Article
Microbiology
Meng Li, Congcong Guan, Gaoyu Song, Xiaoxi Gao, Weina Yang, Tietao Wang, Yani Zhang
Summary: Horizontal plasmid transfer of resistance genes is important in the formation of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. A megaplasmid named pPAG5 was identified in a clinical multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa PAG5 strain, belonging to the IncP-2 incompatibility group. Genetic analysis showed that pPAG5 could transfer resistance genes to P. aeruginosa, leading to a multidrug-resistant phenotype. Comparisons with related plasmids revealed a similar backbone structure essential for replication, partition, and conjugal transfer.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Min Yuan, Hongxia Guan, Dan Sha, Wenting Cao, Xiaofeng Song, Jie Che, Biao Kan, Juan Li
Summary: This study characterized a 29-kb bla(KPC-2)-carrying plasmid, pR31-KPC, from a multidrug resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated in China. The plasmid was found to have a close relationship with four other bla(KPC-2)-carrying plasmids and contained unique accessory modules. Comparative analysis revealed genetic differences and potential mechanisms for the transfer of bla(KPC-2) among these plasmids, contributing to a deeper understanding of bla(KPC-2) carrying plasmids in Pseudomonas.
Article
Microbiology
Ana M. Rada, Elsa De La Cadena, Carlos A. Agudelo, Christian Pallares, Eliana Restrepo, Adriana Correa, Maria V. Villegas, Cesar Capataz
Summary: This study molecularly characterized and analyzed carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from two tertiary-care hospitals in Colombia, identifying a remarkable genetic diversity and variations in resistance gene cassettes. The dissemination of bla(VIM-)(2) and bla(KPC-)(2) in this area has been influenced by successful international clones and gene rearrangement under antimicrobial selection pressure. These findings underline the importance of implementing control strategies based on rational antibiotic use.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Valentina Benigno, Nicolas Carraro, Garance Sarton-Loheac, Sara Romano-Bertrand, Dominique S. Blanc, Jan Roelof van der Meer
Summary: This study aimed to understand the presence, distribution, and variation of ICEs related to ICEclc among P. aeruginosa clinical isolates. The results showed that most isolates carried one or more ICEclc-like elements with different degrees of conservation. Furthermore, the study also found evidence of clonal evolution and horizontal transfer of ICEs in the hospital environment.
Article
Immunology
Zhichen Zhu, Huiying Yang, Zhe Yin, Ying Jing, Yuee Zhao, Hongyu Fu, Hong Du, Dongsheng Zhou
Summary: In this study, genome sequencing was conducted for 200 Chinese Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, of which 53.5% carried crpP genes located within Tn6786-related ICEs. Ten CrpP enzymes were confirmed to mediate decreased susceptibility to one to three quinolones, and Tn6786-related ICEs displayed high-level diversification and massive gene acquisition/loss. The study furthered the understanding of the bioinformatics and epidemiology of crpP genes and crpP-carrying ICEs.
