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Objectives: Aquatic ecosystems serve as a dissemination pathway and a reservoir of both antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of colistin-resistant mcr-like genes in Enterobacteriales in aquatic products, which may be contribute to the transfer of ARGs in water environments., Methods: The mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli were recovered from 123 freshwater fish and 34 cultured crocodile cecum samples from 10 farmers' markets in Guangdong, China. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the agar dilution method. Genotyping was performed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Conjugation assay was carried out to investigate the transferability of mcr-1. Genomic information was obtained by whole genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatic analysis., Results: Forty-four mcr-1 positive isolates showed co-resistance to tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and gentamicin, while they were all sensitive to tigecycline, meropenem, and amikacin. They were typed into sixteen PFGE clusters. ST10 and ST117 were the most popular sequence types, followed by ST1114. S1-PFGE verified the presence of the mcr-1 gene on plasmids in sizes of ∼60 kb (n = 1) and ∼240 kb (n = 3). Whole genome sequencing-based analysis identified mcr-1 integrated in IncHI2 plasmid (n = 3), IncI2 plasmid (n = 2), and bacterial chromosome in two copies (n = 1). In addition to mcr-1, they carried several other antibiotic resistance genes, such as blaCTX-M-14, fosA3, and aac(6')-Ib-cr., Conclusion: These data suggest that aquatic products are an important antibiotic resistance reservoir and highlight possible risks regarding food safety., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The emergence of colistin-resistance is considered a threat to public health and colistin-resistant bacteria have recently been reported in animal, environmental and human sources. Whereas, the epidemic and dissemination of colistin-resistant bacteria in duck farms have not been surveyed, especially the surrounding environmental contamination from duck farms. We investigated the prevalence and molecular characteristics of mcr-1-positive E. coli from duck farms in coastal China. 360 mcr-1-positive E. coli isolates were collected from 1112 samples from duck farms and surrounding environments. The prevalence of mcr-1-positive E. coli in Guangdong province was higher than other two provinces we examined. PFGE analysis indicated clonal spread of mcr-1-positive E. coli between duck farms and surrounding environments, including water and soil. MLST analysis demonstrated that ST10 was more common than ST1011, ST117, and ST48. Phylogenomic analysis also suggested mcr-1-positive E. coli collected from distinct cities were assigned to the same lineage and mcr-1 was primarily located on IncI2 and IncHI2 plasmids. Genomic environment analysis showed mobile gene elements ISApl1 most likely plays a key role in the horizontal transmission of mcr-1. WGS further revealed that mcr-1 was found associated with 27 different ARGs. Our findings emphasize the urgent need for effective colistin resistance surveillance in humans, animals and the environment., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The banning of colistin as a feed additive for food-producing animals in mainland China in 2017 caused the decline in the prevalence of Escherichia coli-mobilized colistin resistance ( mcr-1 ) in China. Salmonella Typhimurium and its monophasic 1,4,[5],12:i:- variants are also the main species associated with the spread of mcr-1 ; however, the evidence of the prevalence and transmission of mcr-1 among Salmonella is lacking. Herein, the 5,354 Salmonella isolates recovered from fecal samples of diarrheal patients in Guangdong, Southern China, from 2009 to 2019 were screened for colistin resistance and mcr-1 , and mcr-1 -positive isolates were characterized based on whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data. Relatively high prevalence rates of colistin resistance and mcr-1 (4.05%/4.50%) were identified, and more importantly, the prevalence trends of colistin-resistant and mcr-1 -positive Salmonella isolates had a similar dynamic profile, i.e., both were first detected in 2012 and rapidly increased during 2013 to 2016, followed by a sharp decrease since 2017. WGS and phylogenetic analysis indicate that, whether before or after the ban, the persistence and cross-hospital transmission of mcr-1 are primarily determined by IncHI2 plasmids with similar backbones and sequence type 34 (ST34) Salmonella in specific clades that are associated with a high prevalence of IncHI2 plasmids and clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes, including bla CTX-M-14 - fosA3-oqxAB - floR genotypes. Our work reveals the difference in the prevalence rate of mcr-1 in clinical Salmonella before and after the Chinese colistin ban, whereas mcr-1 transmission was closely linked to multidrug-resistant IncHI2 plasmid and ST34 Salmonella across diverse hospitals over 10 years. Continued surveillance is required to explore the factors related to a sharp decrease in mcr-1 after the recent ban and determine whether the ban has affected the carriage of mcr-1 in Salmonella circulating in the health care system. IMPORTANCE Colistin is one of the last-line antibiotics for the clinical treatment of Enterobacteriaceae . However, the emergence of the mobilized colistin resistance ( mcr-1 ) gene has spread throughout the entire human health system and largely threatens the usage of colistin in the clinical setting. In this study, we investigated the existence of mcr-1 in clinical Salmonella from a 10-year continuous surveillance and genomic study. Overall, the colistin resistance rate and mcr-1 carriage of Salmonella in tertiary hospitals in Guangdong (2009 to 2019) were relatively high and, importantly, rapidly increased from 2013 to 2016 and significantly decreased after the Chinese colistin withdrawal. However, before or after the ban, the MDR IncHI2 plasmid with a similar backbone and ST34 Salmonella were the main vectors involved in the spread of mcr-1 . Interestingly, these Chinese mcr-1 -carrying Salmonella obtain phylogenetically and phylogeographically distinct patterns compared with those from other continents and are frequently associated with clinically important ARGs including the extended-spectrum β-lactamases. Our data confirmed that the national stewardship intervention seems to be successful in blocking antibiotic resistance determinants and that continued surveillance of colistin resistance in clinical settings, farm animals, and related products is necessary.

