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Amábile-Cuevas CF, Lund-Zaina S. Non-Canonical Aspects of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:565. [PMID: 38927231 PMCID: PMC11200725 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13060565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The understanding of antibiotic resistance, one of the major health threats of our time, is mostly based on dated and incomplete notions, especially in clinical contexts. The "canonical" mechanisms of action and pharmacodynamics of antibiotics, as well as the methods used to assess their activity upon bacteria, have not changed in decades; the same applies to the definition, acquisition, selective pressures, and drivers of resistance. As a consequence, the strategies to improve antibiotic usage and overcome resistance have ultimately failed. This review gathers most of the "non-canonical" notions on antibiotics and resistance: from the alternative mechanisms of action of antibiotics and the limitations of susceptibility testing to the wide variety of selective pressures, lateral gene transfer mechanisms, ubiquity, and societal factors maintaining resistance. Only by having a "big picture" view of the problem can adequate strategies to harness resistance be devised. These strategies must be global, addressing the many aspects that drive the increasing prevalence of resistant bacteria aside from the clinical use of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sofia Lund-Zaina
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
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2
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Álvarez-Pérez S, Lievens B, de Vega C. Floral nectar and honeydew microbial diversity and their role in biocontrol of insect pests and pollination. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 61:101138. [PMID: 37931689 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Sugar-rich plant-related secretions, such as floral nectar and honeydew, that are commonly used as nutrient sources by insects and other animals, are also the ecological niche for diverse microbial communities. Recent research has highlighted the great potential of nectar and honeydew microbiomes in biological pest control and improved pollination, but the exploitation of these microbiomes requires a deep understanding of their community dynamics and plant-microbe-insect interactions. Additionally, the successful application of microbes in crop fields is conditioned by diverse ecological, legal, and ethical challenges that should be taken into account. In this article, we provide an overview of the nectar and honeydew microbiomes and discuss their potential applications in sustainable agricultural practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Álvarez-Pérez
- Department of Animal Health, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Bart Lievens
- Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Clara de Vega
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
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Sánchez-Urtaza S, Ocampo-Sosa A, Rodríguez-Grande J, El-Kholy MA, Shawky SM, Alkorta I, Gallego L. Plasmid content of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates belonging to five International Clones collected from hospitals of Alexandria, Egypt. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 13:1332736. [PMID: 38264728 PMCID: PMC10803598 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1332736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most important nosocomial pathogens worldwide. During the last decades it has become a major threat for healthcare settings due to the high antibiotic resistance rates among these isolates. Many resistance determinants are coded by conjugative or mobilizable plasmids, facilitating their dissemination. The majority of plasmids harbored by Acinetobacter species are less than 20 Kb, however, high molecular weight elements are the most clinically relevant since they usually contain antibiotic resistance genes. The aim of this work was to describe, classify and determine the genetic content of plasmids harbored by carbapem resistant A. baumannii isolates belonging to predominant clonal lineages circulating in hospitals from Alexandria, Egypt. The isolates were subjected to S1-Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis experiments to identify high molecular weight plasmids. To further analyze the plasmid content and the genetic localization of the antibiotic resistance genes, isolates were sequenced by Illumina Miseq and MinION Mk1C and a hybrid assembly was performed using Unicycler v0.5.0. Plasmids were detected with MOBsuite 3.0.3 and Copla.py v.1.0 and mapped using the online software Proksee.ca. Replicase genes were further analyzed through a BLAST against the Acinetobacter Plasmid Typing database. Eleven plasmids ranging in size from 4.9 to 205.6 Kb were characterized and mapped. All isolates contained plasmids, and, in many cases, more than two elements were identified. Antimicrobial resistance genes such as bla OXA-23, bla GES-like, aph(3')-VI and qacEΔ1 were found in likely conjugative large plasmids; while virulence determinants such as septicolysin or TonB-dependent receptors were identified in plasmids of small size. Some of these resistance determinants were, in turn, located within transposons and class 1 integrons. Among the identified plasmids, the majority encoded proteins belonging to the Rep_3 family, but replicases of the RepPriCT_1 (Aci6) family were also identified. Plasmids are of high interest as antibiotic resistance control tools, since they may be used as genetic markers for antibiotic resistance and virulence, and also as targets for the development of compounds that can inhibit transfer processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Sánchez-Urtaza
- Laboratory of Antibiotics and Molecular Bacteriology, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Alain Ocampo-Sosa
- Microbiology Service, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Health Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Rodríguez-Grande
