scholarly journals The Plasmid-Borne tet(A) Gene Is an Important Factor Causing Tigecycline Resistance in ST11 Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Under Selective Pressure

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Xu ◽  
Zhongliang Zhu ◽  
Yanmin Chen ◽  
Weizhong Wang ◽  
Fang He

The emergence and prevalence of tigecycline-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae have seriously compromised the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents in the treatment of infections. To explore the role of the plasmid-borne tet(A) gene in tigecycline resistance in carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP), a total of 63 CRKP isolates were collected from a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou, China. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tigecycline, mutation rate of tet(A) gene, genetic surroundings of tet(A)-carrying transmissible plasmid and the contribution of tet(A) mutation to tigecycline resistance were analyzed using antimicrobial susceptibility test, whole-genome sequencing, tigecycline resistance evolution experiment, and plasmid conjugation experiment. Our results showed that 52.4% (33 isolates) of the test isolates carried the tet(A) gene; among them, 75.8% (25 isolates) exhibited a tigecycline non-susceptible phenotype (MIC = 4 mg/L). Three clonal groups (cluster I, cluster II, and cluster III) were identified in these tet(A)-bearing isolates. All 17 isolates belonged to serotype KL21 (cluster I), which differed by only 13 SNPs, suggesting a clonal spread of tet(A)-positive ST11 K. pneumoniae with serotype KL21 occurred in the sampling hospital. The induction of tigecycline resistance experiments showed that 71.4% of strains evolved tet(A) mutations and developed a high-level tigecycline resistance. Eight amino acid substitutions were identified in these mutants. The most common amino acid substitution was A370V, followed by S251A and G300E. Twelve isolates carrying tet(A) mutants succeeded in the filter mating experiment with a conjugation efficiency of 10–3–10–8. Tigecycline MICs in E. coli EC600 transconjugants with a mutated tet(A) were 2 to 8-fold higher than those in E. coli EC600 transconjugants with a wild-type tet(A). One ColRNAI/IncFII type and two IncFII type tet(A)-bearing conjugative plasmids were identified in this study, including a class 1 integron containing multiple antibiotic resistance genes, i.e., tet(A), qnrS1, blaLAP–2, catA2, sul2, and dfrA14. Our study revealed the wide-spread situation of plasmid-borne tet(A) gene in clinical CRKP, and mutation of tet(A) is a potential driven force that lead to tigecycline resistance.

Author(s):  
Marta Marí-Almirall ◽  
Clara Cosgaya ◽  
Cristina Pitart ◽  
Joaquim Viñes ◽  
Laura Muñoz ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To characterize the clonal spread of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolates between different healthcare institutions in Catalonia, Spain. Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by disc diffusion. MICs were determined by gradient diffusion or broth microdilution. Carbapenemase production was confirmed by lateral flow. PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to identify the allelic variants of resistance genes. Clonality studies were performed by PFGE and MLST. Plasmid typing, conjugation assays, S1-PFGE plus Southern blotting and MinION Oxford Nanopore sequencing were used to characterize resistance plasmids. Results Twenty-nine carbapenem-resistant isolates recovered from three healthcare institutions between January and November 2016 were included: 14 K. pneumoniae isolates from a tertiary hospital in the south of Catalonia (hospital A); 2 K. pneumoniae isolates from a nearby healthcare centre; and 12 K. pneumoniae isolates and 1 E. coli isolate from a tertiary hospital in Barcelona (hospital B). The majority of isolates were resistant to all antimicrobial agents, except colistin, and all were NDM producers. PFGE identified a major K. pneumoniae clone (n = 27) belonging to ST147 and co-producing NDM-1 and CTX-M-15, with a few isolates also harbouring blaOXA-48. Two sporadic isolates of K. pneumoniae ST307 and E. coli ST167 producing NDM-7 were also identified. blaNDM-1 was carried in two related IncR plasmid populations and blaNDM-7 in a conjugative 50 kb IncX3 plasmid. Conclusions We report the inter-hospital dissemination of XDR high-risk clones of K. pneumoniae and E. coli associated with the carriage of small, transferable plasmids harbouring blaNDM genes.


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 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 471-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose-Manuel Rodriguez-Martinez ◽  
Patrice Nordmann ◽  
Nicolas Fortineau ◽  
Laurent Poirel

ABSTRACT Two carbapenem-resistant isolates, one Escherichia coli isolate and one Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate, recovered from an Algerian patient expressed a novel VIM-type metallo-β-lactamase (MBL). The identified bla VIM-19 gene was located on a ca. 160-kb plasmid and located inside a class 1 integron in both isolates. VIM-19 differed from VIM-1 by the Asn215Lys and Ser228Arg substitutions, increasing its hydrolytic activity toward carbapenems. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments showed that both substitutions were necessary for the increased carbapenemase activity of VIM-19. This study indicates that MBLs with enhanced activity toward carbapenems may be obtained as a result of very few amino acid substitutions.


