Analysis of plasmid-mediated multidrug resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella oxytoca isolates from clinical specimens in Japan

This study investigated the relationship of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) and aminoglycoside resistance among oxyimino-cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli (n = 46) and Klebsiella oxytoca (n = 28) clinical isolates in Japan. Seventy-three isolates appeared to produce an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and one K. oxytoca isolate produced IMP-1 metallo-β-lactamase (MBL). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing confirmed that eight CTX-M-9/SHV-12-producing isolates, one IMP-1-producing K. oxytoca isolate, and six ESBL-positive E. coli isolates respectively possessed PMQR genes qnrA1, qnrB6, and aac(6′)-Ib-cr. All qnr-positive isolates also carried either aac(6′)-Ib or aac(6′)-IIc aminoglycoside acetyltransferase genes. Resistance determinants to β-lactams, quinolones and aminoglycosides were co-transferred with a plasmid of ca. 140 kb. The qnrA1 gene was located downstream of insertion sequence ISCR1 in complex class 1 integrons. A novel qnrA1-carrying class 1 integron with the cassette arrangement aac(6′)-IIc–aadA2 as well as a unique class 1 integron with bla_IMP-1–aac(6′)-IIc cassettes on the plasmid carrying qnrB6 were found in K. oxytoca isolates. We describe the identification of qnrB6 and aac(6′)-Ib-cr and the close association of qnr with aac(6′)-Ib and aac(6′)-IIc for the first time in clinical isolates producing ESBL or MBL in Japan.     

Integron presence in a multiresistant Morganella morganii isolate

A multiresistant strain of Morganella morganii was isolated from a patient affected by several severe pathologies. The isolate was found to be resistant to the following antimicrobials: ampicillin, nalidixic acid, cefalothin, cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, novobiocin, penicillin, rifampicin, tetracycline and violet crystal. Mechanisms leading to this multiresistance were studied. Porins of M. morganii multiresistant and wild-type strains were analysed by sodium dodecylsulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and were characterised by their ability to form channels in planar black lipid bilayers. The channels formed by porins from multiresistant and susceptible strains suggested that the porins of the multiresistant strain were not responsible for resistance. A 6.6 kb plasmid (pML2003) was detected, isolated and studied. pML2003 included two integrons. Direct sequencing revealed that one of the integrons contained two cassettes, aminoglycoside adenyltransferase (aadB) and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (catB3) conferring resistance to aminoglycosides and chloramphenicol, respectively. The second integron contained carbenicillinase (blaP1b) and adenyltransferase (aadA2), which confer resistance to β-lactamases and streptomycin, respectively.     

Natural antibiotic susceptibility of strains of the Enterobacter cloacae complex

The natural susceptibility to 70 antibiotics of 104 strains of the Enterobacter cloacae complex was examined using a microdilution procedure in Isosensitest broth. One hundred and one clinical strains designated as ‘E. cloacae’ were identified as E. hormaechei (n=65), E. asburiae (n=20) and E. cloacae genospecies 1 or 2 (n=16). Apart from fosfomycin susceptibility, there were only minor differences in natural antibiotic susceptibility patterns. All species were naturally sensitive or naturally sensitive and intermediate to numerous β-lactams (e.g. carbapenems, aztreonam, acylaminopenicillins, ticarcillin, and some ‘modern’ cephalosporins), quinolones, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, antifolates, chloramphenicol, and nitrofurantoin. Uniform natural resistance was found in benzylpenicillin, oxacillin, amoxycillin, amoxycillin/clavulanate, cefoxitin, rifampicin, lincosamides, glycopeptides, streptogramins and fusidic acid. Enterobacter hormaechei was the species most susceptible to fosfomycin. β-Lactam susceptibility patterns pointed to the presence of chromosomally-encoded AmpC enzymes in all taxa of the E. cloacae complex.     