Types 1 and 3 fimbriae in Enterobacteriaceae play versatile roles in bacterial physiology including attachment, invasion, cell motility as well as with biofilm formation and urinary tract infections. Herein, we investigated the prevalence and transmission of plasmid-mediated types 1 and 3 fimbriae from 1753 non-duplicate Enterobacteriaceae from diseased food Animals. We identified 123 (7.01%) strong biofilm producers and all was identified as E. coli. WGS analysis of 43 selected strong biofilm producers revealed that they harbored multiple ARGs, including ESBLs, PMQR and mcr-1 . The gene clusters mrkABCDF and fimACDH encoding types 1 and 3 fimbriae, respectively, were identified among 43 (34.96%) and 7 (5.7%) of 123 strong biofilm isolates, respectively. These two operons were able to confer strong biofilm-forming ability to an E. coli weak-biofilm forming laboratory strain. Plasmid analysis revealed that mrk and fim operons were found to co-exist with ARGs and were primarily located on IncX1 and IncFII plasmids with similar backbones, respectively. mrkABCDF operons was present in all of 9457 Klebsiella pneumoniae using archived WGS data, and shared high homology to those on plasmids of 8 replicon types and chromosomes from 6 Enterobacteriaceae species from various origins and countries. In contrast, fimACDH operons was present in most of Enterobacter cloacae (62.15%), and shared high homology to those with only a small group of plasmids and Enterobacteriaceae species. This is the first comprehensive report of the prevalence, transmission and homology of plasmid-encoded type 1 and 3 fimbriae among the Enterobacteriaceae. Our findings indicated that plasmid-encoded mrkABCDF and fimACDH were major contributors to enhanced biofilm formation among E. coli and these two operons, in particular mrk could be as a potential anti-biofilm target. IMPORTANCE Biofilms allow bacteria to tolerate disinfectants and antimicrobials, as well as mammalian host defenses, and are therefore difficult to treat clinically. Most research concerning biofilm-related infections is typically focused on chromosomal biofilm-associated factors, including types 1 and 3 fimbriae of biofilm-forming Enterobacterium. However, the transmission and homology of the mobile types 1 and 3 fimbriae among Enterobacteriaceae is largely unknown. The findings revealed that the plasmid-encoded type 3 fimbriae encoded by mrkABCDF and type 1 fimbriae encoded by fimACDH were major contributors to enhancing biofilm formation among strong biofilm E. coli from diseased food producing animals. Additionally, mrk operon with high homology at an amino acid sequence was present both on plasmids of various replicon types and on chromosomes from diverse Enterobacteriaceae species from numerous origins and countries. These findings provide important information on the transmission of the mobile types 1 and 3 fimbriae among Enterobacteriaceae, indicating a potential antibiofilm target.

