scholarly journals Emerging coexistence of three PMQR genes on a multiple resistance plasmid with a new surrounding genetic structure of qnrS2 in E. coli in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
ying tao ◽  
kaixin zhou ◽  
lianyan xie ◽  
yanping xu ◽  
lizhong han ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Quinolones are commonly used for treatment of infections by bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family. However, the rising resistance to quinolones worldwide poses a major clinical and public health risk. This study aimed to characterise a novel multiple resistance plasmid carrying three plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in Escherichia coli clinical stain RJ749. Methods: MICs of ceftriaxone, cefepime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin for RJ749 and transconjugant c749 were determined by the Etest method. Conjugation was performed using sodium azide-resistant E. coli J53 strain as a recipient. The quinolone resistance-determining regions of gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE were PCR-amplified. Results: RJ749 was highly resistant to quinolones, while c749 showed low-level resistance. S1-nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that RJ749 and c749 both harboured a plasmid. PCR presented chromosomal mutation sites of the quinolone resistance-determining region, which mediated quinolone resistance. The c749 genome comprised a single plasmid, pRJ749, with a multiple resistance region, including three plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes (aac(6′)-Ib-cr, qnrS2, and oqxAB) and ten acquired resistance genes. One of the genes, qnrS2, was shown for the first time to be flanked by two IS26s. Three IS26-mediated circular molecules carrying the PMQR genes were detected. Conclusions: We revealed the coexistence of three PMQR genes on a multiple resistance plasmid and a new surrounding genetic structure of qnrS2 flanked by IS26 elements. IS26 plays an important role in horizontal spread of quinolone resistance.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
ying tao ◽  
kaixin zhou ◽  
lianyan xie ◽  
yanping xu ◽  
lizhong han ◽  
...  

Abstract Quinolones are commonly used for treatment of infections by bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family. However, the rising resistance to quinolones worldwide poses a major clinical and public health risk. This study aimed to characterise a novel multiple resistance plasmid carrying three plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in Escherichia coli clinical stain RJ749. Methods: MICs of ceftriaxone, cefepime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin for RJ749 and transconjugant c749 were determined by the Etest method. Conjugation was performed using sodium azide-resistant E. coli J53 strain as a recipient. The quinolone resistance-determining regions of gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE were PCR-amplified. Results: RJ749 was highly resistant to quinolones, while c749 showed low-level resistance. S1-nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that RJ749 and c749 both harboured a plasmid. PCR presented chromosomal mutation sites of the quinolone resistance-determining region, which mediated quinolone resistance. The c749 genome comprised a single plasmid, pRJ749, with a multiple resistance region, including three plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes (aac(6′)-Ib-cr, qnrS2, and oqxAB) and ten acquired resistance genes. One of the genes, qnrS2, was shown for the first time to be flanked by two IS26s. Three IS26-mediated circular molecules carrying the PMQR genes were detected. Conclusions: We revealed the coexistence of three PMQR genes on a multiple resistance plasmid and a new surrounding genetic structure of qnrS2 flanked by IS26 elements. IS26 plays an important role in horizontal spread of quinolone resistance.


2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 2295-2303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Ren Dong ◽  
Li-Xin Xiang ◽  
Jian-Zhong Shao

ABSTRACT The use of antibiotic resistance genes in plasmids causes potential biosafety and clinical hazards, such as the possibility of horizontal spread of resistance genes or the rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. This paper introduces a novel auxotrophy complementation system that allowed plasmids and host cells to be effectively selected and maintained without the use of antibiotics. An Escherichia coli strain carrying a defect in NAD de novo biosynthesis was constructed by knocking out the chromosomal quinolinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase (QAPRTase) gene. The resistance gene in the plasmids was replaced by the QAPRTase gene of E. coli or the mouse. As a result, only expression of the QAPRTase gene from plasmids can complement and rescue E. coli host cells in minimal medium. This is the first time that a vertebrate gene has been used to construct a nonantibiotic selection system, and it can be widely applied in DNA vaccine and gene therapy. As the QAPRTase gene is ubiquitous in species ranging from bacteria to mammals, the potential environmental biosafety problems caused by horizontal gene transfer can be eliminated.