Molecular diversity and conjugal transferability of class 2 integrons among Escherichia coli isolates from food,animal and human sources

Integrons are genetic platforms able to excise, integrate and express antibiotic resistance gene cassettes (GCs). Here we investigated the complete genetic organisation, genetic environment, location and conjugative transferability of a collection of class 2 integrons carried by Escherichia coli strains from different sources (poultry/pork meat, animals and humans). PCR cartography was conducted to determine the genetic arrangement of the integrons, their physical linkage to Tn7 and chromosomal insertion at the attTn7 site. Clonal relatedness of specific isolates was determined by MLST and DO-PCR. Transferability of class 2 integrons was tested by conjugation. The resulting transconjugants were characterised by antimicrobial resistance genotyping, S1-PFGE and replicon typing. Although a limited diversity of GCs was shown, a high percentage of novel structures was identified owing to the integration of insertion sequence (IS) elements at different sites (IS3/IS4/IS5/IS21 families). Insertion of IS10 in the attI2 site of a class 2 integron, between Pc2B and Pc2C promoters, was likely mediated by a site-specific transposition event. Chromosomal insertion of integrons at attTn7 was confirmed in 80% of the isolates. Conjugation experiments demonstrated that 29% of class 2 integrons could be mobilised to E. coli CHS26, demonstrating that they can be located in conjugative/mobilisable elements at a low frequency. Reported structures evidence how class 2 integrons have evolved by the activity of integron integrases and the invasion of ISs. Since most of them are chromosomally located, dispersion is predominantly vertical, although conjugation events also contribute to the spread of class 2 integrons among bacterial communities.     

A novel family (QnrAS) of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinant

The spread of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants (qnr-like determinants) was evaluated in a collection of 232 ciprofloxacin-resistant or extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing enterobacterial isolates recovered between November 2007 and May 2008 at Padua University Hospital, Italy. qnr genes were mainly found in Klebsiella pneumoniae (68%) and to a lesser extent in Escherichia coli (5.1%). Among the qnrA1, qnrS1 and qnrB19 alleles found, the latter was by far the most frequent. Genetic environment analysis revealed that one qnrB19 gene in E. coli was embedded in an ISCR1 complex class 1 integron. All other qnrB19 genes were flanked by an ISEcp1C region as part of the Tn2012 transposon. qnrA1- and qnrS1-containing strains were not clonally related. Both topoisomerase II mutations and ESBL (mainly SHV-12, TEM-1 and TEM-150 types) were present in most of the qnr-positive strains. qnrB19 is extremely frequent in K. pneumoniae isolates from Italy. In addition, association of qnrB19 with the ISCR1 mobile element in E. coli suggests a broad distribution of this resistance gene in the near future.     

产AmpC酶大肠埃希菌中整合子的研究

目的:观察25株产AmpC酶大肠埃希菌中整合子的分类、结构及其在介导AmpC酶基因转移中的作用。方法:采用微量稀释法测定20种抗生素对试验菌株的敏感性。利用多重聚合酶链反应(PCR)方法检测整合酶基因(intI)及其定位,对其阳性菌株可变区(Int)扩增产物进行测序分析。结果:这25株菌对多种抗生素耐药。20株Ⅰ类整合酶基因阳性(80%);所携带的耐药基因盒绝大多数为aadA5和dfr17;未发现携带AmpC基因盒的整合子。结论:Ⅰ类整合子广泛地存在于产AmpC酶的大肠杆菌中;耐药基因盒是整合子阳性菌株对氨基糖苷类、磺胺类药物及氯霉素耐药的主要原因,但对介导AmpC酶基因转移,不起主要作用。     

