Abstract

Our ability to predict evolutionary trajectories of pathogens is one of the promising leverages to fight against the pandemic disease, yet few studies have addressed this question in situ, due to the difficulty in monitoring the milestone evolutionary events for a given pathogen and in understanding the evolutionary strategies. In this study, we monitored the real-time evolution of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in response to successive antibiotic treatment in three shrimp farms in North China from 2011 to 2018 by whole-genome sequencing. Results showed that the stepwise emergence of resistance was associated with the antibiotic usage. Genomic analysis of resistant isolates showed that the acquisition of the resistant mobile genetic elements flanked by an insertion sequence (ISVal1) closely mirrored the antibiotics used in shrimp farms since 2014. Next, we also identified 50 insertion sites of ISVal1 in the chromosome, which facilitated the formation of pathogenicity islands (PAIs) and fitness islands in the following years. Further, horizontal transfers of a virulent trh-nik-ure genomic island (GI) and two GIs improving the fitness have been observed in two farms since 2016. In this case study, we proposed that the insertion sequence triggered four major evolutionary events during the outbreaks of shrimp disease in three farms, including horizontal transfer of transposon (HTT) (stage 1), the formation of resistance islands (stage 2) and the PAIs (stage 3), and horizontal transfer of the PAIs (stage 4). This study presented the first in vivo evolutionary trajectories for a given bacterial pathogen, which helps us to understand the emergence mechanisms of new genotypes.IMPORTANCE Most human infectious diseases originate from animals. Thus, how to reduce or prevent pandemic zoonoses before they emerge in people is becoming a critical issue. Continuous genomic surveillance of the evolutionary trajectories of potential human pathogens on farms is a promising strategy to realize early warning. Here, we conducted an 8-year surveillance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in three shrimp farms. The results showed that the use of antibiotics and horizontal transfer of transposons (HTT) drove the evolution of V. parahaemolyticus, which could be divided into four stages: HTT, formation of resistance islands, formation of pathogenicity islands (PAIs), and horizontal transfer of PAIs. This study presented the first in vivo monitoring of evolutionary trajectories for a given bacterial pathogen, providing valuable information for the prevention of pandemic zoonoses.

Highlights

  • IMPORTANCE Most human infectious diseases originate from animals

  • The results showed that the use of antibiotics and horizontal transfer of transposons (HTT) drove the evolution of V. parahaemolyticus, which could be divided into four stages: HTT, formation of resistance islands, formation of pathogenicity islands (PAIs), and horizontal transfer of PAIs

  • In Tianjin, shrimps were cultured in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) which consisted of ponds and a wastewater treatment unit, whereas shrimps were cultivated in open ponds in Tangshan and Huanghua without wastewater treatment units

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Summary

Introduction

IMPORTANCE Most human infectious diseases originate from animals. how to reduce or prevent pandemic zoonoses before they emerge in people is becoming a critical issue. Especially recently emerging pathogens, originate from animals [1], and ongoing transmission of diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents a significant global health crisis [2]. Recent recognition that most emerging infectious disease events have wildlife origins highlights the need for a deep understanding of the evolutionary drivers for pathogens in stages 1 and 2 and the type of contact between animals and people that enables disease transmission [6]. Our ability to monitor the emergence and spread of pandemic diseases from farms to humans is critical to mitigate the exacerbation of the infectious disease crisis worldwide. Continuous surveillance is essential for recognition of the evolutionary events involved in the cross-species transmission, spillover, and the spread of diseases, which can be used to predict the future disease emergence risks [8]. Genomic analysis revealed that this exceptionally virulent serotype acquired virulence factors from enteroaggregative E. coli, conferring mixed enteroaggregative and Shiga toxinproducing abilities and resulting in the emergence of a new virulent serotype [12]

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