2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oumar Ouchar Mahamat ◽  
Manon Lounnas ◽  
Mallorie Hide ◽  
Abelsalam Tidjani ◽  
Julio Benavides ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We detected for the first time blaNDM-5 and blaOXA-181 in Escherichia coli isolates from hospitalized patients and healthy volunteers in Chad. These resistance genes were located on IncX3 and IncF plasmids. Despite the large diversity of E. coli clones, the identified resistant intestinal isolates belonged mainly to the same sequence type.


mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Stephens ◽  
Tyler Arismendi ◽  
Megan Wright ◽  
Austin Hartman ◽  
Andres Gonzalez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The evolution and propagation of antibiotic resistance by bacterial pathogens are significant threats to global public health. Contemporary DNA sequencing tools were applied here to gain insight into carriage of antibiotic resistance genes in Escherichia coli, a ubiquitous commensal bacterium in the gut microbiome in humans and many animals, and a common pathogen. Draft genome sequences generated for a collection of 101 E. coli strains isolated from healthy undergraduate students showed that horizontally acquired antibiotic resistance genes accounted for most resistance phenotypes, the primary exception being resistance to quinolones due to chromosomal mutations. A subset of 29 diverse isolates carrying acquired resistance genes and 21 control isolates lacking such genes were further subjected to long-read DNA sequencing to enable complete or nearly complete genome assembly. Acquired resistance genes primarily resided on F plasmids (101/153 [67%]), with smaller numbers on chromosomes (30/153 [20%]), IncI complex plasmids (15/153 [10%]), and small mobilizable plasmids (5/153 [3%]). Nearly all resistance genes were found in the context of known transposable elements. Very few structurally conserved plasmids with antibiotic resistance genes were identified, with the exception of an ∼90-kb F plasmid in sequence type 1193 (ST1193) isolates that appears to serve as a platform for resistance genes and may have virulence-related functions as well. Carriage of antibiotic resistance genes on transposable elements and mobile plasmids in commensal E. coli renders the resistome highly dynamic. IMPORTANCE Rising antibiotic resistance in human-associated bacterial pathogens is a serious threat to our ability to treat many infectious diseases. It is critical to understand how acquired resistance genes move in and through bacteria associated with humans, particularly for species such as Escherichia coli that are very common in the human gut but can also be dangerous pathogens. This work combined two distinct DNA sequencing approaches to allow us to explore the genomes of E. coli from college students to show that the antibiotic resistance genes these bacteria have acquired are usually carried on a specific type of plasmid that is naturally transferrable to other E. coli, and likely to other related bacteria.


Author(s):  
Dao-Ji Cen ◽  
Ruan-Yang Sun ◽  
Jia-Lin Mai ◽  
Yu-Wei Jiang ◽  
Dong Wang ◽  
...  

We investigated the prevalence and transmission of NDM-producing Enterobacteriaceae in fecal samples of geese and environmental samples from a goose farm in Southern China. The samples were cultivated on MacConkey agar plates supplemented with meropenem. Individual colonies were examined for blaNDM and blaNDM-positive bacteria were characterized based on WGS data from the Illumina and ONT platforms. Of 117 samples analyzed, the carriage rates for NDM-positive Enterobacteriaceae were 47.1, 18 and 50% in geese, inanimate environments (sewage, soil, fodder and dust) and mouse samples, respectively. Two variants (4 blaNDM-1 and 40 blaNDM-5) were found among 44 blaNDM-positive Enterobacteriaceae, which belonged to 8 species and Escherichia coli was the most prevalent (50%). WGS analysis revealed that blaNDM co-existed with diverse antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Population structure analysis showed that most E. coli and Enterobacter sp. isolates were highly heterogeneous while most Citrobacter sp. and P. stuartii isolates possessed extremely high genetic similarity. Additionally, blaNDM-5-positive ST4358/ST48 E. coli isolates were found to be clonally spread between the geese and environment and were highly genetically similar to those reported from ducks, farm environments and humans in China. Plasmid analysis indicated that IncX3 pHNYX644-1-like (n=40) and untypable pM2-1-like plasmids (n=4) mediated blaNDM spread. pM2-1-like plasmids possessed diverse ARGs including blaNDM-1, the arsenical and mercury resistance operons and the maltose operon. Our findings revealed that the goose farm is a reservoir for NDM-positive Enterobacteriaceae. The blaNDM contamination of wild mice and the novel pM2-1-like plasmid described in this study likely adds to the risk for dissemination of blaNDM and associated resistance genes. Importance: The carbapenem-resistant bacteria, in particular NDM-producing Enterobacteriaceae, has become a great threat to global public. These bacteria have been found not only in hospital and community environments, but also among food animal production chains, which are recognized as reservoirs for NDM-producing Enterobacteriaceae. However, the dissemination of NDM-producing bacteria in the waterfowl farm has been less well explored. Our study demonstrated that horizontal spread of blaNDM-carrying plasmids and the partial clonal spread of blaNDM-positive Enterobacteriaceae contributed to widespread contamination of blaNDM in the goose farm ecosystem, including mouse. Furthermore, we found a novel and transferable blaNDM-1-carrying MDR plasmid that possessed multiple environmental adaptation-related genes. The outcomes of this study contribute to a better understanding of the prevalence and transmission of blaNDM-producing Enterobacteriaceae among diverse niches in the farm ecosystem.


