scholarly journals Emergence of Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance in Escherichia coli in Europe

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedi Mammeri ◽  
Marc Van De Loo ◽  
Laurent Poirel ◽  
Luis Martinez-Martinez ◽  
Patrice Nordmann

ABSTRACT Although quinolone resistance results mostly from chromosomal mutations, it may also be mediated by a plasmid-encoded qnr gene in members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Thus, 297 nalidixic-acid resistant strains of 2,700 Escherichia coli strains that had been isolated at the Bicêtre Hospital (Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France) in 2003 were screened for qnr by PCR. A single E. coli isolate that carried a ca. 180-kb conjugative plasmid encoding a qnr determinant was identified. It conferred low-level resistance to quinolones and was associated with a chromosomal mutation in subunit A of the topoisomerase II gene. The qnr gene was located on a sul1-type class 1 integron just downstream of a conserved region (CR) element (CR1) comprising the Orf513 recombinase. Promoter sequences for qnr expression overlapped the extremity of CR1, indicating the role of CR1 in the expression of antibiotic resistance genes. This integron was different from other qnr-positive sul1-type integrons identified in American and Chinese enterobacterial isolates. In addition, plasmid pQR1 carried another class 1 integron that was identical to In53 from E. coli. The latter integron possessed a series of gene cassettes, including those coding for the extended-spectrum β-lactamase VEB-1, the rifampin ADP ribosyltransferase ARR-2, and several aminoglycoside resistance markers. This is the first report of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance in Europe associated with an unknown level of plasmid-mediated multidrug resistance in Enterobacteriaceae.

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Raouia Ben Rhouma ◽  
Ahlem Jouini ◽  
Amira Klibi ◽  
Safa Hamrouni ◽  
Aziza Boubaker ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to identify <em>Escherichia coli</em> isolates in diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits in Tunisia and characterise their virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. In the 2014-2015 period, 60 faecal samples from diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits were collected from different breeding farms in Tunisia. Susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial agents was tested by disc diffusion method and the mechanisms of gene resistance were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing methods. Forty <em>E. coli</em> isolates were recovered in selective media. High frequency of resistance to tetracycline (95%) was detected, followed by different levels of resistance to sulphonamide (72.5%), streptomycin (62.5%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (60%), nalidixic acid (32.5%), ampicillin (37.5%) and ticarcillin (35%). <em>E. coli</em> strains were susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftazidime and imipenem. Different variants of bla<sub>TEM</sub>, <em>tet</em>, <em>sul</em> genes were detected in most of the strains resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and sulphonamide, respectively. The presence of class 1 integron was studied in 29 sulphonamide-resistant <em>E. coli</em> strains from which 15 harboured class 1 integron with four different arrangements of gene cassettes, <em>dfrA17</em>+<em>aadA5</em> (n=9), <em>dfrA1</em> + <em>aadA1</em> (n=4), <em>dfrA12</em> + <em>addA2</em> (n=1), <em>dfrA12</em>+<em>orf</em>+<em>addA2</em> (n=1). The <em>qnrB</em> gene was detected in six strains out of 13 quinolone-resistant <em>E. coli</em> strains. Seventeen <em>E. coli</em> isolates from diarrhoeic rabbits harboured the enteropathogenic eae genes associated with different virulence genes tested (<em>fimA</em>, <em>cnf1</em>, <em>aer</em>), and affiliated to B2 (n=8) and D (n=9) phylogroups. Isolated <em>E. coli</em> strains from healthy rabbit were harbouring <em>fim A</em> and/or <em>cnf1</em> genes and affiliated to A and B1 phylogroups. This study showed that <em>E. coli</em> strains from the intestinal tract of rabbits are resistant to the widely prescribed antibiotics in medicine. Therefore, they constitute a reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant genes, which may play a significant role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, the eae virulence gene seemed to be implicated in diarrhoea in breeder rabbits in Tunisia.