Article
Immunology
Changrui Qian, Hongmao Liu, Jiawei Cao, Yongan Ji, Wei Lu, Junwan Lu, Aifang Li, Xinyi Zhu, Kai Shen, Haili Xu, Qianqian Chen, Wangxiao Zhou, Hongyun Lu, Hailong Lin, Xueya Zhang, Qiaoling Li, Xi Lin, Kewei Li, Teng Xu, Mei Zhu, Qiyu Bao, Hailin Zhang
Summary: The study found different types of floR genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with floR-T1 being the most prevalent. A novel floR variant, floR-T2, showed lower identity with other FloR proteins and could be induced by florfenicol or chloramphenicol. These floR variants play an important role in host resistance and spread, potentially related to the Tn4371 family ICE.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Biying Zhang, Xun Xu, Xiaomei Song, Yicheng Wen, Zhichen Zhu, Jingnan Lv, Xiaofang Xie, Liang Chen, Yi-Wei Tang, Hong Du
Summary: The study revealed the shift of CRPA from ST697 to ST463 in East China, with ST463 showing higher drug resistance, posing greater challenges for clinical management.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Rushuang Yan, Ye Lu, Yiwei Zhu, Peng Lan, Shengnan Jiang, Jun Lu, Ping Shen, Yunsong Yu, Jiancang Zhou, Yan Jiang
Summary: The study characterized a carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae isolate from Zhejiang, China, demonstrating resistance to multiple antibiotics and harboring a bla (KPC-2) carrying plasmid. Transfer of the plasmid to P. aeruginosa was shown to confer carbapenem resistance, posing a serious threat to public health.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Matthew P. Moore, Iain L. Lamont, David Williams, Steve Paterson, Irena Kukavica-Ibrulj, Nicholas P. Tucker, Dervla T. D. Kenna, Jane F. Turton, Julie Jeukens, Luca Freschi, Bryan A. Wee, Nicholas J. Loman, Stephen Holden, Susan Manzoor, Peter Hawkey, Kevin W. Southern, Martin J. Walshaw, Roger C. Levesque, Joanne L. Fothergill, Craig Winstanley
Summary: The Liverpool epidemic strain (LES) is a significant transmissible clonal lineage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that chronically infects cystic fibrosis patients' lungs. By sequencing 91 LES isolates from multiple CF centers in the UK, researchers identified divergence and adaptation in the spread of LES within the UK and between continents. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct clonal lineages among the 145 LES genomes analyzed, with clustering by clinic geography observed in the UK.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jiacong Gao, Xiaoya Wei, Liwen Yin, Yongxin Jin, Fang Bai, Zhihui Cheng, Weihui Wu
Summary: This study characterized an MDR P. aeruginosa strain, Pa150, which carried a 437-Kb plasmid (pTJPa150) containing the rmtB gene, revealing a novel possible transmission mechanism of the rmtB gene.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Emily L. Bean, Lisa K. McLellan, Alan D. Grossman
Summary: Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) play a significant role in bacterial evolution, but they can have both positive and negative effects on host cells. This study reveals that the activated form of ICE Tn916 causes growth arrest and cell death in two bacterial hosts (Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecalis). The authors identify specific genes and interactions that contribute to these deleterious effects.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zeling Xu, Yanran Li, Huiluo Cao, Meiru Si, Guangming Zhang, Patrick C. Y. Woo, Aixin Yan
Summary: A transferrable Cascade system was established to enable stable and efficient genome editing in heterologous bacterial hosts, demonstrating greater DNA interference activity and editing capacity compared to traditional Cas9 systems. Additionally, an advanced editing system was developed to target genotypes with poor homologous recombination capacity, clinical isolates lacking sequence information, and cells containing anti-CRISPR elements. Lastly, an 'all-in-one' CRISPRi platform was created for simultaneous transcription modulation in bacterial species.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joshua P. Ramsay, Tahlia R. Bastholm, Callum J. Verdonk, Dinah D. Tambalo, John T. Sullivan, Liam K. Harold, Beatrice A. Panganiban, Elena Colombi, Benjamin J. Perry, William Jowsey, Calum Morris, Michael F. Hynes, Charles S. Bond, Andrew D. S. Cameron, Christopher K. Yost, Clive W. Ronson
Summary: The horizontal transfer of ICEMlSym (R7A) can cause non-symbiotic Mesorhizobium spp. to become nitrogen-fixing legume symbionts. A subpopulation of Mesorhizobium japonicum R7A called R7A* is epigenetically primed for quorum sensing and horizontal transfer, maintained in laboratory culture. The epigenetic maintenance of the R7A* state requires ICEMlSym (R7A)-encoded copies of both qseC and qseC2, forming a stable epigenetic switch that controls qseM transcription and primes a subpopulation of R7A cells for quorum sensing and horizontal transfer.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Diego Faccone, Juan M. de Mendieta, Ezequiel Albornoz, Magali Chavez, Fabiana Genero, Mariano Echegorry, Paola Ceriana, Andrea Mora, Christine Seah, Alejandra Corso, Roberto G. Melano, Fernando Pasteran
