components mediating transfer competence are widely conserved, underscoring their selected fitness for efficient transfer of this class of mobile elements. Horizontal gene transfer processes among prokaryotes have raised wide interest, which is attested by broad public health concern of rapid spread of antibiotic resistances. However, we typically take for granted that horizontal transfer is the result of some underlying spontaneous low frequency event, but this is not necessarily the case. As we show here, mobile genetic elements from the class of integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) impose a coordinated program on the host cell in order to transfer, leading to an exclusive differentiated set of transfer competent cells. We base our conclusions on single cell microscopy studies to compare the rare activation of ICE promoters in individual cells in bacterial populations, and on mutant and RNA-seq analysis to show their dependency on ICE factors. This is an important finding because it implies that conjugation itself is subject to natural selection, which would lead to selection of fitter elements that transfer better or become more widespread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Sulser
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Vucicevic
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Veronica Bellini
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roxane Moritz
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - François Delavat
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vladimir Sentchilo
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Carraro
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan Roelof van der Meer
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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Bacterial Hosts and Genetic Characteristics of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Wastewater Treatment Plants of Xinjiang (China) Revealed by Metagenomics. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12063100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) pose a widespread concern for human health and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are considered to be a major source of ARG transmission. In this paper, the potential hosts and genetic characteristics of ARGs in the influent, activated sludge and effluent of WWTPs in Xinjiang were studied by metagenomics. Bacitracin resistance gene (bacA), beta-lactamase gene (class A beta-lactamase), multidrug resistance genes (mexD, qacEdelta1), and sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1, and sul2) are persistent antibiotic resistance genes (PARGs). The potential hosts of ARGs were mainly pathogens, with Escherichia coli (12.9%), Acinetobacter johnsonii (8.94%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (5.30%) accounting for the highest proportions. Chromosomal sequences and plasmid sequences accounted for 42.0% and 22.6% of ARG-carrying contigs (ACCs) in the influent, respectively. Meanwhile, the effluent contained 58.3% of ACCs in plasmids and 8.30% in chromosomes. Bacitracin resistance genes and multidrug resistance genes were mainly carried by chromosomes, while resistance genes for macrolide–lincosamide–streptogramin (MLS), vancomycin, sulfonamide, beta-lactam, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and aminoglycoside were mainly carried by plasmids. ICEPae690-sul1-qacEdelta1 and ICEPmiChn3-sul2 were stable coexistence structures and heighten the transfer potential of ARGs in the environment. This study provided a clearer picture of host bacterial sources and genetic context of ARGs in the environment.
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Carbapenem Resistance Determinants Acquired through Novel Chromosomal Integrations in Extensively Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0028921. [PMID: 33941520 PMCID: PMC8373256 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00289-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Two novel blaDIM-1- or blaIMP-1-containing genomic islands (GIs) were discovered by whole-genome sequence analyses in four extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from inpatients at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. The strains were of sequence type 234 (ST234) and formed a phylogenetic clade together with ST111, which is recognized as a global high-risk clone. Their carbapenem resistance was encoded by two Tn402-type integrons, In1592 (blaDIM-1) and In1595 (blaIMP-1), both carrying complete tni mobilization modules. In1595 was bound by conserved 25-bp inverted repeats (IRs) flanked by 5-bp direct repeats (DRs) associated with target site duplication. The integrons were embedded in two GIs that contained cognate integrases and were distinguished by a lower GC content than the chromosomal average. PAGI-97A (52.659 bp; In1592), which encoded a P4-type site-specific integrase of the tyrosine recombinase family in its 3′ border, was integrated into tRNA-Pro(ggg) and bracketed by a 49-bp perfect DR created by 3′-end target duplication. GIs with the same structural features, but diverse genetic content, were identified in 41/226 completed P. aeruginosa genomes. PAGI-97B (22,636 bp; In1595), which encoded an XerC/D superfamily integrase in its 5′ border, was inserted into the small RNA (sRNA) PrrF1/PrrF2 locus. Specific insertions into this highly conserved locus involved in iron-dependent regulation, all leaving PrrF1 intact, were identified in an additional six phylogenetically unrelated P. aeruginosa genomes. Our molecular analyses unveiled a hospital-associated clonal dissemination of carbapenem-resistant ST234 P. aeruginosa in which the XDR phenotype resulted from novel insertions of two GIs into specific chromosomal sites.
