Interspecies Dissemination of a Mobilizable Plasmid Harboring bla _IMP-19 and the Possibility of Horizontal Gene Transfer in a Single Patient

Abstract

dCarbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli have been a global concern over the past 2 decades because these organisms can cause severe infections with high mortality rates. Carbapenemase genes are often carried by mobile genetic elements, and resistance plasmids can be transferred through conjugation. We conducted whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to demonstrate that the same plasmid harboring a metallo-␤-lactamase gene was detected in two different species isolated from a single patient. Metallo-␤-lactamase-producing Achromobacter xylosoxidans (KUN4507), non-metallo-␤-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KUN4843), and metallo-␤-lactamase-producing K. pneumoniae (KUN5033) were sequentially isolated from a single patient and then analyzed in this study. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular typing (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing), and conjugation analyses were performed by conventional methods. Phylogenetic and molecular clock analysis of K. pneumoniae isolates were performed with WGS, and the nucleotide sequences of plasmids detected from these isolates were determined using WGS. Conventional molecular typing revealed that KUN4843 and KUN5033 were identical, whereas the phylogenetic tree analysis revealed a slight difference. These two isolates were separated from the most recent common ancestor 0.74 years before they were isolated. The same resistance plasmid harboring bla IMP-19 was detected in metallo-␤-lactamase-producing A. xylosoxidans and K. pneumoniae. Although this plasmid was not self-transferable, the conjugation of this plasmid from A. xylosoxidans to non-metallo-␤-lactamase-producing K. pneumoniae was successfully performed. The susceptibility patterns for metallo-␤-lactamase-producing K. pneumoniae and the transconjugant were similar. These findings supported the possibility of the horizontal transfer of plasmid-borne bla IMP-19 from A. xylosoxidans to K. pneumoniae in a single patient.

Biofilm Formation Drives Transfer of the Conjugative Element ICE Bs1 in Bacillus subtilis

“…They often contain genes responsible for a wide range of functions, including virulence, antibiotic resistance, and symbiosis ( 3 – 5 ). Conjugative plasmids and ICEs can often transfer between different bacterial species and genera and mobilize genomic islands or plasmids that are otherwise not self-transmissible, granting these elements an extensive role in bacterial evolution ( 6 – 9 ).…”

<p>Co-Existence of <em>mcr-1</em> and <em>bla</em>_NDM-5 in an <em>Escherichia</em> <em>coli</em> Strain Isolated from the Pharmaceutical Industry, WWTP</p>

“…This plasmid belongs to the IncX3 group which was reported to be the most common Inc type plasmid that harbored bla NDM gene in China. 22 Nucleotide BLAST revealed that pR15_NDM-5 was highly similar to pNDM-MGR194 (99% identity and 100% coverage). 23 Furthermore, genetic environment characterization revealed a structure of IS26-dsbC-trpF-ble MBL -bla NDM-5 -IS5 in both plasmids ( Figure 1B).…”

Complete Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli ME8067, an Azide-Resistant Laboratory Strain Used for Conjugation Experiments

“… Escherichia coli strain ME8067 (strain WD8014) is a laboratory E. coli strain that cannot ferment galactose due to its lack of UDP glucose pyrophosphorylase activity ( 1 ). This strain has been used for conjugation experiments as a recipient strain ( 2 – 4 ) because it is negative for fertility factors and is resistant to sodium azide. Recent advances in sequencing technology have enabled the sequencing of transconjugants, which contribute to a comprehensive understanding of transferable elements.…”