Objectives: In this study, we developed an IS26-based CRISPR/Cas9 system as a proof-of-concept study to explore the potential of a re-engineered bacterial translocatable unit (TU) for curing and immunizing against the replication genes and antimicrobial resistance genes., Methods: A series of pIS26-CRISPR/Cas9 suicide plasmids were constructed, and specific guide RNAs were designed to target the replication gene of IncX4, IncI2 and IncHI2 plasmids, and the antibiotic resistance genes mcr-1, blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-5. Through conjugation and induction, the transposition efficiency and plasmid-curing efficiency in each recipient were tested. In addition, we examined the efficiency of the IS26-CRISPR/Cas9 system of cell immunity against the acquisition of the exogenous resistant plasmids by introducing this system into antimicrobial-susceptible hosts., Results: This study aimed to eliminate the replication genes and antimicrobial resistance genes using pIS26-CRISPR/Cas9. Three plasmids with different replicon types, including IncX4, IncI2 and IncHI2 in three isolates, two pUC19-derived plasmids, pUC19-mcr-1 and pUC19-IS26mcr-1, in two lab strains, and two plasmids bearing blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-5 in two isolates were all successfully eliminated. Moreover, the IS26-based CRISPR/Cas9 system that remained in the plasmid-cured strains could efficiently serve as an immune system against the acquisition of the exogenous resistant plasmids., Conclusions: The IS26-based CRISPR/Cas9 system can be used to efficiently sensitize clinical Escherichia coli isolates to antibiotics in vitro. The single-guide RNAs targeted resistance genes or replication genes of specific incompatible plasmids that harboured resistance genes, providing a novel means to naturally select bacteria that cannot uptake and disseminate such genes., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The global spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria has been one of the most severe threats to public health. The emergence of the mcr-1 gene has posed a considerable threat to antimicrobial medication since it deactivates one last-resort antibiotic, colistin. There have been reports regarding the mobilization of the mcr-1 gene facilitated by IS Apl1- formed transposon Tn 6330 and mediated rapid dispersion among Enterobacteriaceae species. Here, we developed a CRISPR/Cas9 system flanked by IS Apl1 in a suicide plasmid capable of exerting sequence-specific curing against the mcr-1 -bearing plasmid and killing the strain with chromosome-borne mcr-1 . The constructed IS Apl1 -carried CRISPR/Cas9 system either restored sensitivity to colistin in strains with plasmid-borne mcr-1 or directly eradicated the bacteria harboring chromosome-borne mcr-1 by introducing an exogenous CRISPR/Cas9 targeting the mcr-1 gene. This method is highly efficient in removing the mcr-1 gene from Escherichia coli, thereby resensitizing these strains to colistin. The further results demonstrated that it conferred the recipient bacteria with immunity against the acquisition of the exogenous mcr-1 containing the plasmid. The data from the current study highlighted the potential of the transposon-associated CRISPR/Cas9 system to serve as a therapeutic approach to control the dissemination of mcr-1 resistance among clinical pathogens.

Alternative therapeutic options are urgently needed against multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli infections, especially in situations of preexisting tigecycline and colistin resistance. Here, we investigated synergistic activity of the antiretroviral drug zidovudine in combination with tigecycline or colistin against E. coli harboring tet (X) and mcr-1 in vitro and in a murine thigh infection model. Zidovudine and tigecycline/colistin combinations achieved synergistic killing and significantly decreased bacterial burdens by >2.5-log 10 CFU/g in thigh tissues compared to each monotherapy., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Microbiology.)