Summary: A ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant KPC-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain, belonging to the high-risk clone ST235/O11, was identified in Argentina. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a D179Y substitution in the Omega loop of KPC-3, corresponding to KPC-31 integrated at the chromosome. Most commonly used carbapenemase detection assays failed to identify the isolate as a KPC producer.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hua Li, Arnaud Dechesne, Zhiming He, Marlene Mark Jensen, Hai Liang Song, Barth F. Smets
Summary: Current in the milliampere range can enhance conjugal plasmid transfer between bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The exposure to sublethal current intensities during electrochemical disinfection can lead to increased transconjugant frequency and expression of conjugation-related genes. It is crucial to carefully control the conditions of electrochemical disinfection to prevent the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xin Li, Chao Pan, Zhicheng Liu, Peng Sun, Xiaoting Hua, Erling Feng, Yunsong Yu, Jun Wu, Li Zhu, Hengliang Wang
Summary: This study developed a conjugate vaccine against A. baumannii, demonstrating its ability to induce immune responses and provide protection against infection, ultimately proving its promising potential as a candidate vaccine.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ye Feng, Zeyu Wang, Kun-Yi Chien, Hsiu-Ling Chen, Yi-Hua Liang, Xiaoting Hua, Cheng-Hsun Chiu
Summary: Pseudogenes in bacterial genomes have long been considered nonfunctional, but this study found that many of these pseudogenes still have disrupted mRNA sequences and low-level protein expression. Fifteen pseudogenes were further confirmed to be expressed in vivo and affected bacterial pathogenesis in S. Typhi.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jintao He, Xiaoxing Du, Xi Zeng, Robert A. Moran, Willem van Schaik, Quanming Zou, Yunsong Yu, Jinyong Zhang, Xiaoting Hua
Summary: The study identified a carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae, XH210, which lacked typical hypervirulence markers in its genome but exhibited high virulence in tests. Further research is needed to understand the virulence mechanisms of XH210 and improve diagnostics for hypervirulent K. pneumoniae.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Peng Lan, Ye Lu, Zhongju Chen, Xueqing Wu, Xiaoting Hua, Yan Jiang, Jiancang Zhou, Yunsong Yu
Summary: Cefiderocol-resistant CRKP strains are emerging in Chinese patients with hematologic malignancies. The resistance is mediated by multiple factors including the deficiency of CirA, metallo- or serine-beta-lactamases, and can be further enhanced by NDM expression and CirA deficiency. This poses challenges to the clinical efficacy of cefiderocol in the future.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Xinli Mu, Haiyang Liu, Yue Yao, Feng Zhao, Youhong Fang, Yunsong Yu, Xiaoting Hua
Summary: This study reveals the complete genome sequence of a rare pigment-producing strain of Acinetobacter johnsonii, including the composition of chromosome and plasmid, as well as the number of coding genes, rRNA genes, tRNA genes, and ncRNA genes.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yue Yao, Qianjin Zhou, Yu Feng, Sebastian Leptihn, Yunsong Yu, Xiaoting Hua
Summary: In this study, we report the complete genome sequence of Vibrio harveyi strain ATCC 33866, which consists of two circular chromosomes.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Mengjie Shao, Nanjiao Ying, Qian Liang, Nan Ma, Sebastian Leptihn, Yunsong Yu, Huan Chen, Chengzhi Liu, Xiaoting Hua
Summary: Studies have found a close relationship between pdif sites and antibiotic resistance gene modules, which facilitate cross-genus transfer. A web server called pdifFinder was developed to predict pdif-ARGs modules in bacterial genomes. This research is of great importance for understanding and controlling the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria in clinical settings.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Haiyang Liu, Xiaochen Liu, Jintao He, Linghong Zhang, Feng Zhao, Zhihui Zhou, Xiaoting Hua, Yunsong Yu
Summary: The genomic features and potential evolution mechanism of ST46(Pas) OXA-23-producing CRAB isolates from clinical specimens are reported for the first time. These strains may have evolved through transposition events or a pdif module. Additionally, ST46(Pas) CRAB strains exhibit high levels of resistance to multiple antibiotics while maintaining genome stability. Their emergence poses a new threat to healthcare settings, emphasizing the need for effective surveillance to prevent further dissemination.