2009 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUPAKANA NAGACHINTA ◽  
JINRU CHEN

This study was undertaken to characterize the integrons present in a group of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates and the ability of these integrons to transfer antibiotic resistance genes from STEC to E. coli K-12 MG1655. A total of 177 STEC isolates were analyzed for antibiotic susceptibility and the presence of integrons. Class 1 integrons were detected in 14 STEC isolates, and a class 2 integron was identified in 1 STEC isolate. The STEC isolates positive for class 1 integrons were resistant to streptomycin (MICs &gt; 128 μg/ml) and sulfisoxazole (MICs &gt; 1,024 μg/ml), and the isolate positive for the class 2 integron was resistant to streptomycin (MIC of 128 μg/ml), trimethoprim (MIC &gt; 256 μg/ml), and streptothricin (MIC &gt; 32 μg/ml). Results of restriction digestion and nucleotide sequencing revealed that the cassette regions of the class 1 integrons had a uniform size of 1.1 kb and contained a nucleotide sequence identical to that of aadA1. The class 2 integron cassette region was 2.0 kb and carried nucleotide sequences homologous to those of aadA1, sat1, and dfrA1. Results of the conjugation experiments revealed that horizontal transfers of conjugative plasmids are responsible for the dissemination of class 1 integron–mediated antibiotic resistance genes from STEC to E. coli K-12 MG1655. Antibiotic resistance traits not mediated by integrons, such as resistance to tetracycline and oxytetracycline, were cotransferred with the integron-mediated antibiotic resistance genes. The study suggested a possible role of integron and conjugative plasmid in dissemination of genes conferring resistance to antibiotics from pathogenic to generic E. coli cells.


2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingyang Li ◽  
Peng Zhao ◽  
Lili Li ◽  
Haifeng Zhao ◽  
Lei Shi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Microbial multidrug resistance (MDR) poses a huge threat to human health. Bacterial acquisition of MDR relies primarily on class 1 integron-involved horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). To date, no strategies other than the use of antibiotics can efficiently cope with MDR. Here, we report that an engineered CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system can markedly reduce MDR by blocking a class 1 integron in Escherichia coli. Using CRISPRi to block plasmid R388 class 1 integron, E. coli recombinants showed halted growth upon exposure to relevant antibiotics. A microplate alamarBlue assay showed that both subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs) R3 and R6 led to 8- and 32-fold decreases in half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, respectively. Reverse transcription and quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed that the strain employing sgRNA R6 exhibited 97% and 84% decreases in the transcriptional levels of the dfrB2 cassette and sul1, two typical ARGs, respectively. RT-qPCR analysis also demonstrated that the strain recruiting sgRNA R3 showed a 96% decrease in the transcriptional level of intI1, and a conjugation assay revealed a 1,000-fold decrease in HGT rates of ARGs. Overall, the sgRNA R3 targeting the 31 bp downstream of the Pc promoter on the intI1 nontemplate strand outperformed other sgRNAs in reducing integron activity. Furthermore, this CRISPRi system is reversible, genetically stable, and titratable by varying the concentration of the inducer. To our knowledge, this is the first report on exploiting a CRISPRi system to reduce the class 1 integron in E. coli. This study provides valuable insights for future development of CRISPRi-based antimicrobial agents and cellular therapy to suppress MDR.


2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 3996-4001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda Sáenz ◽  
Laura Briñas ◽  
Elena Domínguez ◽  
Joaquim Ruiz ◽  
Myriam Zarazaga ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Seventeen multiple-antibiotic-resistant nonpathogenic Escherichia coli strains of human, animal, and food origins showed a wide variety of antibiotic resistance genes, many of them carried by class 1 and class 2 integrons. Amino acid changes in MarR and mutations in marO were identified for 15 and 14 E. coli strains, respectively.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 319-327
Author(s):  
Atchariya YOSBOONRUANG ◽  
Anong KIDDEE ◽  
Chatsuda BOONDUANG ◽  
Phannarai PIBALPAKDEE