The mobile colistin resistance gene mcr-3 has globally disseminated since it was first reported in 2017 in Escherichia coli In vitro mobilization assays in this study demonstrate the functionality of the composite transposon structure IS Kpn40-mcr-3.11-dgkA -IS Kpn40 in wild-type and recA - E. coli strains. These transpositions generated 4-bp duplications at the target sites. This is the first report demonstrating the mobility of the mcr-3.11 gene by transposition., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Microbiology.)

Objectives: To characterize the colistin-resistant bacterial population in the gut and assess diversity of mcr-1 transmission within a single individual., Methods: Large numbers of isolates (>100 colonies/chicken cecum sample) were collected from nine randomly selected mcr-1-positive chickens in China and used for comprehensive microbiological, molecular and comparative genomics analyses., Results: Of 1273 colonies, 968 were mcr-1 positive (962 Escherichia coli, two Escherichia fergusonii, two Klebsiella pneumoniae and two Klebsiella quasipneumoniae). One to six colistin-resistant species and three to 10 E. coli pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) clusters could be identified from each sample. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of the representative E. coli strains revealed three to nine sequence types observed in a single chicken host. The mcr-1 genes are located in either chromosomes or plasmids of different types, including IncI2 (n=30), IncHI2 (n=14), IncX4 (n=4), p0111(n=2) and IncHI1(n=1). Strikingly, in single cecum samples, one to five Inc type plasmids harbouring mcr-1 could be identified. Great diversity was also observed for the same IncI2 plasmid within a single chicken host. In addition, up to eight genetic contexts of the mcr-1 gene occurred within a single chicken., Conclusions: There is extensive heterogeneity and flexibility of mcr-1 transmission in chicken gut due to bacterial species differences, distant clonal relatedness of isolates, many types and variations of mcr-positive plasmids, and the flexible genetic context of the mcr-1 gene. These compelling findings indicate that the gut is a 'melting pot' for active horizontal transfer of the mcr-1 gene., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The emergence of NDM- and MCR-1-co-producing Escherichia coli has compromised the use of carbapenems and colistin, which are critically important in clinical therapy, and represents a severe threat to public health worldwide. Here, we demonstrate synergism of colistin combined with existing antibiotics as a potential strategy to overcome XDR E. coli co-harbouring NDM and MCR-1 genes., Methods: To comprehensively evaluate their combined activity, antibiotic combinations were tested against 34 different E. coli strains carrying both NDM and MCR-1 genes. Antibiotic resistance profiles and molecular characteristics were investigated by susceptibility testing, PCR, MLST, S1-PFGE and WGS. Antibiotic synergistic efficacy was evaluated through in vitro chequerboard experiments and dose-response assays. A mouse model was used to confirm active combination therapies. Additionally, combinations were tested for their ability to prevent high-level colistin-resistant mutants (HLCRMs)., Results: Combinations of colistin with rifampicin, rifabutin and minocycline showed synergistic activity against 34 XDR NDM- and MCR-1-co-producing E. coli strains, restoring, in part, susceptibility to both colistin and the partnering antibiotics. The therapeutic effectiveness of colistin combined with rifampicin or minocycline was demonstrated in a mouse model. Furthermore, colistin plus rifampicin showed significant activity in preventing the occurrence of HLCRMs., Conclusions: The synergism of colistin in combinations with rifampicin, rifabutin or minocycline offers viable therapeutic alternatives against XDR NDM- and MCR-positive E. coli.

