An IncB/O/K/Z conjugative plasmid encodes resistance to azithromycin and mediates transmission of virulence plasmid in Klebsiella pneumoniae
Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
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Detail(s)
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 106683 |
| Journal / Publication | International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue number | 5-6 |
| Online published | 21 Oct 2022 |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2022 |
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Abstract
Introduction: Azithromycin resistance in bacterial pathogens has increased worldwide, and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) carries a variety of azithromycin resistance encoding genes.
Methods: Genomic DNA of K. pneumoniae strain 16HN-12 was subjected to whole-plasmid sequencing using both the 150-bp paired-end Illumina NextSeq 500 platform and the long-read Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION platform. Transferability of the azithromycin-resistance plasmid and the virulence plasmid was assessed by performing the conjugation assay.
Results: This study identified an IncB/O/K/Z conjugative plasmid that harboured erm(B) and mph(A) genes from a clinical K. pneumoniae strain. The plasmid was readily able to conjugate to Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain J53 and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium strain PY1 and promoted phenotypic resistance to azithromycin. Furthermore, the virulence plasmid harboured by this K. pneumoniae strain could be conjugated to E. coli strain EC600 and K. pneumoniae strain WZ1-2 via the help of this resistance plasmid through formation of a fusion plasmid. The fusion process was generated by homologous recombination through a homologous region located in both the virulence plasmid and resistance plasmid.
Conclusions: Generation of this kind of conjugative plasmid simultaneously carrying virulence and resistance determinants could accelerate dissemination of these determinants and generate bacterial pathogens encoding these phenotypes. These data provide more information about transmission of azithromycin resistance and virulence determinants and call for action to further investigate and prevent such an evolutionary trend.
Methods: Genomic DNA of K. pneumoniae strain 16HN-12 was subjected to whole-plasmid sequencing using both the 150-bp paired-end Illumina NextSeq 500 platform and the long-read Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION platform. Transferability of the azithromycin-resistance plasmid and the virulence plasmid was assessed by performing the conjugation assay.
Results: This study identified an IncB/O/K/Z conjugative plasmid that harboured erm(B) and mph(A) genes from a clinical K. pneumoniae strain. The plasmid was readily able to conjugate to Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain J53 and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium strain PY1 and promoted phenotypic resistance to azithromycin. Furthermore, the virulence plasmid harboured by this K. pneumoniae strain could be conjugated to E. coli strain EC600 and K. pneumoniae strain WZ1-2 via the help of this resistance plasmid through formation of a fusion plasmid. The fusion process was generated by homologous recombination through a homologous region located in both the virulence plasmid and resistance plasmid.
Conclusions: Generation of this kind of conjugative plasmid simultaneously carrying virulence and resistance determinants could accelerate dissemination of these determinants and generate bacterial pathogens encoding these phenotypes. These data provide more information about transmission of azithromycin resistance and virulence determinants and call for action to further investigate and prevent such an evolutionary trend.
Research Area(s)
- Azithromycin resistance, Fusion plasmid, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Virulence plasmid
Bibliographic Note
Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Citation Format(s)
An IncB/O/K/Z conjugative plasmid encodes resistance to azithromycin and mediates transmission of virulence plasmid in Klebsiella pneumoniae. / Yang, Xuemei; Liu, Xiaoxuan; Xu, Yating et al.
In: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, Vol. 60, No. 5-6, 106683, 11.2022.
In: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, Vol. 60, No. 5-6, 106683, 11.2022.
Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