- Microbiology Service, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Health Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - Mohammed A. El-Kholy
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Division of Clinical and Biological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT), Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Sherine M. Shawky
- Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Itziar Alkorta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Lucia Gallego
- Laboratory of Antibiotics and Molecular Bacteriology, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
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Ambrose SJ, Hall RM. Variation in the plasmid backbone and dif module content of R3-T33 Acinetobacter plasmids. Plasmid 2024; 129-130:102722. [PMID: 38631562 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2024.102722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The predominant type of plasmids found in Acinetobacter species encode a Rep_3 initiation protein and many of these carry their accessory genes in dif modules. Here, available sequences of the 14 members of the group of Rep_3 plasmids typed as R3-T33, using a threshold of 95% identity in the repA gene, were compiled and compared. These plasmids were from various Acinetobacter species. The pdif sites were identified allowing the backbone and dif modules to be defined. As for other Rep_3 plasmids carrying dif modules, orfX encoding a protein of unknown function was found downstream of repA followed by a pdif site in the orientation XerC binding site-spacer-XerD binding site. Most backbones (n = 12) also included mobA and mobC genes but the two plasmids with the most diverged repA and orfX genes had different backbone contents. Although the gene content of the plasmid backbone was largely conserved, extensive recombinational exchange was detected and only two small groups carried identical or nearly identical backbones. Individual plasmids were associated with 1 to 13 dif modules. Many different dif modules were identified, including ones containing antibiotic or chromate resistance genes and several toxin/antitoxin gene pairs. In some cases, modules carrying the same genes were significantly diverged. Generally, the orientation of the pdif sites alternated such that C modules (XerC binding sites internal) alternated with D modules (XerD binding sites internal). However, fusions of two dif modules via mutational inactivation or loss of a pdif site were also detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J Ambrose
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Ruth M Hall
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Maale GE. CORR Insights®: Next-generation Sequencing Results Require Higher Inoculum for Cutibacterium acnes Detection Than Conventional Anaerobic Culture. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2023; 481:2492-2493. [PMID: 37882098 PMCID: PMC10642878 DOI: 10.1097/corr.0000000000002897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Emil Maale
- Clinical Professor, Orthopedics, Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Plano, TX, USA
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Maslova O, Beletsky A, Mindlin S, Petrova N, Mardanov A, Petrova M. Conjugative Plasmid pPPUT-Tik1-1 from a Permafrost Pseudomonas putida Strain and Its Present-Day Counterparts Inhabiting Environments and Clinics. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13518. [PMID: 37686323 PMCID: PMC10488154 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel group of conjugative plasmids of Pseudomonas is characterized. The prototype plasmid pPPUT-Tik1-1 (153,663 bp), isolated from a permafrost strain of P. putida Tik1, carries a defective mercury transposon, Tn501, and a streptomycin resistance transposon, Tn5393. Ten plasmids and 34 contigs with backbone regions closely related to pPPUT-Tik1-1 have been found in GenBank. Two of these plasmids from clinical strains of P. putida and P. fulva are almost identical to the ancient plasmid. A characteristic feature of this group of plasmids is the presence of two genes encoding the initiators of replication (repA1 and repA2). None of these genes have high similarity with plasmid replication genes belonging to known incompatibility groups. It has been demonstrated that while pPPUT-Tik1-1-like plasmids have homologous backbone regions, they significantly differ by the molecular structure and the predicted functions of their accessory regions. Some of the pPPUT-Tik1-1-related plasmids carry determinants of antibiotic resistance and/or heavy metal salts. Some plasmids are characterized by the ability to degrade xenobiotics. Plasmids related to pPPUT-Tik1-1 are characterized by a narrow host range and are found in various species of the Pseudomonas genus. Interestingly, we also found shorter plasmid variants containing the same replication module, but lacking conjugation genes and containing other structural changes that strongly distinguish them from plasmids related to pPPUT-Tik1-1, indicating that the structure of the replication module cannot be used as the sole criterion for classifying plasmids. Overall, the results suggest that the plasmids of the novel group can be spread using conjugation in environmental and clinical strains of Pseudomonas and may play diverse adaptive functions due to the presence of various accessory regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Maslova
- National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia; (O.M.); (N.P.)
| | - Alexey Beletsky
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Moscow, Russia; (A.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Sofia Mindlin
- National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia; (O.M.); (N.P.)
| | - Nika Petrova
- National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia; (O.M.); (N.P.)
| | - Andrey Mardanov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Moscow, Russia; (A.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Mayya Petrova
- National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia; (O.M.); (N.P.)
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Almuhayawi MS, Gattan HS, Alruhaili MH, Alharbi MT, Nagshabandi MK, Tarabulsi MK, Almuhayawi SM, Al Jaouni SK, Selim S, Alanazi A, Alruwaili Y, Faried OA, Amin I, Elnosary ME. Molecular Profile and the Effectiveness of Antimicrobials Drugs Against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the Diagnostic Approaches of Otitis Infection. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:4397-4408. [PMID: 37431447 PMCID: PMC10329836 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s418685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Otitis externa and otitis media are two types of ear infections that affect people of all ages, although they are more common in newborns and young children. Antibiotic usage, healthcare, and advanced age all play a role in the development of this illness. Methods Fifty-eight patients with various kinds of infections of the ears were voluntary patients attending the outpatient clinics of the Prince Mutaib Bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Sakaka, Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia, examined to evaluate the role of bacteria and the likely significance of plasmids in their antibiotic resistance as ear infectious agents. Results Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the most prevalent bacteria found in ear infections. The greatest number of major bacterial isolates were S. aureus (54%), followed by P. aeruginosa (13%), whereas a smaller number of isolates (3%) were from Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus subtilis, and Proteus vulgaris, respectively. Mixed growth was noted in 3.4% of instances. The isolation rate for Gram-positive organisms was 72%, while the rate for Gram-negative species was 28%. All the isolates had DNA greater than 14 kilobases. Hind III analysis of the plasmid DNA extracted from the resistant strains of ear infection demonstrated that antibiotic-resistance plasmids were extensively dispersed. Exotoxin A PCR amplification indicated 396 pb PCR-positive DNA for all identified samples, with the exception of three strains for which no band was observed. Patients in the epidemiological study ranged in number, but all were linked together for the purposes of the study because of their shared epidemiological characteristics. Conclusion Vancomycin, linezolid, tigecycline, rifampin, and daptomycin are all antibiotics that have been shown to be effective against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Microbiological pattern evaluation and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of the microorganisms providing empirical antibiotics are becoming increasingly crucial to minimize issues and the development of antibiotic-resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed S Almuhayawi
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hattan S Gattan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed H Alruhaili
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohanned Talal Alharbi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed K Nagshabandi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muyassar K Tarabulsi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saad M Almuhayawi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Soad K Al Jaouni
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Yousef Abdulatif Jameel Scientific Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samy Selim
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Awadh Alanazi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yasir Alruwaili
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama Ahmed Faried
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62513, Egypt
| | - Islam Amin
- Central Laboratory, Ismailia General Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Mohamed E Elnosary
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, 11884, Egypt
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Lam MMC, Koong J, Holt KE, Hall RM, Hamidian M. Detection and Typing of Plasmids in Acinetobacter baumannii Using rep Genes Encoding Replication Initiation Proteins. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0247822. [PMID: 36472426 PMCID: PMC9927589 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02478-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmids found in Acinetobacter species contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. They appear to be largely confined to this genus and cannot be typed with available tools and databases. Here, a method for distinguishing and typing these plasmids was developed using a curated, non-redundant set of 621 complete sequences of plasmids from Acinetobacter baumannii. Plasmids were separated into 3 groups based on the Pfam domains of the encoded replication initiation (Rep) protein and a fourth group that lack an identifiable Rep protein. The rep genes of each Rep-encoding group (n = 13 Rep_1, n = 107 RepPriCT_1, n = 351 Rep_3) were then clustered using a threshold of >95% nucleotide identity to define 80 distinct types. Five Rep_1 subgroups, designated R1_T1 to R1-T5, were identified and a sixth reported recently was added. Each R1 type corresponded to a conserved small plasmid sequence. The RepPriCT_1 plasmids fell into 5 subgroups, designated RP-T1 to RP-T5 and the Rep_3 plasmids comprised 69 distinct types (R3-T1 to R3-T69). Three R1, 2 RP and 32 R3 types are represented by only a single plasmid. Over half of the plasmids belong to the 4 most abundant types: the RP-T1 plasmids (n = 97), which include conjugation genes and are often associated with various acquired antibiotic resistance genes, and R3-T1, R3-T2 and R3-T3 (n = 95, 30 and 45, respectively). To facilitate typing and the identification of plasmids in draft genomes using this framework, we established the Acinetobacter Typing database containing representative nucleotide and protein sequences of the type markers (https://github.com/MehradHamidian/AcinetobacterPlasmidTyping). IMPORTANCE Though they contribute to the dissemination of genes that confer resistance to clinically important carbapenem and aminoglycoside antibiotics used to treat life-threatening Acinetobacter baumannii infections, plasmids found in Acinetobacter species have not been well studied. As these plasmids do not resemble those found in other Gram-negative pathogens, available typing systems are unsuitable. The plasmid typing system developed for A. baumannii plasmids with an identifiable rep gene will facilitate the classification and tracking of sequenced plasmids. It will also enable the detection of plasmid-derived contigs present in draft genomes that are widely ignored currently. Hence, it will assist in the tracking of resistance genes and other genes that affect survival in the environment, as they spread through the population. As identical or similar plasmids have been found in other Acinetobacter species, the typing system will also be broadly applicable in identifying plasmids in other members of the genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M. C. Lam
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jonathan Koong
- Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kathryn E. Holt
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth M. Hall
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mehrad Hamidian
- Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Zhao Y, Wei HM, Yuan JL, Xu L, Sun JQ. A comprehensive genomic analysis provides insights on the high environmental adaptability of Acinetobacter strains. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1177951. [PMID: 37138596 PMCID: PMC10149724 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1177951] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter is ubiquitous, and it has a high species diversity and a complex evolutionary pattern. To elucidate the mechanism of its high ability to adapt to various environment, 312 genomes of Acinetobacter strains were analyzed using the phylogenomic and comparative genomics methods. It was revealed that the Acinetobacter genus has an open pan-genome and strong genome plasticity. The pan-genome consists of 47,500 genes, with 818 shared by all the genomes of Acinetobacter, while 22,291 are unique genes. Although Acinetobacter strains do not have a complete glycolytic pathway to directly utilize glucose as carbon source, most of them harbored the n-alkane-degrading genes alkB/alkM (97.1% of tested strains) and almA (96.7% of tested strains), which were responsible for medium-and long-chain n-alkane terminal oxidation reaction, respectively. Most Acinetobacter strains also have catA (93.3% of tested strains) and benAB (92.0% of tested strains) genes that can degrade the aromatic compounds catechol and benzoic acid, respectively. These abilities enable the Acinetobacter strains to easily obtain carbon and energy sources from their environment for survival. The Acinetobacter strains can manage osmotic pressure by accumulating potassium and compatible solutes, including betaine, mannitol, trehalose, glutamic acid, and proline. They respond to oxidative stress by synthesizing superoxide dismutase, catalase, disulfide isomerase, and methionine sulfoxide reductase that repair the damage caused by reactive oxygen species. In addition, most Acinetobacter strains contain many efflux pump genes and resistance genes to manage antibiotic stress and can synthesize a variety of secondary metabolites, including arylpolyene, β-lactone and siderophores among others, to adapt to their environment. These genes enable Acinetobacter strains to survive extreme stresses. The genome of each Acinetobacter strain contained different numbers of prophages (0-12) and genomic islands (GIs) (6-70), and genes related to antibiotic resistance were found in the GIs. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the alkM and almA genes have a similar evolutionary position with the core genome, indicating that they may have been acquired by vertical gene transfer from their ancestor, while catA, benA, benB and the antibiotic resistance genes could have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer from the other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhao
- Lab for Microbial Resources, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Hua-Mei Wei
- Lab for Microbial Resources, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Jia-Li Yuan
- Lab for Microbial Resources, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Lian Xu
- Jiangsu Key Lab for Organic Solid Waste Utilization, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ji-Quan Sun
- Lab for Microbial Resources, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- *Correspondence: Ji-Quan Sun,
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10
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Plasmids as Key Players in Acinetobacter Adaptation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810893. [PMID: 36142804 PMCID: PMC9501444 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This review briefly summarizes the data on the mechanisms of development of the adaptability of Acinetobacters to various living conditions in the environment and in the clinic. A comparative analysis of the genomes of free-living and clinical strains of A. lwoffii, as well as the genomes of A. lwoffii and A. baumannii, has been carried out. It has been shown that plasmids, both large and small, play a key role in the formation of the adaptability of Acinetobacter to their living conditions. In particular, it has been demonstrated that the plasmids of various strains of Acinetobacter differ from each other in their structure and gene composition depending on the lifestyle of their host bacteria. Plasmids of modern strains are enriched with antibiotic-resistant genes, while the content of genes involved in resistance to heavy metals and arsenic is comparable to plasmids from modern and ancient strains. It is concluded that Acinetobacter plasmids may ensure the survival of host bacteria under conditions of various types of environmental and clinical stresses. A brief overview of the main mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer on plasmids inherent in Acinetobacter strains is also given.
