Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Izabela Kern-Zdanowicz
Summary: pCTX-M3 is the archetype of IncM incompatibility group of conjugative plasmids responsible for worldwide dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes and has a limited host range within Enterobacteriaceae, while its conjugation system has a wide range of recipients including Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria, and Firmicutes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Enbao Zhang, Shuaizhou Zong, Wei Zhou, Jinzhi Zhou, Jianzhong Han, Daofeng Qu
Summary: This research investigated the antibiotic resistance of Enterococcus faecalis from swine farms in Zhejiang Province, focusing on the prevalence and transmission mechanism of the oxazolidone resistance gene optrA. The study found a high antibiotic resistance rate among the isolates, with optrA identified as the main resistance gene. Through further experiments, it was determined that horizontal transmission mediated by RepA_N plasmid was the main mechanism of optrA resistance gene transmission. These findings provide important insights for ensuring the quality and safety of animal-origin food and guiding efforts to combat multi-antibiotic resistant Enterococcus.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jessica Guzman-Otazo, Enrique Joffre, Jorge Agramont, Nataniel Mamani, Jekaterina Jutkina, Fredrik Boulund, Yue O. O. Hu, Daphne Jumilla-Lorenz, Anne Farewell, D. G. Joakim Larsson, Carl-Fredrik Flach, Volga Iniguez, Asa Sjoling
Summary: This study found that environmental bacterial communities from the highly contaminated La Paz River basin in Bolivia have the potential to transfer antibiotic resistance genes to Escherichia coli. The predominant plasmids in the transconjugants belonged to the incompatibility group N and were verified to be mobile. Interestingly, all transconjugants also acquired the class 1 integron intl1. Metal resistance genes were found to have a minor role in the spread of multidrug-resistant plasmids at the investigated sites.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Supat Khongfak, Rapee Thummeepak, Udomluk Leungtongkam, Kannipa Tasanapak, Aunchalee Thanwisai, Sutthirat Sitthisak
Summary: This study explored the complete genome sequence of an outbreak clone of extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDRAB), revealing the presence of various antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements. This provides important insights into the characteristics and dissemination of XDRAB.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pauline C. Goeller, Tabea Elsener, Dominic Lorge, Natasa Radulovic, Viona Bernardi, Annika Naumann, Nesrine Amri, Ekaterina Khatchatourova, Felipe Hernandes Coutinho, Martin J. Loessner, Elena Gomez-Sanz
Summary: The study reveals that staphylococcal phages have a predominant multi-species host range, facilitating horizontal gene transfer. Additionally, there is potential for antibiotic resistance gene transfer among phages sharing common hosts.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaobo Yang, Yuanyuan Niu, Yutong Yang, Hongrui Zhou, Jing Li, Xinyue Fu, Zhiqiang Shen, Jingfeng Wang, Zhigang Qiu
Summary: Conjugative plasmids can be transferred horizontally in bacteria, contributing to the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes. This study reveals that the hormone estradiol can promote the transfer of plasmids in Enterococcus faecalis, increasing antibiotic resistance. It is suggested that estradiol activates the pheromone signaling cascade and directly binds to the pheromone receptor, enhancing plasmid transfer and antibiotic resistance.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Thobela Conco, Sheena Kumari, Oluyemi Olatunji Awolusi, Mushal Allam, Arshad Ismail, Thor A. Stenstrom, Faizal Bux
Summary: Insufficiently treated effluents from wastewater treatment systems can lead to the emergence and spread of bacterial pathogens, antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), posing a risk to the environment and human health.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Xiaolong Wang, Hanhui Zhang, Xiang Long, Ximing Xu, Hongqiang Ren, Daqing Mao, Pedro J. J. Alvarez, Yi Luo
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is propagating worldwide, with an increasing abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in conjugative plasmids being a key factor in the propagation of resistance. The abundance of ARGs in plasmids has increased by 10-fold on a global scale from 2000 to 2020, especially in low-to-middle income countries. If antibiotic consumption continues to grow at current rates, there may be a 2.7-fold increase in the global abundance of clinically relevant plasmid-borne ARGs by 2030. High sequence similarities of clinically relevant plasmids isolated from clinics and the environment raise concerns about the environmental resistome serving as a reservoir for ARG transmission.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Bing Wang, Mark Finazzo, Irina Artsimovitch
Summary: Plasmids mediate gene exchange between bacteria across different taxonomic groups through conjugation, shaping bacterial evolution. However, rapid plasmid-mediated spread of resistance genes has made most clinical antibiotics ineffective. To solve this problem, we used machine-learning models to identify important features for expanding the plasmid host range.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hanna Woksepp, Klara Karlsson, Stefan Borjesson, Oskar Karlsson Lindsjo, Robert Soderlund, Jonas Bonnedahl