Two colistin-resistant Escherichia coli strains (FS13Z2S and FS3Z6C) possessing chromosomally encoded mcr-1 isolated from swine were characterised. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that in strain FS13Z2S mcr-1 occurred in triplicate in the chromosome with another copy encoded on a pHNSHP45-2-like IncHI2 plasmid, whereas in strain FS3Z6C only one copy mcr-1 was inserted in the chromosome. It seems likely that the triplication of chromosomal copies of mcr-1 in FS13Z2S is due to intramolecular transposition events via a composite transposon containing an mcr-1 cassette bracketed by two copies of insertion sequence ISApl1, and the pap2 gene at the insertion site was truncated by an IS1294-like element. In plasmid pFS13Z2S and the chromosome of strain FS3Z6C, only a single copy of ISApl1 was present upstream of the mcr-1 cassette. The two strains exhibited similar colistin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and featured phosphoethanolamine addition to lipid A, without regard to the copy number of mcr-1. The mcr-1-harbouring plasmid was unstable in wild-type strain FS13Z2S and was quickly lost after 7 days of passage on colistin-free Luria-Bertani broth containing 0.5% SDS, but the mcr-1 copies on the chromosome persisted. These results reveal that the single copy of mcr-1 could result in modification of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cause colistin resistance in E. coli. Acquisition of multiple copies of mcr-1, especially on the chromosome, would facilitate stable persistence of colistin resistance in the host strain., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Colistin and carbapenem are two lines of last-resort antibiotics against lethal infections caused by MDR Gram-negative pathogens. The emergence of carbapenemase-positive Escherichia coli with colistin resistance poses a serious threat to public health worldwide. Here we report, for the first time (to the best of our knowledge), a novel combination therapy used for the treatment of E. coli co-producing MCR-1 and NDM-5., Methods: The MICs of colistin were determined alone and with 1-4 mg/L amikacin. A 7-by-4 time-kill array of colistin (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mg/L) and amikacin (0, 1, 2 and 4 mg/L) over 48 h was designed to characterize the in vitro activity of these agents alone and in combination against each E. coli isolate at an inoculum of 10 6 and 10 8 cfu/mL. The sigmoid E max model was utilized for better delineation of the concentration-effect relationship of each combination. In vivo effectiveness was investigated using a mouse model (combination therapy with intraperitoneal colistin plus amikacin compared with monotherapy)., Results: For colistin-resistant isolates, the addition of amikacin demonstrated augmented susceptibility, reducing colistin MICs below the current susceptibility breakpoint. A concentration-dependent decrease in the EC 50 values of colistin was observed for all study isolates in the presence of increasing amikacin concentrations. Further in vivo treatment experiments demonstrated that this combination could achieve 1.5-2.8 log 10 killing after 24 h of therapy, while monotherapy was unable to achieve such a killing effect., Conclusions: The combination of colistin and amikacin may be a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of lethal infections caused by NDM-5-bearing MCR-1-positive superbugs., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Antibiotic resistance is a prevalent problem in public health worldwide. In general, the carbapenem β-lactam antibiotics are considered a final resort against lethal infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Colistin is a cationic polypeptide antibiotic and acts as the last line of defense for treatment of carbapenem-resistant bacteria. Very recently, a new plasmid-borne colistin resistance gene, mcr-2 , was revealed soon after the discovery of the paradigm gene mcr-1 , which has disseminated globally. However, the molecular mechanisms for MCR-2 colistin resistance are poorly understood. Here we show a unique transposon unit that facilitates the acquisition and transfer of mcr-2 Evolutionary analyses suggested that both MCR-2 and MCR-1 might be traced to their cousin phosphoethanolamine (PEA) lipid A transferase from a known polymyxin producer, Paenibacillus Transcriptional analyses showed that the level of mcr-2 transcripts is relatively higher than that of mcr-1 Genetic deletions revealed that the transmembrane regions (TM1 and TM2) of both MCR-1 and MCR-2 are critical for their location and function in bacterial periplasm, and domain swapping indicated that the TM2 is more efficient than TM1. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) confirmed that all four MCR proteins (MCR-1, MCR-2, and two chimeric versions [TM1-MCR-2 and TM2-MCR-1]) can catalyze chemical modification of lipid A moiety anchored on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with the addition of phosphoethanolamine to the phosphate group at the 4' position of the sugar. Structure-guided site-directed mutagenesis defined an essential 6-residue-requiring zinc-binding/catalytic motif for MCR-2 colistin resistance. The results further our mechanistic understanding of transferable colistin resistance, providing clues to improve clinical therapeutics targeting severe infections by MCR-2-containing pathogens. IMPORTANCE Carbapenem and colistin are the last line of refuge in fighting multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. MCR-2 is a newly emerging variant of the mobilized colistin resistance protein MCR-1, posing a potential challenge to public health. Here we report transfer of the mcr-2 gene by a unique transposal event and its possible origin. Distribution of MCR-2 in bacterial periplasm is proposed to be a prerequisite for its role in the context of biochemistry and the colistin resistance. We also define the genetic requirement of a zinc-binding/catalytic motif for MCR-2 colistin resistance. This represents a glimpse of transferable colistin resistance by MCR-2., (Copyright © 2017 Sun et al.)

IncX4 plasmids are associated with the dissemination of the mcr-1 genes in Enterobacteriaceae. We screened IncX4 plasmids among 2,470 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and determined the mcr-1 positive isolates. Forty-three isolates were observed to carry IncX4 type plasmid, among which 13 were identified to carry mcr-1 gene. Three representative mcr-1-positive IncX4 plasmids were selected for high-throughput sequencing. Comparative genomics showed that the mcr-1-carrying IncX4 plasmids exhibit remarkable similarity in the backbone, and the major distinction lies in the region containing mcr-1. The major variable regions of all the IncX4 plasmids were fully characterized by PCR-RFLP. The results revealed that the mcr-1 was located on the Variable Region I of IncX4 plasmids in 11 E. coli isolates. Among them, nine E. coli strains possess an epidemic pCSZ4-like IncX4 plasmid containing mcr-1. ISApl1 was presumably involved in the transposition of the mcr-1 cassette and then was lost. Similar genetic contexts were found in different plasmids, even the E. coli chromosome, implying the acquisition of mcr-1 by a unique common mechanism.

Two Escherichia coli clones (sequence type 648 [ST648] and ST156) that coproduce NDM-5 and MCR-1 were detected from a single fowl in China. The bla NDM-5 gene was found on the two indistinguishable IncX3 plasmids from the two different E. coli isolates, whereas the mcr-1 gene was located on IncHI2 and IncI2 plasmids, respectively, suggesting that bla NDM-5 and mcr-1 have spread in avian intestinal flora. Also, the two strains harbor bla TEM-1 , bla CTX-M-55 , fosA3, and aac(6')-Ib The multiresistant E. coli strains (especially the epidemic clone ST648) might raise a potential threat to human health via food chain transmission., (Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

We report the complete nucleotide sequence of a plasmid, pA31-12, carrying blaCTX-M-55 and mcr-1 from a chicken Escherichia coli isolate. pA31-12 has an IncI2 replicon that displays extensive sequence similarity with pHN1122-1-borne blaCTX-M-55 and pHNSHP45-borne mcr-1 Insertion sequences ISEcp1 and ISApl1 are responsible for the mobilization of blaCTX-M-55 and mcr-1, respectively. The colocalization of mcr-1 with an extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene on a conjugative plasmid may accelerate the dissemination of both genes by coselection., (Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