Escherichia coli is a serious cause of a variety of hospital-acquired infections and commonly contributes to the environment by house flies. Integrons, particularly class 1 integrons, are the genetic elements that play an important role in the horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance mechanism. This mechanism is commonly found in Enterobacteriaceae, especially E. coli. In this study, we aim to investigate the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of E. coli isolated from the house flies in Phayao hospital and to determine the gene expression of class 1 integrons in those isolates of E. coli. Totally, 70 isolates of E. coli were isolated from 60 house flies collected from the hospital. Fifty-seven of the isolates (81.43 %) were multidrug resistance (MDR) and highly resistant to b-lactams, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides. Of 57 isolates of MDR-E. coli, 20 isolates (35 %) were found to carry class 1 integron genes. Fifteen patterns of antimicrobial resistance occurred in the isolates of integron-positive E. coli. Most integron-positive E. coli isolates were resistant to 7 antimicrobials. Two isolates of these bacteria (10 %) were able to resist 13 out of 14 tested antimicrobials. Using PCR and sequencing analysis, an investigation showed that dfrA17-aadA5, dfrA12-aadA2 gene cassette was the most prevalent cassette (n = 10; 50 %) among the integron-positive E. coli isolates. Our results indicated that the presences of multidrug resistance and class 1 integrons were common in E. coli isolated from the houseflies in hospital. Therefore, screening for integron-positive E. coli from the hospital environment might be necessary for prevention of nosocomial infections.


2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 1442-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
KANJANA CHANGKAEW ◽  
APIRADEE INTARAPUK ◽  
FUANGFA UTRARACHKIJ ◽  
CHIE NAKAJIMA ◽  
ORASA SUTHIENKUL ◽  
...  

Administration of antimicrobials to food-producing animals increases the risk of higher antimicrobial resistance in the normal intestinal flora of these animals. The present cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing strains and to characterize class 1 integrons in Escherichia coli in healthy swine in Thailand. All 122 of the tested isolates had drug-resistant phenotypes. High resistance was found to ampicillin (98.4% of isolates), chloramphenicol (95.9%), gentamicin (78.7%), streptomycin (77.9%), tetracycline (74.6%), and cefotaxime (72.1%). Fifty-four (44.3%) of the E. coli isolates were confirmed as ESBL-producing strains. Among them, blaCTX-M (45 isolates) and blaTEM (41 isolates) were detected. Of the blaCTX-M-positive E. coli isolates, 37 carried the blaCTX-M-1 cluster, 12 carried the blaCTX-M-9 cluster, and 5 carried both clusters. Sequence analysis revealed blaTEM-1, blaTEM-135, and blaTEM-175 in 38, 2, and 1 isolate, respectively. Eighty-seven (71%) of the 122isolates carried class 1 integrons, and eight distinct drug-resistance gene cassettes with seven different integron profiles were identified in 43 of these isolates. Gene cassettes were associated with resistance to aminoglycosides (aadA1, aadA2, aadA22, or aadA23), trimethoprim (dfrA5, dfrA12, or dfrA17), and lincosamide (linF). Genes encoding β-lactamases were not found in class 1 integrons. This study is the first to report ESBL-producing E. coli with a class 1 integron carrying the linF gene cassette in swine in Thailand. Our findings confirm that swine can be a reservoir of ESBL-producing E. coli harboring class 1 integrons, which may become a potential health risk if these integrons are transmitted to humans. Intensive analyses of animal, human, and environmental isolates are needed to control the spread of ESBL-producing E. coli strains.


Pharmacia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Hawraa Mohammed Al-Rafyai ◽  
Mourouge Saadi Alwash ◽  
Noor Salman Al-Khafaji

Aquatic environment contamination remains a foremost global public health hazards, and symbolizes a significant reservoir of releasing antibiotic resistant bacteria. The survival of Escherichia coli in aquatic environments serves as a potential reservoir of antibiotic resistance, encompassing but not restricted to a plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) mechanism. The current study aimed to detect the presence of the PMQR-qnrA gene in quinolone-resistant E. coli isolates. Sixty-one waterborne E. coli with known phylogroups/subgroups isolated from the Al-Hillah River in Babylon Province, Iraq, were screened for the phenotypic resistance to third-generation quinolones (levofloxacin and ofloxacin) and were further analysed for the presence of the qnrA gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fifty-seven (93.4%) of 61 E. coli isolates were levofloxacin-resistant, and 55 (90.2%) were ofloxacin-resistant. Among the 57 quinolone-resistant E. coli, 40 (65.57%) isolates were found to carry the PMQR-qnrA gene. Among the 40 qnrA-positive E. coli, 22 (36.1%) isolates were in phylogroup B2, followed by 8 (13.1%) isolates in phylogroup D, 6 (9.8%) isolates in phylogroup B1, and 4 (6.6%) isolates in phylogroup A. The presence of the PMQR-qnrA gene in E. coli belonging to phylogroup B2 and D reflects the need for routine monitoring of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the Al-Hillah River.