Class 1 integrons in environmental and clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The aims of this study were to ascertain the presence and spread of class 1 integrons amongst environmental and clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to characterise their variable regions. A total of 76 isolates (56 clinical and 20 environmental) were studied. The presence of plasmids was explored, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for integron detection. All amplicons were sequenced. PCR detected class 1 integrons in 26 of the 56 clinical isolates; environmental isolates were integron-free. No plasmids were found, thus all the integrons found are possibly on the chromosome. Most isolates presented one amplicon, except PA110514 and PA116136, which showed two PCR products each. Variable regions revealed that 18 strains carried only one gene involved in aminoglycoside resistance, whereas in 3 strains gene cassettes were not found. The most prevalent cassettes amongst isolates were those encoding aminoglycoside adenyltransferase B (aadB). Several of the strains had acquired the same or a highly similar cassette array as those detected in geographically distant P. aeruginosa. This finding suggests that contact with bacterial reservoirs contributes to the evolution of this pathogen towards multiresistance. Empty structures found may represent a reservoir increasing the capacity to adapt to the environment. However, these integrons are not retained when the selective pressure disappears. It is hypothesised that integrons containing gene cassettes are crucial vehicles for the rapid horizontal transfer of resistance. If this is so, reduced use of antibiotics may lead to a significant decrease in the carriage of integrons amongst P. aeruginosa strains.     

奇异变形菌中整合子分布及耐药性分析

目的 了解院内奇异变形菌中各类整合子的携带分布情况、阳性菌株可变区基因盒类型以及其与宿主菌耐药表型的相关性,从而为临床治疗和院内感染控制提供参考。方法 采用PCR扩增和琼脂糖凝胶电泳等方法,将本院2016年1月—2018年12月份从临床标本中分离得到的150株奇异变形菌进行第1、2和3类整合子的筛选,并对整合子阳性菌株可变区进行测序分析以及宿主菌的耐药性进行相关性分析。结果 150株奇异变形菌中携带整合子的菌株共有91株,阳性率为60.7%,其中第1类整合子阳性菌株有30株,占20.0%;第2类整合子阳性菌株22株,占14.7%;同时携带第1和2类菌株39株,占26.0%;未筛出第3类整合子;在91株整合子阳性菌株中,86株可变区出现扩增产物条带,其余5株可变区未见扩增产物;第1类整合子阳性菌株可变区携带的耐药基因盒主要为AadA2、DfrA32,第2类整合子阳性菌株可变区携带耐药基因盒主要为DfrA1;可变区携带AadA2的菌株对庆大霉素和妥布霉素的耐药率显著高于整合子阴性菌株(P<0.01),可变区携带DfrA1或DfrA32的菌株对复方磺胺甲噁唑(即甲氧苄啶/磺胺甲噁唑)的耐药率也明显高于整合子阴性菌株(P<0.01);91株整合子阳性菌株对氨苄西林/舒巴坦、复方磺胺甲噁唑、环丙沙星、庆大霉素、头孢曲松、妥布霉素和左氧氟沙星的耐药率均显著高于整合子阴性菌株(P<0.01)。结论     

The ARESC study: an international survey on the antimicrobial resistance of pathogens involved in uncomplicated urinary tract infections

The ARESC (Antimicrobial Resistance Epidemiological Survey on Cystitis) study is an international survey to investigate the prevalence and susceptibility of pathogens causing cystitis. Female patients (n = 4264) aged 18–65 years with symptoms of uncomplicated cystitis were consecutively enrolled in nine European countries as well as Brazil during 2003–2006. Pathogens were identified and their susceptibility to nine antimicrobials was determined. Escherichia coli accounted for 76.7% of isolates. Among E. coli, 10.3% of the isolates were resistant to at last three different classes of antimicrobial agents. Resistance was most common to ampicillin (48.3%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (29.4%) and nalidixic acid (18.6%). Fosfomycin, mecillinam and nitrofurantoin were the most active drugs (98.1%, 95.8% and 95.2% susceptible strains, respectively) followed by ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and cefuroxime (91.7%, 82.5% and 82.4%, respectively). Resistance to ciprofloxacin was >10% in Brazil, Spain, Italy and Russia. Overall, Proteus mirabilis were more susceptible to β-lactams and less susceptible to non-β-lactams than E. coli, whereas Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, which are intrinsically resistant to ampicillin, were less susceptible to mecillinam (88.8%), fosfomycin (87.9%), cefuroxime (78.6%) and nitrofurantoin (17.7%). Resistance was rare in Staphylococcus saprophyticus, with the exception of ampicillin (36.4%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (10.2%). In Italy, Spain, Brazil and Russia, the countries most affected by antimicrobial resistance, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) enzymes (mainly CTX-M type) were detected in 48 strains (39 E. coli, 6 K. pneumoniae and 3 P. mirabilis). Despite wide intercountry variability in bacterial susceptibility rates to the other antimicrobials tested, fosfomycin and mecillinam have preserved their in vitro activity in all countries investigated against the most common uropathogens.     