A total of 963 non-duplicate Escherichia coli strains isolated from food-producing animals between 2002 and 2012 were screened for the presence of the 16S rRNA methyltransferase genes. Among the positive isolates, resistance determinants to extended spectrum β-lactamases, plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes as well as floR and fosA/A3/C2 were detected using PCR analysis. These isolates were further subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular typing, PCR-based plasmid replicon typing and plasmid analysis. Of the 963 E. coli isolates, 173 (18.0%), 3 (0.3%) and 2 (0.2%) were rmtB-, armA- and rmtE-positive strains, respectively. All the 16S rRNA methyltransferase gene-positive isolates were multidrug resistant and over 90% of them carried one or more type of resistance gene. IncF (especially IncFII) and non-typeable plasmids played the main role in the dissemination of rmtB, followed by the IncN plasmids. Plasmids that harbored rmtB ranged in size from 20kb to 340kb EcoRI-RFLP testing of the 109 rmtB-positive plasmids from different years and different origins suggested that horizontal (among diverse animals) and vertical transfer of IncF, non-typeable and IncN-type plasmids were responsible for the spread of rmtB gene. In summary, our findings highlight that rmtB was the most prevalent 16S rRNA methyltransferase gene, which present persistent spread in food-producing animals in China and a diverse group of plasmids was responsible for rmtB dissemination., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We report the complete nucleotide sequence of a plasmid carrying the multiresistance gene cfr. This plasmid was isolated from an Escherichia coli strain of swine origin in 2011. This 37,672-bp plasmid, pSD11, had an IncX4 backbone similar to those of the IncX4 plasmids obtained from the United States and Australia, in which the cfr gene was flanked by two copies of IS26 and a truncated Tn1331 was inserted., (Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

To study the characteristics of plasmids harboring oqxAB among bla(CTX-M)-negative Escherichia coli isolates and search for oqxAB-harboring plasmids similar to plasmids carrying oqxAB-bla(CTX-M) reported previously, conjugation experiment was performed for 115 randomly selected oqxAB-positive but bla(CTX-M)-negative E. coli isolates from diseased animals in Guangdong, China. S1 nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and southern blotting experiments were performed to investigate the location of oqxAB and other resistance genes. The EcoRI digestion profiles of the plasmids with oqxAB were also analyzed. The clonal relatedness of donor isolates was investigated by PFGE. In this study, 32 oqxAB transconjugants were successfully obtained and most transconjugants showed multidrug resistances. Eleven replicon combination types were found in these transconjugants. floR and oqxAB were found on the same plasmids in all nine transconjugants resistant to florfenicol. The sequences between floR and oqxAB were identical in most transconjugants and the two genes were both linked with tnp in insertion sequences. Nine F18:A-:B1 plasmids with only oqxAB shared identical EcoRI digestion profiles and the profiles were also identical with that of a plasmid carrying oqxAB-bla(CTX-M) found previously. Co-transfer of plasmids carrying oqxAB and fosA3, respectively, was also observed in one isolate. This study demonstrates the dissemination of oqxAB among bla(CTX-M)-negative E. coli isolates was mainly mediated by identical F18:A-:B1 plasmids. A novel arrangement of regions between floR and oqxAB might play an important role in the dissemination of floR-oqxAB. This is the first description of the genetic environment of the relationship between oqxAB and floR in E. coli.

Previous study indicated that the multi-resistance gene cfr was mainly found in gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus and Enterococcus, and was sporadically detected in Escherichia coli. Little is known about the prevalence and transmission mechanism of cfr in E. coli. In this study, the presence of cfr in E. coli isolates collected during 2010-2012 from food-producing animals in Guangdong Province of China was investigated, and the cfr-positive E. coli isolates were characterized by PFGE, plasmid profiling, and genetic environment analysis. Of the 839 E. coli isolates, 10 isolates from pig were cfr positive. All the cfr-positive isolates presented a multi-resistance phenotype and were genetically divergent as determined by PFGE. In 8 out of the 10 strains, the cfr gene was located on plasmids of ∼30 kb. Restriction digestion of the plasmids with EcoRI and sequence hybridization with a cfr-specific probe revealed that the cfr-harboring fragments ranged from 6 to 23 kb and a ∼18 kb cfr-carrying fragment was common for the plasmids that were ∼30 kb. Four different genetic environments of cfr were detected, in which cfr is flanked by two identical copies of IS26, which may loop out the intervening sequence through homologous recombination. Among the 8 plasmids of ∼30 kb, 7 plasmids shared the same genetic environment. These results demonstrate plasmid-carried cfr in E. coli and suggest that transposition and homologous recombination mediated by IS26 might have played a rule in the transfer of the cfr gene in E. coli.

