Emergence of a Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolate Co-harbouring Dual bla NDM- 6 -Carrying Plasmids in China.

The widespread emergence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) with limited therapeutic options has become a global concern. In this study, a K. pneumoniae strain called KP2e was recovered from a human case of fatal septic shock in a Chinese hospital. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation experiments, S1 nuclease-pulsed field gel electrophoresis/southern blot, whole genome sequencing and comparative genomics were performed to investigate the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of this isolate. KP2e possessed the NDM-6-encoding gene and exhibited resistance to almost all β-lactams except for monobactam. This strain belonged to sequence type 4024, the complete genome of which was composed of one chromosome and three plasmids. Furthermore, bla _NDM-6 coexisted on two self-transmissible plasmids, which were assigned to types IncFIB and IncN. A structure of IS 26 -composite transposon capturing an identical Tn 125 remnant (ΔIS Aba125 - bla _NDM-6 - ble _MBL - trpF - dsbC - cutA - groES -Δ groEL ) was identified in the two plasmids, and this conserved bla _NDM -surrounding genetic context was similar to that of few IncN plasmids found in other regions of China. Our research appears to be the first description of a clinical strain that emerged co-harbouring dual bla _NDM -carrying plasmids, and the first report of NDM-6-positive CRKP in China. These findings demonstrated that IncN is a key medium in the evolution and expanding dissemination of bla _NDM genes among various species, which indicates that close monitoring and rapid detection of bla _NDM -harbouring plasmids is necessary.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
(Copyright © 2022 Gong, Lu, Xue, Wei, Li, Li, Lu, Wang, Wang, Peng and Zhao.)