2006 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 1179-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Pallecchi ◽  
Chiara Lucchetti ◽  
Alessandro Bartoloni ◽  
Filippo Bartalesi ◽  
Antonia Mantella ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In a previous study, we detected unexpectedly high levels of acquired antibiotic resistance in commensal Escherichia coli isolates from a remote Guaraní Indian (Bolivia) community with very low levels of antibiotic exposure and limited exchanges with the exterior. Here we analyzed the structure of the resistant E. coli population from that community and the resistance mechanisms. The E. coli population (113 isolates from 72 inhabitants) showed a high degree of genetic heterogeneity, as evidenced by phylogenetic grouping (77% group A, 10% group B1, 8% group D, 5% group B2) and genotyping by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis (44 different RAPD types). The acquired resistance genes were always of the same types as those found in antibiotic-exposed settings [bla TEM, bla PSE-1, catI, cmlA6, tet(A), tet(B), dfrA1, dfrA7, dfrA8, dfrA17, sul1, sul2, aphA1, aadA1, aadA2, aadA5, aadB, and sat-1]. Class 1 and class 2 integrons were found in 12% and 4% of the isolates, respectively, and harbored arrays of gene cassettes similar to those already described. The cotransferability of multiple-resistance traits was observed from selected isolates and was found to be associated with resistance conjugative plasmids of the F, P, and N types. Overall, these data suggest that the resistance observed in this remote community is likely the consequence of the dissemination of resistant bacteria and resistance genes from antibiotic-exposed settings (rather than of an independent in situ selection) which involved both the clonal expansion of resistant strains and the horizontal transfer/recombination of mobile genetic elements harboring resistance genes.


mSphere ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dae-Wi Kim ◽  
Cung Nawl Thawng ◽  
Sang Hee Lee ◽  
Chang-Jun Cha

ABSTRACT In the present study, plasmid pAC3 isolated from a highly fluoroquinolone-resistant isolate of Aeromonas species was sequenced and found to contain two fluoroquinolone resistance genes, aac(6′)-Ib-cr and qnrS2. Comparative analyses of plasmid pAC3 and other Aeromonas sp. IncU-type plasmids revealed a mobile insertion cassette element with a unique structure containing a qnrS2 gene and a typical miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) structure. This study also revealed that this MITE sequence appears in other Aeromonas species plasmids and chromosomes. Our results also demonstrate that the fluoroquinolone-dependent expression of qnrS2 is associated with rsd in E. coli DH5α harboring plasmid pAC3. Our findings suggest that the mobile element may play an important role in qnrS2 dissemination and that Aeromonas species constitute an important reservoir of fluoroquinolone resistance determinants in the environment. A highly fluoroquinolone-resistant isolate of Aeromonas species was isolated from a wastewater treatment plant and found to possess multiple resistance mechanisms, including mutations in gyrA and parC, efflux pumps, and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes. Complete sequencing of the IncU-type plasmid, pAC3, present in the strain revealed a circular plasmid DNA 15,872 bp long containing two PMQR genes [qnrS2 and aac(6′)-Ib-cr]. A mobile insertion cassette element containing the qnrS2 gene and a typical miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) structure was identified in the plasmid. The present study revealed that this MITE sequence appears in other Aeromonas species plasmids and chromosomes. Plasmid pAC3 was introduced into Escherichia coli, and its PMQR genes were expressed, resulting in the acquisition of resistance. Proteome analysis of the recipient E. coli strain harboring the plasmid revealed that aac(6′)-Ib-cr expression was constitutive and that qnrS2 expression was dependent upon fluoroquinolone stress through regulation by regulator of sigma D (Rsd). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to characterize a novel MITE sequence upstream of the PMQR gene within a mobile insertion cassette, as well as the regulation of qnrS2 expression. Our results suggest that this mobile element may play an important role in qnrS2 dissemination. IMPORTANCE In the present study, plasmid pAC3 isolated from a highly fluoroquinolone-resistant isolate of Aeromonas species was sequenced and found to contain two fluoroquinolone resistance genes, aac(6′)-Ib-cr and qnrS2. Comparative analyses of plasmid pAC3 and other Aeromonas sp. IncU-type plasmids revealed a mobile insertion cassette element with a unique structure containing a qnrS2 gene and a typical miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) structure. This study also revealed that this MITE sequence appears in other Aeromonas species plasmids and chromosomes. Our results also demonstrate that the fluoroquinolone-dependent expression of qnrS2 is associated with rsd in E. coli DH5α harboring plasmid pAC3. Our findings suggest that the mobile element may play an important role in qnrS2 dissemination and that Aeromonas species constitute an important reservoir of fluoroquinolone resistance determinants in the environment.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J. Dunn ◽  
Laura Carrilero ◽  
Michael Brockhurst ◽  
Alan McNally