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11
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Zhang L, Fu Y, Zhang L, Xu Q, Yang Y, He J, Leptihn S, Loh B, Moran RA, van Schaik W, Toleman MA, Chen Q, Liu L, Yu Y, Hua X. Co-evolutionary adaptations of Acinetobacter baumannii and a clinical carbapenemase-encoding plasmid during carbapenem exposure. Evol Appl 2022; 15:1045-1061. [PMID: 35899254 PMCID: PMC9309461 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OXA-23 is the predominant carbapenemase in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. The co-evolutionary dynamics of A. baumannii and OXA-23-encoding plasmids are poorly understood. Here, we transformed A. baumannii ATCC 17978 with pAZJ221, a bla OXA-23-containing plasmid from clinical A. baumannii isolate A221, and subjected the transformant to experimental evolution in the presence of a sub-inhibitory concentration of imipenem for nearly 400 generations. We used population sequencing to track genetic changes at six time points and evaluated phenotypic changes. Increased fitness of evolving populations, temporary duplication of bla OXA-23 in pAZJ221, interfering allele dynamics, and chromosomal locus-level parallelism were observed. To characterize genotype-to-phenotype associations, we focused on six mutations in parallel targets predicted to affect small RNAs and a cyclic dimeric (3' → 5') GMP-metabolizing protein. Six isogenic mutants with or without pAZJ221 were engineered to test for the effects of these mutations on fitness costs and plasmid kinetics, and the evolved plasmid containing two copies of bla OXA-23 was transferred to ancestral ATCC 17978. Five of the six mutations contributed to improved fitness in the presence of pAZJ221 under imipenem pressure, and all but one of them impaired plasmid conjugation ability. The duplication of bla OXA-23 increased host fitness under carbapenem pressure but imposed a burden on the host in antibiotic-free media relative to the ancestral pAZJ221. Overall, our study provides a framework for the co-evolution of A. baumannii and a clinical bla OXA-23-containing plasmid in the presence of imipenem, involving early bla OXA-23 duplication followed by chromosomal adaptations that improved the fitness of plasmid-carrying cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyue Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of MedicineSir Run Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Ying Fu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, School of MedicineSir Run Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Linghong Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of MedicineSir Run Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Qingye Xu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Department of Clinical laboratory, School of MedicineAffiliated Hangzhou First People's HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yunxing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Department of Clinical laboratory, School of MedicineAffiliated Hangzhou First People's HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jintao He
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of MedicineSir Run Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Sebastian Leptihn
- School of MedicineUniversity of Edinburgh InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Belinda Loh
- School of MedicineUniversity of Edinburgh InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Robert A. Moran
- College of Medical and Dental SciencesInstitute of Microbiology and InfectionUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Willem van Schaik
- College of Medical and Dental SciencesInstitute of Microbiology and InfectionUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Mark Alexander Toleman
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Division of Infection and ImmunityCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Qiong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Department of Clinical laboratory, School of MedicineAffiliated Hangzhou First People's HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Lilin Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of MedicineSir Run Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Yunsong Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of MedicineSir Run Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaoting Hua
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of MedicineSir Run Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
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