Abstract
Based on phylogenetic analyses, strain M2a isolated from honey, an unexpected source of acinetobacters, was classified as Acinetobacter lwoffii. The genome of this strain is strikingly crowded with mobile genetic elements. It harbours more than 250 IS elements of 15 IS-families, several unit and compound transposons and 15 different plasmids. These IS elements, including 30 newly identified ones, could be classified into at least 53 IS species. Regarding the plasmids, 13 of the 15 belong to the Rep-3 superfamily and only one plasmid, belonging to the “Low-GC” family, possesses a seemingly complete conjugative system. The other plasmids, with one exception, have a mobilization region of common pattern, consisting of the divergent mobA/mobL-family and mobS-, mobC- or traD-like genes separated by an oriT-like sequence. Although two plasmids of M2a are almost identical to those of A. lwoffi strains isolated from gold mine or Pleistocene sediments, most of them have no close relatives. The presence of numerous plasmid-borne and chromosomal metal resistance determinants suggests that M2a previously has also evolved in a metal-polluted environment. The numerous, possibly transferable, plasmids and the outstanding number of transposable elements may reflect the high potential of M2a for rapid evolution.
Highlights
Based on phylogenetic analyses, strain M2a isolated from honey, an unexpected source of acinetobacters, was classified as Acinetobacter lwoffii
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) often harbour various kinds of genes endowing their hosts with resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals, or beneficial traits like virulence or metabolism of unusual substrates[32,33,34]
In this study we describe an Acinetobacter lwoffii strain named M2a that was isolated from a Transylvanian honey sample and proved to carry an outstanding number of MGEs
Summary
Strain M2a isolated from honey, an unexpected source of acinetobacters, was classified as Acinetobacter lwoffii The genome of this strain is strikingly crowded with mobile genetic elements. It harbours more than 250 IS elements of 15 IS-families, several unit and compound transposons and 15 different plasmids These IS elements, including 30 newly identified ones, could be classified into at least 53 IS species. More frequent occurrence of plasmids was observed in 75 clinical Acinetobacter isolates classified into four non-baumannii species and three different multiresistance patterns. The different stains obtained were classified based on phylogenetic analysis of their 16S rRNA gene, and their plasmid content was examined Among these isolates, M2a appeared to be interesting as Acinetobacter spp. are rarely isolated from sugar-rich environments and the preliminary examination suggested that the strain carry numerous, possibly undescribed, plasmids
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