AbstractMulti-drug resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli are a major global threat to human health, wherein multi-drug resistance is primarily spread by MDR plasmid acquisition. MDR plasmids are not widely distributed across the entire E. coli species, but instead are concentrated in a small number of clones. Here, we test if diverse E. coli strains vary in their ability to acquire and maintain MDR plasmids, and if this relates to their transcriptional response following plasmid acquisition. We used strains from across the diversity of E. coli, including the common MDR lineage ST131, and the IncF plasmid, pLL35, encoding multiple antibiotic resistance genes. Strains varied in their ability to acquire pLL35 by conjugation, but all were able to stably maintain the plasmid. The effects of pLL35 acquisition on cefotaxime resistance and growth also varied among strains, with growth responses ranging from a small decrease to a small increase in growth of the plasmid-carrier relative to the parental strain. Transcriptional responses to pLL35 acquisition were limited in scale and highly strain specific. We observed significant transcriptional responses at the operon or regulon level, possibly due to stress responses or interactions with resident MGEs. Subtle transcriptional responses consistent across all strains were observed affecting functions, such as anaerobic metabolism, previously shown to be under negative frequency dependent selection in MDR E. coli. Overall there was no correlation between the magnitude of the transcriptional and growth responses across strains. Together these data suggest that fitness costs arising from transcriptional disruption are unlikely to act as a barrier to MDR plasmid dissemination in E. coli.ImportancePlasmids play a key role in bacterial evolution by transferring niche adaptive functions between lineages, including driving the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. Fitness costs of plasmid acquisition arising from the disruption of cellular processes could limit the spread of multidrug resistance plasmids. However, the impacts of plasmid acquisition are typically measured in lab-adapted strains rather than in more ecologically relevant natural isolates. Using a clinical multidrug resistance plasmid and a diverse collection of E. coli strains isolated from clinical infections and natural environments, we show that plasmid acquisition had only limited and highly strain-specific effects on bacterial growth and transcription. These findings suggest that fitness costs arising from transcriptional disruption are unlikely to act as a barrier to plasmid transmission in natural populations of E. coli.


2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (7) ◽  
pp. 1145-1151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoon Sung Hu ◽  
Sook Shin ◽  
Yong Ho Park ◽  
Kun Taek Park

ABSTRACT In this study, we investigated the prevalence and fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance mechanisms in Escherichia coli isolated from swine fecal samples. E. coli isolates were collected from 171 (72.2%) of 237 swine fecal samples. Of these, 59 isolates (34.5%) were confirmed as FQ-resistant E. coli by the disk diffusion method. Of the FQ-resistant isolates, three major FQ resistance mechanisms were investigated. Of the 59 isolates, plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes were detected in 9 isolates (15.3%). Efflux pump activity was found in 56 isolates (94.9%); however, this was not correlated with the increased FQ resistance measured by determining the MIC. Point mutations in quinolone resistance–determining regions were the main cause of FQ resistance. All 59 ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates had mutations in quinolone resistance–determining regions; of these 59 isolates, all (100%) had mutations in gyrA, 58 (98.3%) had mutations in parC, 22 (37.3%) had mutations in parE, and none had mutations in gyrB. The predominant mutation type was double mutation in gyrA (Ser83Leu plus mutation in aspartic acid 87), and all FQ-resistant isolates (except one) that had mutations in parC or parE also had double mutations in gyrA. Importantly, the frequencies of multidrug-resistant and extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing E. coli were significantly higher in the high ciprofloxacin MIC group in this study. Compared with previous studies in Korea, the prevalence of FQ resistance and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes had increased considerably in swine. Although the use of FQ as a feed additive is prohibited in Korea, use for self-treatment and therapeutic purposes has been increasing, which may be responsible for the higher FQ resistance rate observed in this study. Therefore, prudent use of FQ on animal farms is warranted to reduce the evolution of FQ-resistant bacteria in the animal industry.


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