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In this study we describe the genetic elements and the antimicrobial resistance units (RUs) harboured by the Salmonella Typhimurium monophasic variant 1,4,[5],12:i:- strain ST1030. Of the three identified RUs two were chromosomal, RU1 (IS26-bla TEM-1 -IS26-strAB-sul2- IS26) and RU2 (IS26-tetR(B)-tetA(B)-ΔIS26), and one, RU3 (a sul3-associated class 1 integron with cassette array dfrA12-orfF-aadA2-cmlA1-aadA1), was embedded in a Tn21-derived element harboured by the conjugative I1 plasmid pST1030-1A. IS26 elements mediated the antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) shuffling and this gave rise to pST1030-1A derivatives with different sets of ARGs. ST1030 also harboured two ColE1-like plasmids of which one, pST1030-2A, was mobilisable and the target of an intracellular translocation of the Tn21-derived element; the second (pST1030-3) was an orphan mob-associated oriT plasmid co-transferred with pST1030-1A and pST1030-2A. pST1030-2A and pST1030-3 also carried a parA gene and a type III restriction modification system, respectively. Overall analysis of our data reinforces the role played by IS26, Tn21-derived elements and non-conjugative plasmids in the spread of ARGs and supplies the first evidence, at least in Salmonella, for the identification of a natural isolate harbouring a three-element mobilisation system in the same cell., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In the present study we report the identification of a sul3-associated class 1 integron containing the dfrA12-orfF-aadA2-cmlA1-aadA1-qacH array embedded in a Tn21-derived element that is part of a conjugative FII plasmid named pST1007-1A. The plasmid was identified in the Salmonella Typhimurium strain ST1007, a member of a clinically relevant clonal MDR lineage diffuse in Italy. ST1007 exhibited resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulphamethoxazole, tetracycline and trimethoprim encoded by bla TEM-1 , cmlA1, (aadA1, aadA2, strAB), (sul2, sul3), tet(B) and dfrA12 genes, respectively. Apart from pST1007-1A, ST1007 also harbours two chromosome-integrated resistance units RU1 (bla TEM-1 -sul2-strAB) and RU2 (tet(B)), flanked by IS26 elements. RU1 and RU2 were able to move as translocatable units, respectively TU1 and TU2, and integrate via IS26 mediated recombination into pST1007-1A. A family of conjugative plasmids, harbouring different sets of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) was then generated: pST1007-1B (dfrA12-aadA2-cmlA1-aadA1-sul3- tet(B)), pST1007-1C (dfrA12-aadA2-cmlA1-aadA1-sul3-bla TEM-1 -sul2-strAB), pST1007-1D (bla TEM-1 -sul2-strAB), pST1007-1E (tet(B)) and pST1007-1F (dfrA12-aadA2-cmlA1-aadA1-sul3- tet(B) -bla TEM-1 -sul2-strAB). pST1007-1A is also a mosaic plasmid containing two distinct DNA fragments acquired from I1 plasmids through recombination within the repA4, rfsF and repeat-3 sites. This study further highlights the role played by IS26 in intracellular ARGs shuffling. Moreover, attention has been focused on recombination hot spots that might play a key role in generating mosaic plasmids., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Twenty-four Salmonella enterica isolates (13 serovar Enteritidis and 11 Typhimurium) isolated from 5,600 samples from intensive laying hen farms in Italy in 1998-2007 were characterized for antimicrobial resistance genes, pulsotype and phage type. Most of S. Typhimurium strains were pulsotype STYMXB.0147 (81.8%), phage type DT143 and resistant to sulfamethoxazole encoded by sul2. Two multidrug resistant (MDR) strains were identified. One strain, STYMXB.0061, was resistant to ampicillin (A), chloramphenicol (C), streptomycin (S), sulfamethoxazole (Su) and tetracycline (T) encoded by the Salmonella Genomic Island SGI1. The second MDR strain, STYMXB.0110, was resistant to SSuT encoded by sul1 and sul2, aadA1 and tet(C)-flanked by an IS26 element, respectively. The tet(C) gene has been reported to confer low levels of resistance and it has very rarely been detected in S. Typhimurium from poultry. In the current study, the MIC value (32 µg/mL) was consistent with the breakpoint (≥16 µg/mL) reported for Enterobacteriaceae. Most of the S. Enteritidis strains were resistant to Su (encoded by sul2). One MDR strain (ANxSSuT) was identified. With the exception of nalidixic acid (Nx), the resistances were respectively encoded by bla(TEM), strAB, sul2 and tet(A) harbored by an IncN conjugative plasmid. All isolates were pulsotype SENTXB.0001 with PT14b being the most prevalent identified phage type (57.1%). In Europe, SENTXB.0001 is the predominant PFGE profile from clinical cases and the identification of PT14b has steadily been on the increase since 2001. The findings presented in this study highlight the potential spread of S. Enteritidis phage types PT14b and S. Typhimurium DT143 in a field of particular relevance for zoonoses. Additional, the presence of resistance genes and genetic elements (conjugative plasmid and IS element) underlines the need to assess routinely studies in field, such as poultry farms, relevant fot the public health and suitable for the storage and diffusion of antimicrobial resistance.

Four hundred and eight clinical strains of Vibrio cholerae isolated from different geographical areas and with different antimicrobial resistance patterns were tested for susceptibility to rifaximin, a non-absorbable antibiotic active in vitro against Gram-negative bacteria. The MICs ranged from 0.5 to 4 mg/l for all strains. These values and the pharmacokinetic properties suggest rifaximin as an attractive antimicrobial agent for cholera.