A putative multi-replicon plasmid co-harboring beta-lactamase genes blaKPC-2, blaCTX-M-14 and blaTEM-1 and trimethoprim resistance gene dfrA25 from a Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type (ST) 11 strain in China.

Yu Tang,Wei Liang,Jialin Jin,Xiaofei Jiang,Pinghua Shen,Feng Gao

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0171339

Abstract

The global emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a major public health threat requiring immediate and aggressive action. Some older generation antibiotics, such as trimethoprim, serve as alternatives for treatment of infections. Here, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of plasmid pHS091147, which co-harbored the carbapenemase (blaKPC-2) and trimethoprim resistance genes (dfrA25) from a Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type (ST) 11 clone recovered in Shanghai, China. pHS091147 had three replication genes, several plasmid-stability genes and an intact type IV secretion system gene cluster. Besides blaKPC-2 and dfrA25, pHS091147 carried several other resistance genes, including β-lactamase genes blaTEM-1 and blaCTX-M-14, sulphonamide resistance gene sul1, a quinolone resistance gene remnant (ΔqnrB2), and virulence associated gene iroN. Notably, the multidrug-resistance region was a chimeric structure composed of three subregions, which shared strong sequence homology with several plasmids previously assigned in Genbank. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the co-localization of blaKPC-2 and dfrA25 on a novel putative multi-replicon plasmid in a Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 clone.

Highlights

A dramatic increase in the prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae is associated with a rise in morbidity and mortality, and poses an alarming clinical threat for hospitalized patients [1]
Putative multi-replicon plasmid co-harboring blaKPC-2 and dfrA25 belongs to sequence type (ST) 258 clone; in China, the majority belongs to the ST11 clone, which is a part of the same clonal complex as ST258 [2, 3]
We report the coexistence of blaKPC-2 and dfrA25 on a single putative multi-replicon plasmid obtained from an epidemic K. pneumoniae ST11 isolate recovered in China

Summary

Introduction

A dramatic increase in the prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae is associated with a rise in morbidity and mortality, and poses an alarming clinical threat for hospitalized patients [1]. Putative multi-replicon plasmid co-harboring blaKPC-2 and dfrA25 belongs to sequence type (ST) 258 clone; in China, the majority belongs to the ST11 clone, which is a part of the same clonal complex as ST258 [2, 3]. More than 25 different trimethoprim resistance dfrA genes have been identified; the majority are associated with mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, transposons or integrons [8, 9].

Results

Conclusion