2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (15) ◽  
pp. 5444-5447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Ponce-Rivas ◽  
María-Enriqueta Muñoz-Márquez ◽  
Ashraf A. Khan

ABSTRACTThis study describes the prevalence of arrays of class 1 integron cassettes and Qnr determinants (A, B, and S) in 19 fluoroquinolone-resistantEscherichia coliisolates from chicken litter.qnrSandqnrAwere the predominant genes in these fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates, and an uncommon array ofaacA4-catB3-dfrA1gene cassettes from a class1 integron was found. Additionally,aadA1anddfrA1gene cassettes, encoding resistance to streptomycin and trimethoprim, constituted the most common genes identified and was located on megaplasmids as well on the chromosome. Antibiotic resistance, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and plasmid data suggest a genetically diverse origin of poultryE. coliisolates.


2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (16) ◽  
pp. 5063-5067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supakana Nagachinta ◽  
Jinru Chen

ABSTRACT Transfer of class 1 integron-mediated antibiotic resistance genes has been demonstrated under laboratory conditions. However, there is no information concerning the transfer of these genes in an agricultural environment. The present study sought to determine if integron-mediated streptomycin and sulfisoxazole resistance genes could be transferred from Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains 6-20 (O157:H7) and 7-63 (O111:H8) to the susceptible strain E. coli K-12 MG1655 in bovine feces (pH 5.5, 6.0, or 6.5) and storm water (pH 5, 6, 7, or 8) at 4, 15, and 28°C, which are average seasonal temperatures for winter, spring-fall, and summer, respectively, in the Griffin, GA, area. The results indicated that at 28°C, the integron-mediated antibiotic resistance genes were transferred from both of the STEC donors in bovine feces. Higher conjugation efficiencies were, however, observed in the conjugation experiments involving STEC strain 6-20. In storm water, the resistance genes were transferred only from STEC strain 6-20. Greater numbers of transconjugants were recovered in the conjugation experiments performed with pH 6.5 bovine feces and with pH 7 storm water. Antibiotic susceptibility tests confirmed the transfer of integron-mediated streptomycin resistance and sulfisoxazole resistance, as well as the transfer of non-integron-mediated oxytetracycline resistance and tetracycline resistance in the transconjugant cells. These results suggest that the antibiotic resistance genes in STEC could serve as a source of antibiotic resistance genes disseminated via conjugation to susceptible cells of other E. coli strains in an agricultural environment.


2000 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter V. Adrian ◽  
Christopher J. Thomson ◽  
Keith P. Klugman ◽  
Sebastian G. B. Amyes

ABSTRACT In a previous survey of 357 trimethoprim-resistant isolates of aerobic gram-negative bacteria from commensal fecal flora, hybridization experiments showed that 25% (90 of 357) of the isolates failed to hybridize to specific oligonucleotide probes for dihydrofolate reductase types 1, 2b, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12. Subsequent cloning and sequencing of a plasmid-borne trimethoprim resistance gene from one of these isolates revealed a new dihydrofolate reductase gene, dfr13, which occurred as a cassette integrated in a site-specific manner in a class 1 integron. The gene product shared 84% amino acid identity with dfr12 and exhibited a trimethoprim inhibition profile similar to that ofdfr12. Gene probing experiments with an oligonucleotide probe specific for this gene showed that 12.3% (44 of 357) of the isolates which did not hybridize to probes for other dihydrofolate reductases hybridized to this probe. Immediately downstream ofdfr13, a new cassette, an aminoglycoside resistance gene of the class AADA [ANT(3")(9)-I], which encodes streptomycin-spectinomycin resistance, was identified. This gene shares 57% identity with the consensus aadA1(ant(3")-Ia) and has been called aadA4(ant(3")-Id). The 3′ end of the aadA4 cassette was truncated by IS26, which was contiguous with a truncated form of Tn3. On the same plasmid, pUK2381, a second copy of IS26 was associated with sul2, which suggests that both integrase and transposase activities have played major roles in the arrangement and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genesdfr13, aadA4, bla TEM-1, and sul2.


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