Summary: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) were detected in Swedish wastewater and gull faeces, which had not been found in animals in Sweden before. Sampling was conducted at various locations from May to September 2021. Seventeen CPE isolates carrying blaGES-5, blaIMI-3, blaOXA-181, or blaOXA-244 were identified. The findings highlight the role of wastewater treatment plants as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant genetic elements and the potential for dissemination through aquatic birds.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yuanze Sun, Xinfei Li, Changfeng Ding, Qingchun Pan, Jie Wang
Summary: This study investigated the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the root endophytes of maize and wheat under the pressure of microplastics. The findings revealed that crop species and genotypes significantly influenced the abundance and diversity of root endophytic ARGs. In addition, the addition of microplastics and heavy metals increased the abundance of ARGs and altered their distribution. The variance of root endophytic ARGs was closely associated with bacterial communities and resistome.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yue Wang, Zhigang Yu, Pengbo Ding, Ji Lu, Uli Kluemper, Aimee K. Murray, William H. Gaze, Jianhua Guo
Summary: Non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals can promote antibiotic resistance transfer in microbial communities, potentially increasing the risk of antibiotic resistance dissemination in the environment.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
David Calderon-Franco, Roel Sarelse, Stella Christou, Mario Pronk, Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht, Thomas Abeel, David G. Weissbrodt
Summary: In the context of One Health, wastewater treatment plants play a crucial role in preventing the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. However, current surveillance studies focus mainly on monitoring intracellular DNA, while the role of extracellular free DNA is often overlooked. This study found that in the process of wastewater treatment, the exDNA fractions containing resistance determinants and mobile genetic elements need to be considered for AMR surveillance and risk assessment.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Pedro Guirado, Elisenda Miro, Yaidelis Iglesias-Torrens, Ferran Navarro, Susana Campoy, Tyler Scott Alioto, Jessica Gomez-Garrido, Cristina Madrid, Carlos Balsalobre
Summary: This study describes the presence of a plasmid and its transferability in a multi-drug resistant strain of Campylobacter jejuni. The plasmid not only carries tetracycline resistance genes, but also a gene cluster that provides resistance to kanamycin and gentamycin. Additionally, the study suggests the possibility of genetic exchange between Campylobacter and distantly related G-positive bacterial genera.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fei Zheng, Guo-Wei Zhou, Dong Zhu, Roy Neilson, Yong-Guan Zhu, Bing Chen, Xiao-Ru Yang
Summary: The study finds that plant identity has a significant impact on the resistomes in soil, nematodes, and phyllosphere, and there is a possible pathway of resistome transfer through the soil-nematode-phyllosphere system. Plant identity indirectly alters the phyllosphere resistomes through complex above-and below-ground interactions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lucas G. Castellani, Abril Luchetti, Juliet F. Nilsson, Julieta Perez-Gimenez, Caren Wegener, Andreas Schluter, Alfred Puhler, Antonio Lagares, Susana Brom, Mariano Pistorio, Karsten Niehaus, Gonzalo A. Torres Tejerizo
Summary: Biological nitrogen fixation is a major source of nitrogen into the biosphere, achieved through symbiosis between rhizobia and leguminous plants. Exopolysaccharides play a crucial role in establishing effective symbiosis between alfalfa and Ensifer meliloti. Rhizobium favelukesii LPU83 can infect alfalfa but lacks efficient nitrogen fixation, with different EPS biosynthesis gene organization compared to E. meliloti.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Silvia Tabacchioni, Stefania Passato, Patrizia Ambrosino, Liren Huang, Marina Caldara, Cristina Cantale, Jonas Hett, Antonella Del Fiore, Alessia Fiore, Andreas Schlueter, Alexander Sczyrba, Elena Maestri, Nelson Marmiroli, Daniel Neuhoff, Joseph Nesme, Soren Johannes Sorensen, Giuseppe Aprea, Chiara Nobili, Ombretta Presenti, Giusto Giovannetti, Caterina Giovannetti, Anne Pihlanto, Andrea Brunori, Annamaria Bevivino
Summary: The study focuses on developing multifunctional synthetic microbial consortia combined with suitable bioactive compounds to enhance crop yield and quality. Microorganisms identified as plant growth-promoting microbes were synthetically assembled into three different microbial consortia. Testing of the effects of bioactive compounds on microbial growth was conducted, with the products recommended for further greenhouse and open field trials.
Article
Microbiology
Julia Hassa, Johanna Klang, Dirk Benndorf, Marcel Pohl, Benedikt Huelsemann, