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Athar M, Gervasoni S, Catte A, Basciu A, Malloci G, Ruggerone P, Vargiu AV. Tripartite efflux pumps of the RND superfamily: what did we learn from computational studies? MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169. [PMID: 36972322 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has been long recognized as a priority to address for human health. Among all micro-organisms, the so-called multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria, which are resistant to most, if not all drugs in our current arsenal, are particularly worrisome. The World Health Organization has prioritized the ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species) pathogens, which include four Gram-negative bacterial species. In these bacteria, active extrusion of antimicrobial compounds out of the cell by means of 'molecular guns' known as efflux pumps is a main determinant of MDR phenotypes. The resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily of efflux pumps connecting the inner and outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria is crucial to the onset of MDR and virulence, as well as biofilm formation. Thus, understanding the molecular basis of the interaction of antibiotics and inhibitors with these pumps is key to the design of more effective therapeutics. With the aim to contribute to this challenge, and complement and inspire experimental research, in silico studies on RND efflux pumps have flourished in recent decades. Here, we review a selection of such investigations addressing the main determinants behind the polyspecificity of these pumps, the mechanisms of substrate recognition, transport and inhibition, as well as the relevance of their assembly for proper functioning, and the role of protein-lipid interactions. The journey will end with a perspective on the role of computer simulations in addressing the challenges posed by these beautifully complex machineries and in supporting the fight against the spread of MDR bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Athar
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, SP 8 km 0.700, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Silvia Gervasoni
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, SP 8 km 0.700, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Andrea Catte
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, SP 8 km 0.700, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Andrea Basciu
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, SP 8 km 0.700, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Giuliano Malloci
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, SP 8 km 0.700, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Paolo Ruggerone
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, SP 8 km 0.700, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Attilio Vittorio Vargiu
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, SP 8 km 0.700, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
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Liu Y, Ahator SD, Wang H, Feng Q, Xu Y, Li C, Zhou X, Zhang LH. Microevolution of the mexT and lasR Reinforces the Bias of Quorum Sensing System in Laboratory Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:821895. [PMID: 35495693 PMCID: PMC9041413 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.821895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 has routinely been used as a laboratory model for quorum sensing (QS). However, the microevolution of P. aeruginosa laboratory strains resulting in genetic and phenotypic variations have caused inconsistencies in QS research. To investigate the underlying causes of these variations, we analyzed 5 Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 sublines from our laboratory using a combination of phenotypic characterization, high throughput genome sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis. The major phenotypic variations among the sublines spanned across the levels of QS signals and virulence factors such as pyocyanin and elastase. Furthermore, the sublines exhibited distinct variations in motility and biofilm formation. Most of the phenotypic variations were mapped to mutations in the lasR and mexT, which are key components of the QS circuit. By introducing these mutations in the subline PAO1-E, which is devoid of such mutations, we confirmed their influence on QS, virulence, motility, and biofilm formation. The findings further highlight a possible divergent regulatory mechanism between the LasR and MexT in the P. aeruginosa. The results of our study reveal the effects of microevolution on the reproducibility of most research data from QS studies and further highlight mexT as a key component of the QS circuit of P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Stephen Dela Ahator
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Research group for Host Microbe Interactions, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Huishan Wang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qishun Feng
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yinuo Xu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuhao Li
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofan Zhou
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lian-Hui Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Papagiannitsis CC, Verra A, Galani V, Xitsas S, Bitar I, Hrabak J, Petinaki E. Unravelling the Features of Success of VIM-Producing ST111 and ST235 Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Greek Hospital. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1884. [PMID: 33260774 PMCID: PMC7761518 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics that contribute to the successful dissemination of VIM-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), belonging to ST111 and ST235, in a Greek hospital. A total of 120 non-repetitive P. aeruginosa, which had meropenem minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) greater than 2 mg/L, were studied. VIM-encoding genes were amplified and sequenced within their integrons. Isolates were typed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Six VIM-producers, representative of different integron structures and sequence types (STs), were completely sequenced using Illumina platform. Sixty-one P. aeruginosa were confirmed to produce VIM-type carbapenemases. ST111 dominated (n = 34) among VIM-producers, while 15 VIM-producers belonged to ST235. The blaVIM-like genes were located in three integron types, including In59, In595 and In1760, which were integrated into P. aeruginosa chromosomes. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) data demonstrated that ST111 and ST235 MBL producers carried several resistance and virulence genes. Additionally, the presence of type I-C and type I-E clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas locus was observed in ST235 and ST395 isolates, respectively. In conclusion, our findings confirmed the clonal spread of ST111 P. aeruginosa, carrying the VIM-2-encoding integron In59, in the University Hospital of Larissa (UHL). In addition, they highlighted the important role of high-risk clones, ST111 and ST235, in the successful dissemination and establishment into hospital settings of clinically important pathogens carrying resistance determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costas C. Papagiannitsis
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (A.V.); (V.G.); (S.X.); (E.P.)