奇异变形菌中整合子分布及耐药性分析

目的 了解院内奇异变形菌中各类整合子的携带分布情况、阳性菌株可变区基因盒类型以及其与宿主菌耐药表型的相关性,从而为临床治疗和院内感染控制提供参考。方法 采用PCR扩增和琼脂糖凝胶电泳等方法,将本院2016年1月—2018年12月份从临床标本中分离得到的150株奇异变形菌进行第1、2和3类整合子的筛选,并对整合子阳性菌株可变区进行测序分析以及宿主菌的耐药性进行相关性分析。结果 150株奇异变形菌中携带整合子的菌株共有91株,阳性率为60.7%,其中第1类整合子阳性菌株有30株,占20.0%;第2类整合子阳性菌株22株,占14.7%;同时携带第1和2类菌株39株,占26.0%;未筛出第3类整合子;在91株整合子阳性菌株中,86株可变区出现扩增产物条带,其余5株可变区未见扩增产物;第1类整合子阳性菌株可变区携带的耐药基因盒主要为AadA2、DfrA32,第2类整合子阳性菌株可变区携带耐药基因盒主要为DfrA1;可变区携带AadA2的菌株对庆大霉素和妥布霉素的耐药率显著高于整合子阴性菌株(P<0.01),可变区携带DfrA1或DfrA32的菌株对复方磺胺甲噁唑(即甲氧苄啶/磺胺甲噁唑)的耐药率也明显高于整合子阴性菌株(P<0.01);91株整合子阳性菌株对氨苄西林/舒巴坦、复方磺胺甲噁唑、环丙沙星、庆大霉素、头孢曲松、妥布霉素和左氧氟沙星的耐药率均显著高于整合子阴性菌株(P<0.01)。结论 临床分离的奇异变形菌携带整合子的比例较高,其可变区所携带的耐药基因主要为编码氨基糖苷类和甲氧苄氨嘧啶类抗菌药物的基因,整合子的携带与宿主菌产生的耐药性呈高度相关。     

First description of Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates carrying both qnrA and qnrB genes in Portugal

In the present study, 21 multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were recovered from patients hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit of Hospital Infante D. Pedro in Aveiro, Portugal. Fifteen isolates carried qnr genes. Four strains harboured the quinolone resistance genes qnrA and qnrB, both located on a large plasmid in two strains (KP4 and KP10) and on different plasmids in two strains (KP5 and KP6). These findings indicate an extremely high prevalence of qnr genes associated with various mobile elements such as ISCR1 and class 1 integrons.     

鲍曼不动杆菌Ⅰ类整合子与多重耐药相关性研究

目的 了解临床分离鲍曼不动杆菌的耐药状况、Ⅰ类整合子的分布情况,探讨Ⅰ类整合子与多重耐药的关系.方法 检测20种临床常用抗菌药物对鲍曼不动杆菌临床分离株的最低抑菌浓度(MIC).PCR扩增Ⅰ类整合酶基因.对部分Ⅰ类整合酶阳性菌株进行耐药基因盒序列分析.结果 鲍曼不动杆菌呈现多重耐药,鲍曼不动杆菌对IMP和MRP耐药率分别为0.9%和1.8%,对CPZ/SB的耐药率为35.7%,对其它抗菌药物的耐药率均大于60%,多重耐药率为76.8%(86/112),但对COL和MIN均敏感.80.4%(90/112)的菌株检测出Ⅰ类整合子.Ⅰ类整合子阳性株对多种药物的耐药率均高于阴性株,且Ⅰ类整合子阳性株多重耐药率(90%)明显高于阴性株(22.7%)(P<0.01).Ⅰ类整合子基因盒序列分析显示,Ⅰ类整合子携带aacA4,catB8和aadA13种耐药基因.结论 Ⅰ类整合子在鲍曼不动杆菌中检出率很高并与其多重耐药性关系密切.     

