Effective transfer of a 47 kb NDM-1-positive plasmid among Acinetobacter species

Tzu Wen Huang, Tsai Ling Lauderdale, Tsai Lien Liao, Ming Chia Hsu, Feng Yee Chang, Shan Chwen Chang, Wei Xin Khong, Oon Tek Ng, Ying Tsong Chen, Shu Chen Kuo, Te Li Chen, Jung Jung Mu, Shih Feng Tsai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the link between two NDM-1-positive Acinetobacter isolates from the same hospital, the plasmid profiles of the isolates were examined. These two isolates were found from a surveillance programme within 3 months from two patients without obvious physical contact or hospitalization time overlap. Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility tests, genome sequencing of both isolates and plasmid transfer experiments were performed. A comparative study of similar plasmids was performed using BLAST analysis. Results: The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates (Acinetobacter soli M131 and Acinetobacter pittii MS32) and their Escherichia coli transconjugants revealed a conjugative plasmid that carried the carbapenem resistance determinant. Eleven plasmidswere observed in M131 and three in MS32. Each isolate shared an identical plasmid that carried the blaNDM-1 gene. This 47271 bp plasmid harbours a conserved blaNDM-1-containing region that is flanked by ISAba125 and ISAba11 elements, and also contains a Ti-type conjugative operon. The plasmid is nearly identical in sequence to those of Acinetobacter isolates from China. In contrast to the mobilization of the blaNDM-1 sequence in Enterobacteriaceae, which is mainly by transposition, this plasmid moves as a whole among Acinetobacter species. Consistently, this plasmid was found to transfer effectively by in vitro conjugation to several Acinetobacter species. Conclusions: The clinical and laboratory findings suggest that Acinetobacter species may serve as a reservoir of this blaNDM-1 plasmid. Our study demonstrates the potential of applying genome sequencing to the surveillance of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2734-2738
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
Volume70
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Pharmacology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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