| | - Aggeliki Verra
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (A.V.); (V.G.); (S.X.); (E.P.)
| | - Vasiliki Galani
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (A.V.); (V.G.); (S.X.); (E.P.)
| | - Stelios Xitsas
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (A.V.); (V.G.); (S.X.); (E.P.)
| | - Ibrahim Bitar
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 32300 Pilsen, Czech Republic; (I.B.); (J.H.)
| | - Jaroslav Hrabak
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 32300 Pilsen, Czech Republic; (I.B.); (J.H.)
| | - Efthymia Petinaki
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (A.V.); (V.G.); (S.X.); (E.P.)
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Maravić A, Šamanić I, Šprung M, Fredotović Ž, Ilić N, Dragičević J, Puizina J. Broad-spectrum resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from shellfish: infrequent acquisition of novel resistance mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2018; 190:81. [PMID: 29335824 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6471-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one the most common multidrug-resistant pathogens worldwide. It has been previously detected in marine shellfish, but its antibiotic resistance in such environment has not been explored. By combining PCR detection of acquired genes, and resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) efflux studying, we investigated the multifactorial resistance traits of 108 P. aeruginosa isolates recovered from wild-growing Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in Croatia. Eleven different resistance profiles were found, with the main mechanism being the overexpression of intrinsic efflux pump(s), particularly MexAB-OprM. Several acquired resistance determinants were detected, including the β-lactamase gene blaTEM-116, sulfamethoxazole resistance gene sul1, and the class 1 integron gene cassette carrying the streptomycin resistance gene aadA7. This study evidenced the multiple resistance in P. aeruginosa in shellfish from human-impacted marine environment, pointing to the underestimated role of the marine habitat for maintenance of multiresistant P. aeruginosa and, consequently, the potential risk for human and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maravić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000, Split, Croatia.
| | - Ivica Šamanić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Matilda Šprung
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Željana Fredotović
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Nada Ilić
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Josipa Dragičević
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Jasna Puizina
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000, Split, Croatia
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Papagiannitsis CC, Medvecky M, Chudejova K, Skalova A, Rotova V, Spanelova P, Jakubu V, Zemlickova H, Hrabak J. Molecular Characterization of Carbapenemase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa of Czech Origin and Evidence for Clonal Spread of Extensively Resistant Sequence Type 357 Expressing IMP-7 Metallo-β-Lactamase. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:e01811-17. [PMID: 28993328 PMCID: PMC5700319 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01811-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to perform molecular surveillance for assessing the spread of carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Czech hospitals. One hundred thirty-six carbapenemase-producing isolates were recovered from 22 hospitals located throughout the country. Sequence type 357 (ST357) dominated (n = 120) among carbapenemase producers. One hundred seventeen isolates produced IMP-type (IMP-7 [n = 116] and IMP-1 [n = 1]) metallo-β-lactamases (MβLs), 15 produced the VIM-2 MβL, and the remaining isolates expressed the GES-5 enzyme. The blaIMP-like genes were located in three main integron types, with In-p110-like being the most prevalent (n = 115). The two other IMP-encoding integrons (In1392 and In1393) have not been described previously. blaVIM-2-carrying integrons included In59-like, In56, and a novel element (In1391). blaGES-5 was carried by In717. Sequencing data showed that In-p110-like was associated with a Tn4380-like transposon inserted in genomic island LESGI-3 in the P. aeruginosa chromosome. The other integrons were also integrated into the P. aeruginosa chromosome. These findings indicated the clonal spread of ST357 P. aeruginosa, carrying the IMP-7-encoding integron In-p110, in Czech hospitals. Additionally, the sporadic emergence of P. aeruginosa producing different carbapenemase types, associated with divergent or novel integrons, punctuated the ongoing evolution of these bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costas C Papagiannitsis
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | | | - Katerina Chudejova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Skalova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Rotova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Spanelova
- National Reference Laboratory for Antibiotics, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vladislav Jakubu
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
- National Reference Laboratory for Antibiotics, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Zemlickova
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
- National Reference Laboratory for Antibiotics, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Hrabak
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