辽宁地区沙门菌整合子与耐药相关性研究

摘要：目的 及时掌握辽宁地区沙门菌整合子的分布以及对常用抗菌药物的耐药情况,获取沙门菌整合子与耐药性的相关性,从而为临床用药及治疗提供指导。方法 本文对来源于食品以及病患的149株沙门菌,利用PCR扩增的方法,进行整合子类别的筛选,并将扩增的整合子基因盒进行基因测序,同时通过药敏板测定(耐药性实验)对沙门菌与15种临床常用抗菌药物的耐药相关性进行研究。结果 149株沙门菌中未发现第II类、第III类整合子,检出第I类整合子的菌株50株,I类整合子阳性率为33.6%。50株整合子阳性菌株中25株携带耐药基因盒,片段范围从1500~1800 bp。测序结果表明,其中22株整合子携带dfrA17-aadA5基因盒,2株携带dfrA12-aadA2基因盒,1株首次检出罕见耐药基因盒linG。根据整合子携带情况不同,对15种抗菌药物的耐药率进行对比分析,结果显示整合子阳性菌对9种抗菌药物的耐药率显著高于整合子阴性菌(P<0.01),分别为氨苄西林、四环素、氯霉素、头孢噻肟、头孢唑林、庆大霉素、复方磺胺甲恶唑、阿奇霉素和环丙沙星。辽宁地区沙门菌多重耐药率达50.3%。结论 I类整合子在沙门菌中分布广泛,抗性基因表型与耐药结果相一致,整合子的携带与沙门菌多重耐药率高度相关。沙门菌对亚胺培南和头孢西丁保持高敏感率,可以用于对常规抗菌药物耐药的沙门菌的治疗。     

Antibiotic resistance in gram-negative bacteria: the role of gene cassettes and integrons.

Resistance of gram-negative organisms to antibiotics such as beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, trimethoprim and chloramphenicol is caused by many different acquired genes, and a substantial proportion of these are part of small mobile elements known as gene cassettes. A gene cassette consists of the gene and a downstream sequence, known as a 59-base element (59-be), that acts as a specific recombination site. Gene cassettes can move into or out of a specific receptor site (attl site) in a companion element called an integron, and integration or excision of the cassettes is catalysed by a site-specific recombinase (Intl) that is encoded by the integron. At present count there are 40 different cassette-associated resistance genes and three distinct classes of integron, each encoding a distinct Intl integrase. The same cassettes are found in all three classes of integron, indicating that cassettes can move freely between different integrons. Integrons belonging to class I often contain a further antibiotic resistance gene, sull, conferring resistance to sulphonamides. The sull gene is found in a conserved region (3'-CS) that is not present in all members of this class. Class I integrons of the sull type are most prevalent in clinical isolates and have been found in many different organisms. Even though most of them are defective transposon derivatives, having lost at least one of the transposition genes, they are none the less translocatable and consequently found in many different locations. The transposon Tn7 is the best known representative of class 2 integrons, and Tn7 and relatives are also found in many different species.     