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Li W, Wang A. Genomic islands mediate environmental adaptation and the spread of antibiotic resistance in multiresistant Enterococci - evidence from genomic sequences. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:55. [PMID: 33602143 PMCID: PMC7893910 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02114-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Genomic islands (GIs) play an important role in the chromosome diversity of Enterococcus. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the spread of GIs between Enterococcus strains and their correlation with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Bitsliced Genomic Signature Indexes (BIGSI) were used to screen the NCBI Sequence Read Archive (SRA) for multiple resistant Enterococcus. A total of 37 pairs of raw reads were screened from 457,000 whole-genome sequences (WGS) in the SRA database, which come from 37 Enterococci distributed in eight countries. These raw reads were assembled for the prediction and analysis of GIs, ARGs, plasmids and prophages. Results The results showed that GIs were universal in Enterococcus, with an average of 3.2 GIs in each strain. Network analysis showed that frequent genetic information exchanges mediated by GIs occurred between Enterococcus strains. Seven antibiotic-resistant genomic islands (ARGIs) were found to carry one to three ARGs, mdtG, tetM, dfrG, lnuG, and fexA, in six strains. These ARGIs were involved in the spread of antibiotic resistance in 45.9% of the 37 strains, although there was no significant positive correlation between the frequency of GI exchanges and the number of ARGs each strain harboured (r = 0. 287, p = 0.085). After comprehensively analysing the genome data, we found that partial GIs were associated with multiple mobile genetic elements (transposons, integrons, prophages and plasmids) and had potential natural transformation characteristics. Conclusions All of these results based on genomic sequencing suggest that GIs might mediate the acquisition of some ARGs and might be involved in the high genome plasticity of Enterococcus through transformation, transduction and conjugation, thus providing a fitness advantage for Enterococcus hosts under complex environmental factors. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-021-02114-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Li
- School of Life Science,
- Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China.
| | - Ailan Wang
- School of Life Science,
- Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China
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Veschetti L, Sandri A, Patuzzo C, Melotti P, Malerba G, Lleò MM. Mobilome Analysis of Achromobacter spp. Isolates from Chronic and Occasional Lung Infection in Cystic Fibrosis Patients. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9010130. [PMID: 33430044 PMCID: PMC7826576 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Achromobacter spp. is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Although a variety of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) carrying antimicrobial resistance genes have been identified in clinical isolates, little is known about the contribution of Achromobacter spp. mobilome to its pathogenicity. To provide new insights, we performed bioinformatic analyses of 54 whole genome sequences and investigated the presence of phages, insertion sequences (ISs), and integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs). Most of the detected phages were previously described in other pathogens and carried type II toxin-antitoxin systems as well as other pathogenic genes. Interestingly, the partial sequence of phage Bcep176 was found in all the analyzed Achromobacter xylosoxidans genome sequences, suggesting the integration of this phage in an ancestor strain. A wide variety of IS was also identified either inside of or in proximity to pathogenicity islands. Finally, ICEs carrying pathogenic genes were found to be widespread among our isolates and seemed to be involved in transfer events within the CF lung. These results highlight the contribution of MGEs to the pathogenicity of Achromobacter species, their potential to become antimicrobial targets, and the need for further studies to better elucidate their clinical impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Veschetti
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (L.V.); (C.P.); (G.M.)
| | - Angela Sandri
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Cristina Patuzzo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (L.V.); (C.P.); (G.M.)
| | - Paola Melotti
- Cystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Malerba
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (L.V.); (C.P.); (G.M.)
| | - Maria M. Lleò
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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Tn 6603, a Carrier of Tn 5053 Family Transposons, Occurs in the Chromosome and in a Genomic Island of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Strains. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8121997. [PMID: 33333808 PMCID: PMC7765201 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposons of the Pseudomonasaeruginosa accessory gene pool contribute to phenotype and to genome plasticity. We studied local P. aeruginosa strains to ascertain the encroachment of mer-type res site hunter transposons into clinical settings and their associations with other functional modules. Five different Tn5053 family transposons were detected, all chromosomal. Some were solitary elements; one was in res of Tn1013#, a relative of a reported carrier of int-type res site hunters (class 1 integrons), but most were in res of Tn6603, a new Tn501-related transposon of unknown phenotype. Most of the Tn6603::Tn elements, and some Tn6603 and Tn6603::Tn elements found in GenBank sequences, were at identical sites in an hypothetical gene of P. aeruginosa genomic island PAGI-5v. The island in clonally differing strains was at either of two tRNALys loci, suggesting lateral transfer to these sites. This observation is consistent with the membership of the prototype PAGI-5 island to the ICE family of mobile genetic elements. Additionally, the res site hunters in the nested transposons occupied different positions in the Tn6603 carrier. This suggested independent insertion events on five occasions at least. Tn5053 family members that were mer-/tni-defective were found in Tn6603- and Tn501-like carriers in GenBank sequences of non-clinical Pseudomonas spp. The transposition events in these cases presumably utilized tni functions in trans, as can occur with class 1 integrons. We suggest that in the clinical context, P. aeruginosa strains that carry Tn6603 alone or in PAGI-5v can serve to disseminate functional res site hunters; these in turn can provide the requisite trans-acting tni functions to assist in the dissemination of class 1 integrons, and hence of their associated antibiotic resistance determinants.
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