Article
Microbiology
Siyuan Yang, Yue Yao, Feng Zhao, Yunsong Yu, Xiaoting Hua
Summary: In this study, we assembled a complete genome sequence of Streptococcus gallolyticus strain XH2168 by combining the sequencing results from both the Illumina and Oxford Nanopore platforms. The assembled genome consists of 2,392,629 bp with a G+C content of 37.69% and contains 2,265 protein-coding genes.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Emma L. Doughty, Haiyang Liu, Robert A. Moran, Xiaoting Hua, Xiaoliang Ba, Feng Guo, Xiangping Chen, Linghong Zhang, Mark Holmes, Willem van Schaik, Alan Mcnally, Yunsong Yu
Summary: This study conducted a three-month observational study in a 28-bed intensive care unit (ICU) in Hangzhou, China, to explore the persistence and evolutionary dynamics of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). The study found that the ICU population of CRAB was dominated by OXA-23-producing global clone 2 isolates, which could be divided into 20 distinct clusters through genome sequencing. The study emphasized the importance of environmental CRAB reservoirs in the epidemiology of ICUs and the unique challenges in containing the spread of CRAB.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-WESTERN PACIFIC
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yue Li, Li Fang, Mengqian Dong, Heng Cai, Xiaoting Hua, Yan Jiang, Yunsong Yu, Qing Yang
Summary: The high-risk clones of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ST463 and ST235, in China have developed resistance mechanisms to imipenem/relebactam (IR). The main mechanisms of resistance are overexpression of bla(KPC-2) and carriage of bla(GES-5).
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xi Li, Xiaofan Zhang, Heng Cai, Yiwei Zhu, Jingshu Ji, Tingting Qu, Yuexing Tu, Hua Zhou, Yunsong Yu
Summary: Sequence type 235 (ST235) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, associated with high morbidity and mortality, has a relatively high resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA), partly due to overexpression of blaGES-1 carried in a complex transposon. Overexpression of blaGES-1 combined with an efflux pump results in high-level CZA resistance, reducing therapeutic options for treating infections caused by ST235 P. aeruginosa. Surveillance initiatives are essential to prevent further dissemination of high-risk ST235 P. aeruginosa with CZA resistance.
DRUG RESISTANCE UPDATES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ziye Xu, Yuting Wang, Kuanwei Sheng, Raoul Rosenthal, Nan Liu, Xiaoting Hua, Tianyu Zhang, Jiaye Chen, Mengdi Song, Yuexiao Lv, Shunji Zhang, Yingjuan Huang, Zhaolun Wang, Ting Cao, Yifei Shen, Yan Jiang, Yunsong Yu, Yu Chen, Guoji Guo, Peng Yin, David A. Weitz, Yongcheng Wang
Summary: This study presents a droplet-based high-throughput single-microbe RNA-seq assay (smRandom-seq) that enables the profiling of individual bacterial cells at the transcriptome level. The method successfully captured transcriptome changes in thousands of individual E. coli cells and revealed distinct gene expression patterns under antibiotic stress. This tool will facilitate research in microbial resistance, persistence, microbe-host interaction, and microbiome.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yinping Wang, Jintao He, Long Sun, Yan Jiang, Lihua Hu, Sebastian Leptihn, Pengfei Zhu, Xiaoting Fu, Yunsong Yu, Xiaoting Hua
Summary: This study characterized two Escherichia coli strains isolated from a patient before and after treatment, showing increased resistance and gene copy number variation in the post-treatment strain. The increased gene copy number did not impose fitness costs on the strain.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Feng Zhao, Haiyang Liu, Yue Yao, Linghong Zhang, Zhihui Zhou, Sebastian Leptihn, Yunsong Yu, Xiaoting Hua, Ying Fu
Summary: This study investigated a pyomelanin-producing CRAB strain, revealing its antibiotic resistance and analyzing its genome. The rare phenotype of pyomelanin has significant implications for bacterial evolution.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
