Complete sequence of a KPC-producing IncN multidrug-resistant plasmid from an epidemic Escherichia coli sequence type 131 strain in China

Molecular epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli and the prevalence of ST131 subclone H30 in Shanghai, China

The molecular characteristics and epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli (CPEC) isolates from Shanghai, China, were investigated using 21 imipenem-resistant E. coli isolates obtained from a Shanghai teaching hospital from 2011 to 2014. The presence of bla KPC, bla IMP, bla VIM, bla OXA-48, and bla NDM was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing. CPEC isolates were characterized by the Etest®, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Plasmids carrying resistance genes were analyzed by conjugation experiments, replicon typing, plasmid MLST (pMLST), S1 nuclease PFGE (S1-PFGE), and Southern hybridization. The genetic environment of the resistance genes was determined by PCR and sequencing. Among the 21 E. coli isolates, 16 produced carbapenemases; of these, ten isolates transferred carbapenemase-encoding plasmids to recipient bacteria. Nine of the 16 isolates were clonally related, and their PFGE patterns were designated type A. ST131 was the predominant sequence type (11 isolates, 68.8 %); the H30 subclone comprised 81.8 % of the ST131 strains. In all three isolates, bla IMP-4 was located on 50-kb IncN plasmids. All but two bla KPC-2 genes were carried on IncF plasmids of various sizes. Hence, both clone-spread and horizontal transfer mediated the dissemination of carbapenemase-producing genes in the Shanghai isolates.

Complete sequence of a bla(KPC)-harboring cointegrate plasmid isolated from Escherichia coli

Horizontal transfer of bla(KPC)-harboring plasmids contributes significantly to the inter- and intraspecies spread of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC). Here we report the complete nucleotide sequence of a bla(KPC)-harboring IncFIA plasmid, pBK32533, from Escherichia coli. pBK32533 is a cointegrate plasmid comprising of a 72-kb sequence identical to that of the nonconjugative pBK30661 plasmid plus an additional 170-kb element that harbors the genes for plasmid transfer. pBK32533 demonstrates how bla(KPC) can be spread from a nonconjugative plasmid through cointegration.

Plasmid flux in Escherichia coli ST131 sublineages, analyzed by plasmid constellation network (PLACNET), a new method for plasmid reconstruction from whole genome sequences

Bacterial whole genome sequence (WGS) methods are rapidly overtaking classical sequence analysis. Many bacterial sequencing projects focus on mobilome changes, since macroevolutionary events, such as the acquisition or loss of mobile genetic elements, mainly plasmids, play essential roles in adaptive evolution. Existing WGS analysis protocols do not assort contigs between plasmids and the main chromosome, thus hampering full analysis of plasmid sequences. We developed a method (called plasmid constellation networks or PLACNET) that identifies, visualizes and analyzes plasmids in WGS projects by creating a network of contig interactions, thus allowing comprehensive plasmid analysis within WGS datasets. The workflow of the method is based on three types of data: assembly information (including scaffold links and coverage), comparison to reference sequences and plasmid-diagnostic sequence features. The resulting network is pruned by expert analysis, to eliminate confounding data, and implemented in a Cytoscape-based graphic representation. To demonstrate PLACNET sensitivity and efficacy, the plasmidome of the Escherichia coli lineage ST131 was analyzed. ST131 is a globally spread clonal group of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), comprising different sublineages with ability to acquire and spread antibiotic resistance and virulence genes via plasmids. Results show that plasmids flux in the evolution of this lineage, which is wide open for plasmid exchange. MOB_F12/IncF plasmids were pervasive, adding just by themselves more than 350 protein families to the ST131 pangenome. Nearly 50% of the most frequent γ–proteobacterial plasmid groups were found to be present in our limited sample of ten analyzed ST131 genomes, which represent the main ST131 sublineages.

Plasmids are difficult to analyze in WGS datasets, due to the fragmented nature of the obtained sequences. We developed a method, called PLACNET, which greatly facilitates this analysis. As an example, we analyzed the plasmidome of E. coli ST131, an ExPEC clonal group involved in human urinary tract infections and septicemia. Relevant variation within this clone (e.g., antibiotic resistance and virulence) is frequently caused by the acquisition and loss of plasmids and other mobile genetic elements. Nevertheless, our knowledge of the ST131 plasmidome is limited to a few antibiotic resistance plasmids and to identification of replicons from known plasmid groups. PLACNET analysis extends the number of sequenced plasmids in ST131, which can be used for comparative genomics, from 11 to 50. The ST131 plasmidome is seemingly huge, encompassing roughly 50% of the main plasmid groups of γ–proteobacteria. MOB_F12/IncF plasmids are apparently the most active players in the dissemination of relevant genetic information.

Complete sequence of a conjugative incn plasmid harboring blaKPC-2, blaSHV-12, and qnrS1 from an Escherichia coli sequence type 648 strain

We sequenced a novel conjugative blaKPC-2-harboring IncN plasmid, pYD626E, from an Escherichia coli sequence type 648 strain previously identified in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. pYD626E was 72,800 bp long and carried four β-lactamase genes, blaKPC-2, blaSHV-12, blaLAP-1, and blaTEM-1. In addition, it harbored qnrS1 (fluoroquinolone resistance) and dfrA14 (trimethoprim resistance). The plasmid profile and clinical history supported the in vivo transfer of this plasmid between Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli.

Characterization of carbapenemases, extended spectrum β-lactamases, quinolone resistance and aminoglycoside resistance determinants in carbapenem-non-susceptible Escherichia coli from a teaching hospital in Chongqing, Southwest China

Carbapenem-resistant Escherichiacoli isolates harboring carbapenemases or combining an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) enzyme with loss of porins present an increasingly urgent clinical danger. Combined resistance to aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones in carbapeneme non-susceptible (CNS) isolates will inevitably create problems. In the current study, we characterized the carbapenemases and ESBLs, and the prevalence of quinolone resistance determinants and aminoglycoside resistance determinants in carbapenem-non-susceptible (CNS) E.coli isolates from a teaching hospital in Chongqing, Southwest China in 2012. Thirty non-duplicated CNS E.coli isolates were screened via antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and the drug resistance profiles of the 30 strains were analyzed. Carbapenemase genes blaKPC-2, ESBL genes including blaCTX-M-3, blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-55 and blaTEM, ARD genes including aac(6')-Ib, armA and rmtB, and QRD genes including qnrA, qnrB, qnrC, qnrD, qnrS and aac(6')-Ib-cr were identified and clonal relatedness was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Of the 30 isolates, 2 (6.7%) harbored carbapenemase gene blaKPC-2; 29 (96.7%) carried ESBLs; 20 (66.7%) were QRD positive; and 11 (36.7%) were ARD positive. Between the two blaKPC-2 positive strains, one contained ESBL, QRD and ARD genes, while the other expressed ESBL genes but was negative for both QRD and ARD genes. Of the 29 ESBLs positive isolates, 2 (6.9%) were carbapenemase positive, 19 (65.5%) were QRD positive, and 11 (37.9%) were ARD positive. PFGE revealed genetic diversity among the 30 isolates, indicating that the high prevalence of CNS E. coli isolates was not caused by clonal dissemination. Production of ESBLs was associated with the carbapenem resistance and QRD genes were highly prevalent among the CNS E. coli isolates. Multiple resistant genes were co-expressed in the same isolates. This is the first report of a multidrug resistant carbapenem-non-susceptible E.coli co-harboring resistant determinants blaKPC-2, blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-55, blaTEM, aac(6')-Ib-cr, qnrB, aac(6')-Ib and rmtB from Chongqing, mainland China.