A total of 247 Escherichia coli isolates (148 from diseased or dead poultry and 99 from diseased pets in the People's Republic of China) were screened for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) determinants by PCR and sequencing. Then, 16S rRNA methylase genes were detected among ESBL-producing isolates. Clonal relatedness of the E. coli isolates was examined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Conjugation experiments were performed to investigate the association of 16S rRNA methylases and ESBLs, and plasmid contents were also characterized. Among 247 E. coli isolates, 74 (29.96%) isolates were positive for blaCTX-M genes, 42 from pets (12 from cats and 30 from dogs) and 32 from poultry (12 from chickens and 20 from ducks). The most common CTX-M type in isolates from pets was blaCTX-M-14, whereas blaCTX-M-27 was the most common for poultry. rmtB was dectected in 39 of the 74 blaCTX-M-positive isolates, 18 from pets and 21 from poultry. One strain from a pet was found to harbor blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-15, and rmtB. blaCTX-M and rmtB were found to be colocated on the same transferable plasmid in 16 isolates. These genes were on the same or similar plasmids (eight F2:A-:B- and two IncN) in isolates from ducks, whereas they were colocated on the similar F2:A-:B- or similar F33:A-:B- plasmids in isolates of pets origin. In conclusion, similar F2:A-:B- plasmids and similar F33:A-:B- plasmids are responsible for the dissemination of both rmtB and blaCTX-Mgenes in E. coli isolates from poultry and pets, respectively.

qnrD, unlike other qnr genes, is mainly located on small nonconjugative plasmids. We investigated the presence of qnrD among 1,373 Enterobacteriaceae isolates in China. Twelve qnrD-positive strains were detected, and all were nonsusceptible to fluoroquinolones. The complete sequence of plasmids showed that the qnrD determinants were located on two plasmids with a respective size of ~4.2 and 2.7 k-bp. Interestingly, the identification of qnrD in this study revealed the highest prevalence of Proteeae among Enterobacteriaceae identified.

The prevalence of qnr genes was investigated in veterinary clinical isolates of Escherichia coli in Guangdong province, China, and the aac (6')-Ib gene and the mutations in QRDRs of gyrase and topoisomerase IV were examined in qnr-positive strains. A total of 232 E. coli strains isolated from pig and poultry were screened for the presence of the qnrA, qnrB and qnrS genes by PCR and sequencing. The aac (6')-Ib gene was detected in qnr-bearing strains by PCR and sequencing. For all strains carrying qnr, MICs for six quinolones were determined. Mutations within the gyrase and topoisomerase were analyzed by PCR and sequencing for all the QRDRs of gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE. Among 232 E. coli isolates, 14 (6%) isolates were positive for the qnr gene, including one for qnrB, 13 for qnrS, but no qnrA was identified in this population. Detection of the aac (6')-Ib gene showed that one qnrS-positive isolate from pig and one qnrB-positive isolate from duck carried aac (6')-Ib gene, and both were the cr variant allele of aac (6')-Ib. All of the 14 isolates had MICs of ciprofloxacin more than 0.25 mg/L. Mutations in the QRDR of gyrA mutations were observed in 5 (35.7%) of the 14 strains. Three fluoroquinolone-resisting strains showed one mutation S83L of gyrA, while one S83I. One high-level resistance strains harboured gyrA S83L and A87N of gyrA. A singe mutation in site 58 of parC was detected in 3 (21.4%) strains. None mutations were found in QRDRs of gyrB and parE. The emergence of qnr genes in veterinary clinical E. coli isolates is described for the first time. This is also the first report of aac (6')-Ib-cr gene in E. coli isolates from food-producing animals.