Genomic characterization of clinical Enterobacter roggenkampii co-harbouring blaIMP-1- and blaGES-5-encoding IncP6 and mcr-9-encoding IncHI2 plasmids isolated in Japan

• Published in: Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
• Main Authors: Kaoru Umeda, Hiromi Nakamura, Akira Fukuda, Yuki Matsumoto, Daisuke Motooka, Shota Nakamura, Yoshinori Yasui, Hideki Yoshida, Ryuji Kawahara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-03-01
• Subjects: Whole-genome sequencing; Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales; blaIMP-1; blaGES-5; mcr-9; IS26
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221371652030326X

Objectives: The spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) with colistin resistance is a critical public health issue. We genetically characterized the clinical isolate Enterobacter roggenkampii OIPH-N260, which harboured carbapenemase genes blaIMP-1 and blaGES-5 with multiple resistance genes, including mcr-9 and blaCTX-M-9. Methods: This isolate was characterized by whole-genome sequencing, comparative analysis of resistance plasmids, susceptibility tests, bacterial conjugation, S1-nuclease digested pulsed-field-gel electrophoresis, and Southern blot hybridization. Results: The OIPH-N260 isolate exhibited resistance to most β-lactams and colistin. It co-harboured two resistance plasmids, the blaIMP-1- and blaGES-5-encoding IncP6 plasmid pN260-3 and mcr-9- and blaCTX-M-9-encoding IncHI2 plasmid pN260-1. The comparative analysis of pN260-3 indicated that a unique blaIMP-1-surrounding region was inserted into the blaGES-5-encoding plasmid with the mobile element IS26, which plays an important role in the spread of resistance genes. pN260-1 did not possess the mcr-9 expression regulative gene qseBC. Both plasmids were transferable into other bacterial species via conjugation. Conclusions: This is the first study to report not only a blaIMP-1 and blaGES-5 co-encoding plasmid, but also the co-harbouring of another plasmid carrying mcr-9 and blaCTX-M-9 in Enterobacter cloacae complex. The development of advanced resistance via IS26-mediated insertion and the co-harbouring of resistance plasmids highlights the need to monitor for resistance genes in CPE.