|
1
|
Gheorghe-Barbu I, Czobor Barbu I, Dragomir RI, Marinaș IC, Stan MS, Pericleanu R, Dumbravă AȘ, Rotaru LI, Paraschiv S, Bănică LM, Pecete I, Oțelea D, Cristea VC, Popa MI, Țânțu MM, Surleac M. Emerging Resistance and Virulence Patterns in Salmonella enterica: Insights into Silver Nanoparticles as an Antimicrobial Strategy. Antibiotics (Basel) 2025; 14:46. [PMID: 39858332 PMCID: PMC11762817 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics14010046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2024] [Revised: 12/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/01/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES This study aims to characterize antibiotic resistance (AR) and virulence markers in Salmonella spp. isolated from Romanian outpatients' stool samples. METHODS In 2019, community-acquired Salmonella strains were collected and identified using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, antibiotic susceptibility profiles have been determined with the MicroScan system, and soluble virulence factors were evaluated using specific culture media, while biofilm formation was quantified in 96-well plates. Molecular analysis targeted resistance genes for β-lactams (e.g., blaTEM and blaSHV); tetracyclines (e.g., tet(A)); sulphonamides; and quinolones, as well as virulence genes (e.g., invA, spvC, pldA, and held). Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on 19 selected isolates. A silver nanoparticles (AgNPsol) alternative to conventional antibiotics was tested for effectiveness against multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates. RESULTS From the total of 309 Salmonella isolates (65.05% from children under 4 years of age) belonging to four subtypes and four serovars, 27.86% showed resistance to at least one antibiotic, most frequently to tetracycline, ampicillin, and piperacillin. The strains frequently expressed haemolysin (67%), aesculinase (65%), and gelatinase (62%). Resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was encoded by the sul1 gene in 44.83% of the strains and to tetracyclines by the tet(A) gene (59.52%). The ESBL genes blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M were detected by PCR in 16.18%, 2.91%, and 0.65% of the strains, respectively. Additionally, 98.63% of the strains carried the invA marker, with notable positive associations between blaSHV, qnrB, and sul1 with spvC. CONCLUSIONS The present findings revealed significant patterns in Salmonella isolates, subtypes, serovars, AR, and virulence, emphasising the need for continuous surveillance of Salmonella infections. Additionally, the potential of AgNPs as an alternative treatment option was demonstrated, particularly for paediatric S. enterica infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irina Gheorghe-Barbu
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 060101 Bucharest, Romania; (I.G.-B.); (R.-I.D.); (R.P.); (A.Ș.D.); (L.-I.R.)
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (I.C.M.); (M.S.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Ilda Czobor Barbu
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 060101 Bucharest, Romania; (I.G.-B.); (R.-I.D.); (R.P.); (A.Ș.D.); (L.-I.R.)
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (I.C.M.); (M.S.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Rareș-Ionuț Dragomir
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 060101 Bucharest, Romania; (I.G.-B.); (R.-I.D.); (R.P.); (A.Ș.D.); (L.-I.R.)
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (I.C.M.); (M.S.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Ioana Cristina Marinaș
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (I.C.M.); (M.S.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Miruna Silvia Stan
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (I.C.M.); (M.S.S.); (M.S.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Radu Pericleanu
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 060101 Bucharest, Romania; (I.G.-B.); (R.-I.D.); (R.P.); (A.Ș.D.); (L.-I.R.)
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (I.C.M.); (M.S.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Andreea Ștefania Dumbravă
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 060101 Bucharest, Romania; (I.G.-B.); (R.-I.D.); (R.P.); (A.Ș.D.); (L.-I.R.)
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (I.C.M.); (M.S.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Liviu-Iulian Rotaru
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 060101 Bucharest, Romania; (I.G.-B.); (R.-I.D.); (R.P.); (A.Ș.D.); (L.-I.R.)
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Prof. Dr. Matei Bals, 021105 Bucharest, Romania; (S.P.); (L.M.B.); (D.O.)
| | - Simona Paraschiv
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Prof. Dr. Matei Bals, 021105 Bucharest, Romania; (S.P.); (L.M.B.); (D.O.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (V.C.C.); (M.I.P.)
| | - Leontina Mirela Bănică
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Prof. Dr. Matei Bals, 021105 Bucharest, Romania; (S.P.); (L.M.B.); (D.O.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (V.C.C.); (M.I.P.)
| | - Ionuț Pecete
- Synevo Central Lab Romania, 021408 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Dan Oțelea
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Prof. Dr. Matei Bals, 021105 Bucharest, Romania; (S.P.); (L.M.B.); (D.O.)
| | - Violeta Corina Cristea
- Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (V.C.C.); (M.I.P.)
| | - Mircea Ioan Popa
- Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (V.C.C.); (M.I.P.)
- Cantacuzino National Medical Military Institute for Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marilena Monica Țânțu
- National University of Science and Technology Politechnica of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania;
- Department of Medical Assistance and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Sciences, Physical Education and Informatics, University of Pitești, 110040 Pitesti, Romania
| | - Marius Surleac
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (I.C.M.); (M.S.S.); (M.S.)
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Prof. Dr. Matei Bals, 021105 Bucharest, Romania; (S.P.); (L.M.B.); (D.O.)
| |
Collapse
|