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Dreier J, Ruggerone P. Interaction of antibacterial compounds with RND efflux pumps in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:660. [PMID: 26217310 PMCID: PMC4495556 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to intrinsic antibiotic resistance and the propensity of this pathogen to accumulate diverse resistance mechanisms. Hyperexpression of efflux pumps of the Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division (RND)-type multidrug efflux pumps (e.g., MexAB-OprM), chromosomally encoded by mexAB-oprM, mexCD-oprJ, mexEF-oprN, and mexXY (-oprA) is often detected in clinical isolates and contributes to worrying multi-drug resistance phenotypes. Not all antibiotics are affected to the same extent by the aforementioned RND efflux pumps. The impact of efflux on antibiotic activity varies not only between different classes of antibiotics but also between members of the same family of antibiotics. Subtle differences in physicochemical features of compound-pump and compound-solvent interactions largely determine how compounds are affected by efflux activity. The combination of different high-resolution techniques helps to gain insight into the functioning of these molecular machineries. This review discusses substrate recognition patterns based on experimental evidence and computer simulations with a focus on MexB, the pump subunit of the main RND transporter in P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürg Dreier
- Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd.,Basel, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Ruggerone
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Cagliari – Cittadella UniversitariaMonserrato, Italy
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Collu F, Vargiu AV, Dreier J, Cascella M, Ruggerone P. Recognition of imipenem and meropenem by the RND-transporter MexB studied by computer simulations. J Am Chem Soc 2012; 134:19146-58. [PMID: 23146101 DOI: 10.1021/ja307803m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Basic understanding of the means by which multidrug efflux systems can efficiently recognize and transport drugs constitutes a fundamental step toward development of compounds able to tackle the continuous outbreak of new bacterial strains resistant to traditional antibiotics. We applied a series of computational techniques, from molecular docking to molecular dynamics simulations and free energy estimate methods, to determine the differences in the binding properties of imipenem and meropenem, two potent antibiotics of the carbapenem family, to MexB, the RND transporter of the major efflux system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We identified and characterized two affinity sites in the periplasmic domain of the transporter, sharing strong similarities with the distal and proximal binding pockets identified in AcrB, the homologue of MexB in Escherichia coli. According to our results, meropenem has a higher affinity to the distal binding pocket than imipenem while both compounds are weakly bound to the proximal pocket. This different behavior is mainly due to the hydration properties of the nonpharmacophore part of the two compounds, being that of imipenem less bulky and hydrophobic. Our data provide for the first time a rationale at molecular level for the experimental evidence indicating meropenem as a compound strongly affected by MexB contrary to imipenem, which is apparently poorly transported by the same pump.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Collu
- Departement für Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
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Breidenstein EBM, de la Fuente-Núñez C, Hancock REW. Pseudomonas aeruginosa: all roads lead to resistance. Trends Microbiol 2011; 19:419-26. [PMID: 21664819 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2011.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 767] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2011] [Revised: 04/12/2011] [Accepted: 04/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elena B M Breidenstein
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Molecular epidemiology of outbreak-related pseudomonas aeruginosa strains carrying the novel variant blaVIM-17 metallo-beta-lactamase gene. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2009; 53:1325-30. [PMID: 19164147 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01230-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A study was designed to investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics of multidrug-resistant outbreak-related Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates collected in a university hospital in northern Greece. Of 29 nonreplicate P. aeruginosa isolates resistant to carbapenems and ceftazidime, 14 were positive for metallo-beta-lactamase production. PCR analyses with primers specific for bla(VIM) and bla(IMP) revealed that 13 isolates carried a novel bla(VIM-2) gene variant, designated bla(VIM-17), and only 1 isolate carried bla(VIM-2), a gene predominant among P. aeruginosa strains in Greek hospitals. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of XbaI-digested genomic DNAs showed a close genetic relationship for 12 of 13 bla(VIM-17)-carrying outbreak-related isolates, which were of the O11 serotype; the clonally unrelated isolate carrying bla(VIM-17) was of the O12 serotype. PCR mapping strategies for the detection of class 1 integrons and sequencing approaches revealed the presence of integrons containing one bla(VIM) cassette flanked by two aacA29 cassettes. These integrons were similar but not identical to In59 (GenBank accession number AF263519) initially described in France. All isolates carrying bla(VIM-17), regardless of their genetic profile, had an identical integron, named In59.3, indicating that although the hospital outbreak was mainly due to clonal dissemination, the horizontal transmission of the bla(VIM-17)-containing integron among P. aeruginosa isolates should also have occurred. An outbreak-related isolate and a control strain, both of which carried the bla(VIM-2) gene but which were clonally distinct, had an identical integron, named In59.2, which differed only at the level of the bla(VIM) gene from In59.3 integrons, suggesting a common ancestry. The spread of the bla(VIM-17)-containing integron in clonally unrelated P. aeruginosa isolates without any evidence of plasmid carriage is probably associated with a transposon.
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