59株大肠杆菌中整合子的研究

目的:研究59株耐头孢西丁大肠杆菌整合子的分类、结构及其在介导耐药中的作用。方法:利用多重聚合酶链反应(PCR)方法检测整合酶基因(intI),对其阳性菌株可变区(Int)扩增产物进行测序分析;采用微量稀释法测定22种抗生素对试验菌株的敏感性。结果:59株大肠杆菌中,45株Ⅰ类整合酶基因阳性(76%);所携带的耐药基因盒绝大多数为aadA5和dfr17;仅有2株携带β-内酰胺酶耐药基因盒;整合子阳性组抑菌浓度明显高于阴性组。结论:Ⅰ类整合子广泛地存在于耐头孢西丁大肠杆菌中;耐药基因盒是整合子阳性菌株对氨基糖苷类、磺胺类药物及氯霉素耐药的主要原因,但对介导β-内酰胺类耐药方面,不起主要作用。     

Contributions of insertion sequences conferring colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae

BackgroundIncreasing colistin consumption is leading to expanding colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae worldwide, but particularly in Asia. Epidemiological studies indicate a link between specific insertion sequences (ISs) and colistin resistance; however, proof of a colistin-IS correlation is lacking.ObjectivesColistin-resistant mechanisms, and in vitro and in vivo efficacies of colistin against K. pneumoniae with ISs were investigated.MethodsColistin-resistant genes, including mcr-1 gene, were detected in 49 colistin- and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates. crrCAB genetic environments were analysed using whole-genome sequencing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mapping. Identified ISs were cloned into pRK415 vectors and investigated for potential contributions to colistin resistance. A Caenorhabditis elegans model was employed for in vivo analysis.ResultsmgrB gene alterations (32/49, 65.3%) were identified as the major colistin-resistant mechanism, followed by variations in crrB (57.1%), pmrB (32.7%), phoQ (20.9%), pmrA (16.3%) and phoP (8.2%) genes. Furthermore, 21 of the 49 tested isolates (42.9%) contained the IS elements, ISKpn26, ISEcp1, IS10R, IS903B or ISKpn14 in mgrB or in the surrounding region of crrCAB, indicating an association between these ISs and colistin resistance. The frequencies of colistin resistance significantly increased in colistin-susceptible K. pneumoniae laboratory strains, with plasmids carrying different ISs from clinical strains. In vivo analysis revealed that K. pneumoniae harboring ISKpn26 was associated with decreased lifespan during colistin treatment, leading to an increased risk for colistin treatment failure.ConclusionsThese findings indicate a correlation between diverse ISs and colistin resistance in K. pneumoniae and confirm a role for ISs in colistin treatment.     

Identification of a small molecule inhibitor of the aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase type Ib [AAC(6')-Ib] using mixture-based combinatorial libraries

The aminoglycoside, 6′-N-acetyltransferase type Ib [AAC(6')-Ib] is the most widely distributed enzyme among AAC(6')-I-producing Gram-negative pathogens and confers resistance to clinically relevant aminoglycosides, including amikacin. This enzyme is therefore an ideal target for enzymatic inhibitors that could overcome resistance to aminoglycosides. The search for inhibitors was carried out using mixture-based combinatorial libraries, the scaffold ranking approach, and the positional scanning strategy. A library with high inhibitory activity had pyrrolidine pentamine scaffold and was selected for further analysis. This library contained 738,192 compounds with functionalities derived from 26 different amino acids (R1, R2 and R3) and 42 different carboxylic acids (R4) in four R–group functionalities. The most active compounds all contained S-phenyl (R1 and R3) and S-hydromethyl (R2) functionalities at three locations and differed at the R4 position. The compound containing 3-phenylbutyl at R4 (compound 206) was a robust enzymatic inhibitor in vitro, in combination with amikacin it potentiated the inhibition of growth of three resistant bacteria in culture, and it improved survival when used as treatment of Galleria mellonella infected with aac(6')-Ib-harboring Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii strains.     