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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (03) ◽  
pp. 164-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Farah Araj ◽  
Aline Z Avedissian ◽  
Lina Y Itani ◽  
Jowana A Obeid

Introduction: It is not yet clear which antimicrobial agents should be used to treat the ominously increasing infections with carbapenem-resistant (CR) bacteria. We therefore investigated the activity of different antimicrobial agents against CR Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Lebanon. Methodology: This retrospective study assessed the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of three carbapenems (by Etest), as well as the in vitro activity of eight other antimicrobials (by disk diffusion) against CR E. coli (n = 300) and K. pneumoniae (n = 232) isolates recovered at a major University Medical Center in Lebanon. Results: Higher percentages of isolates showing carbapenem MICs of ≤ 8 µg/mL were noted among the CR E. coli compared to the CR K. pneumoniae for ertapenem (48% vs 27%), imipenem (74 % vs 58%) and meropenem (82% vs 63%). Among the eight other antimicrobials, activity was generally higher when the MICs for the three carbapenems were ≤ 8 µg/mL. Regardless of the MIC level of the three carbapenems, very low susceptibility rates (≤ 33%) were noted for ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and aztreonam against both E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates. With Amikacin, higher susceptibility rates were seen against E. coli isolates (81%-97%) than against K. pneumoniae isolates (55%-86%), also reflecting higher activity than gentamicin (44%-54%). The best activity (66%-100%) was observed for tigecycline, colistin and fosfomycin against both CR species. Conclusions: Based on the in vitro findings in this study, the combination of a carbapenem showing an MIC of ≤ 8 µg/mL together with an active colistin, tigecycline, or fosfomycin, would offer a promising treatment option for patients infected with CR E. coli or K. pneumoniae.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meritxell Cubero ◽  
Guillermo Cuervo ◽  
M. Ángeles Dominguez ◽  
Fe Tubau ◽  
Sara Martí ◽  
...  

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.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiu-Qin Jia ◽  
Feng Pang ◽  
Xin Luo ◽  
Jian Zhang

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to performe a retrospective analysis of prevalence and treatment of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections in children in a tertiary hospital. Methods The non-repeat clinical isolates of CRE in children were collected in Liaocheng People's Hospital from January, 2013 to December, 2018. The bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility was performed according to the standard methods. The isolated strains will be detected carbapenemases genotypes and homology analysis. All data on the culture-positive strains and associated clinical infection from different pediatric wards were reviewed. Results A total of 20 CRE strains isolated from pediatric patients, which derived from different infection sites and present a classification of multiple species of Enterobacteriaceae. And the production of IMP-type carbapenemase in these strains is the main reason of antimicrobial resistance. Most of the infected patients have severe comorbidities and invasive procedures, and use insensitive drugs due to the high resistance rates and medication restrictions. Nevertheless, most infected children have been treated despite the resistance of pathogens to multiple antimicrobial agents. In our follow-up survey, most children received adjuvant therapy such as human intravenous immunoglobulin, which may be an important factor in helping patients defeat pathogenic bacteria. Conclusions This study demonstrates a high prevalence of IMP-mediated CRE infection in pediatric patients with severe comorbidities and invasive procedures. Most children have been cured, which may be related to application of adjuvant therapy and weaker pathogenicity of the IMP-type Enterobacteriaceae.


Author(s):  
Jihui Chen ◽  
Yu Yang ◽  
Huimin Yao ◽  
Shuhong Bu ◽  
Lixia Li ◽  
...  

ObjectiveCarbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections are associated with poor patient outcomes. We aimed to analyze the clinical information of adult patients with CRKP infection in order to establish a nomogram for mortality risk as well as to determine the treatment effectiveness of different antimicrobial regimens.MethodsAdult patients diagnosed with CRKP infection in a tertiary hospital in Shanghai between September 2019 and March 2021 were included. The clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes of these patients were analyzed.ResultsA total of 199 cases of CRKP infection were examined. Five factors, namely age ≥65 years, respiratory failure, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, serum procalcitonin ≥5 ng/mL, and appropriate treatments in 3 days, were found to be associated with 30-day mortality. Upon incorporating these factors, the nomogram achieved good concordance indexes of 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80–0.90) and well-fitted calibration curves. Receiver-operating characteristic curves for 7-, 15-, and 30-day survival had areas under the curve of 0.90, 0.87, and 0.88, respectively. Three-drug combination therapy was observed to be associated with lower mortality in the high-risk group (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.06–0.99) but not in the low-risk group. Ceftazidime–avibactam, fosfomycin, and amikacin were effective against infections caused by CRKP. Tigecycline improved the treatment efficiency in 7 days, but a trend toward increased mortality was seen (HR, 1.69; 95% CI: 0.98–2.94; P = 0.061).ConclusionThe antimicrobial regimen efficacy data and the predictive nomogram established in this study can help clinicians in identifying high-risk adult patients with CRKP infection, improving the therapeutic effect, and reducing mortality.


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