Abstract
We describe here the complete genome sequence of an Enterobacter hormaechei ST279 coharbouring blaVIM-1 and mcr-9 recovered from uncooked beef patty in June 2017, Egypt. The tested isolate was resistant to carbapenem but susceptible to colistin (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), 0.5 μg/mL). The antimicrobial susceptibility profile and conjugation experiments were performed. The entire genome was sequenced by the Illumina MiniSeq and Oxford Nanopore methods. The blaVIM-1 and mcr-9 genes are carried on the same IncHI2/pMLST1 plasmid, pMS37a (Size of 270.9 kb). The mcr-9 gene was located within the physical boundaries demarcated by two insertion elements IS903 (upstream) and IS1 (downstream) but did not possess the downstream regulatory genes (qseC/qseB) which regulate the expression of mcr-9. Therefore, the mcr-9 might be silently disseminated among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. In addition to blaVIM-1 and mcr-9, plasmid pMS37a harbored various antibiotic resistance genes including aac(6’)-Il, ΔaadA22, aac(6’)-Ib-cr, sul1, dfrA1 and tetA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a blaVIM-1 and mcr-9-coharbouring E. hormaechei isolate of food origin worldwide. The identification of a multidrug-resistant VIM-1 and mcr-9 positive Enterobacter hormaechei isolate from food is worrisome as retail meat and meat products could serve as a vehicle for these MDR bacteria, which could be transferred between animals and humans through the food chain. It further highlights that Enterobacterales co-producing MCR and carbapenemases being found in the food chain indeed correspond to a One-Health issue, highlighting the need for serious steps to prevent their further dissemination.
Highlights
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CRE) are one of the most clinically serious multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in medical healthcare worldwide [1]
For further understanding of the genetic environment of the blaVIM-1 -harbouring plasmid and to analyze all the plasmids contained in that strain, we used both of the short- and long-read methods for the genome sequencing of MS37 strain
The isolate harbored a total of four plasmids belonging to incompatibility groups IncHI2/IncHI2A, IncC, IncFIB and ColRNAI (Table 1)
Summary
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CRE) are one of the most clinically serious multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in medical healthcare worldwide [1]. CRE infections are associated with high rate of morbidity and mortality due to the limited availability of therapeutic choices and the lack of development of new antimicrobial agents [2]. The major five carbapenemases identified in clinical isolates are Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase (KPC) enzymes, New Delhi. Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), Verona Integron-encoded Metallo-β-lactamase (VIM), IMiPenemase (IMP) enzymes, and oxacillinase (OXA-48) and its derivatives [3,4]. VIM-producing Enterobacterales have been reported in several countries, especially in the Mediterranean region including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt [5,6,7]. Polymyxins are considered as the last line of defense against serious clinical infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, especially. Colistin resistance was mainly linked to deletion(s) or mutation(s) of two component systems (phoPQ and pmrAB) involved in the biosynthesis of the lipopolysaccharide [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call