Occurrence,abundance and elimination of class 1 integrons in one municipal sewage treatment plant

Integrons are elements that encode a site-specific recombination system that recognizes and captures mobile gene cassettes and are closely related to multiple resistances of environmental microorganisms. This study was undertaken to determine the efficiency of an activated sludge process to remove integrons. The prevalence and characteristics of class 1 integrons were investigated for bacterial species isolated from the activated sludge of Nanjing Jiangxinzhou sewage treatment plant (STP, China). A total of 189 bacterial strains were isolated from influent water, activated sludge and effluent water, and PCR–RFLP (Polymerase chain reaction—restriction fragment length polymorphism) of 16S rRNA gene showed that the isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli, Aeromonas veronii, Klebsiella spp., Aeromonas salmonicida and Aeromonas media. PCRs showed that 57 isolates contained class 1 integronase gene intI1. The integron detection frequency in the isolated strains was 20.4% for influent, 30.9% for activated sludge and 38.9% for effluent. Quantitative real-time PCR assay showed that the abundance of integrons in effluent was higher than that in influent. This study indicates that class 1 integrons are wide-spread in STPs which might be involved in multiple resistances in the activated sludge characterized by high biomass and biodiversity.     

Molecular characterisation of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Infantis from humans, animals and the environment in Italy

During 2005–2006, Salmonella enterica serotype Infantis strains isolated from human and non-human sources and resistant to ampicillin (A), chloramphenicol (C), streptomycin (S), sulphonamide (Su), tetracycline (T), kanamycin (K) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Sxt) emerged in Italy. The aim of this study was to analyse the molecular basis of antibiotic resistance and to evaluate the clonal origin of multiresistant S. Infantis strains isolated from different sources. Seventy S. Infantis strains, susceptible or resistant to antimicrobial drugs, were chosen for this study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and conjugation experiments were performed to identify and localise the resistance genes in multidrug-resistant strains. PCR-based replicon typing was carried out for characterisation of conjugative plasmids. All strains were tested by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) according to the PulseNet protocol, and cluster analysis was performed using BioNumerics software. Strains with resistance (R)-type ACSSuTKSxt harboured bla_TEM-1, strA-B, sul2, tet(B), catA1 and aphA-1 resistance genes as well as a 2.2-kb class 1 integron containing folA, catB3, aadA4 and sul1 gene cassettes. A unique plasmid, belonging to the HI1 incompatibility group, harboured all the resistance genes. Cluster analysis showed that all ACSSuTKSxt-resistant strains belonged to a large cluster (A) with >90% genetic similarity. The presence of a plasmid harbouring all the resistance gene cassettes as well as molecular typing by PFGE demonstrated the circulation of a cluster of S. Infantis R-type ACSSuTKSxt during 2005–2006 in Italy. The presence of a plasmid conferring multidrug resistance could have facilitated the spread of a group of similar isolates through a variety of sources.     

Genetic environment of sul genes and characterisation of integrons in Escherichia coli isolates of blood origin in a Spanish hospital

The prevalence and characterisation of integrons and the genetic environment of sulphonamide resistance genes were studied in 135 Escherichia coli isolates recovered from blood cultures in a Spanish hospital during 2007. Class 1 and 2 integrons were identified in 54 isolates (intI1, 52 isolates; intI2, 1 isolate; and intI1 + intI2, 1 isolate). Of the 53 intI1-positive isolates, 36 (67.9%) contained the classic class 1 integron including the qacEΔ1–sul1 region, and 11 different gene cassette arrangements were demonstrated in 33 of these isolates. Seventeen intI1-positive isolates lacked the qacEΔ1–sul1 region, and 8 gene cassette arrangements were demonstrated in 12 of these isolates. Seventy-one isolates showed a sulphonamide-resistant phenotype, 63 of which contained sul genes. The sul1 gene was associated with intI1 in 36 of 42 sul1-positive isolates, and the sul3 gene was associated with non-classic class 1 integrons in 5 of 7 sul3-positive isolates. Finally, sul2 was found associated with strA–strB genes in 32 of 35 sul2-positive isolates, identifying 11 genetic structures, 1 of them presenting the IS150 element disrupting the strB gene; this structure was included in GenBank with accession no. FJ705354. Almost one-half of the E. coli isolates from blood cultures contained integrons and sul genes. Moreover, sul genes were detected in different structures, one of them new, and could be important determinants in antibiotic resistance dissemination.