Global prevalence, characteristics, and future prospects of IncX3 plasmids: A review

Abstract

IncX3 plasmids are narrow host range plasmids mostly found in Enterobacteriaceae with great conjugation ability, high stability, no fitness cost, and the ability to improve biofilm formation in their bacterial hosts. IncX3 plasmids have spread swiftly, primarily in several nations and among different species over the last 10 years. blaNDM, blaKPC, and blaOXA-181 are the carbapenemase genes carried by IncX3 plasmids. Among them, blaNDM is often located on the IncX3 plasmid, which is deemed as the primary vehicle of blaNDM transmission. Isolates harboring IncX3 plasmids are found in nations all over the world from human, animal, and environmental sources. Cointegrate plasmids related to IncX3 have recently been discovered to increase the antibiotic resistance spectrum and potentially broaden the host range of plasmids, restricting the use of antibiotics in the clinic. There are, however, few reviews based on the physiological and epidemiological properties of IncX3 plasmid, as well as studies on the plasmid itself. Hence, we conducted a retrospective literature review to summarize the characteristics of IncX3 plasmids aiming to provide a theoretical basis for controlling the global prevalence of IncX3 plasmids and directions for further research on the functions of the related genes on the IncX3 plasmid.

Genomic characteristics of clinical carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli isolates in a tertiary hospital, 2013–2021

“…In our study, most IncX plasmids were IncX3, deemed the primary vehicle for bla NDM transmission. IncX3 plasmids have been found to spread rapidly among different species without tness cost, with excellent conjugation ability, high stability, and the ability to improve bio lm formation in their bacterial hosts [45]. Given that IncX3 plasmids were found among most of the bla NDM -carrying E. coli in our study, we speculate that IncX is the main host for bla NDM [46].…”

The European Union summary report on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food in 2021–2022

“…So far, no carbapenemase‐producing Enterobacterales has been confirmed in domestic animals, whether food‐producing or companion animals, in Sweden.Ignoring the problem of carbapenem resistance in companion animals on the grounds that these antibiotics are not used in the veterinary field would ignore a potential reservoir. Indeed, even if humans might be the origin on the contamination, carbapenem resistance genes are often carried by small plasmids (IncL, IncX3) that spread with a very high efficiency so that secondary reservoirs can arise in animals (Guo et al., 2022; Pitout et al., 2019). Resistant bacteria can further be transmitted to other animals or humans in contact, and disseminated to the close environment of the carrier.…”

Diverse and abundant phages exploit conjugative plasmids

“…This suggests that with further study and discovery, PDPs could be exploited to manipulate the dynamics of conjugative plasmid mobility, and thus the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in high-risk environments. PDPs may be particularly applicable to controlling epidemics of plasmid acquired resistance, for example the current epidemic of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae mobilized by IncX3 conjugative plasmids [52][53][54] .…”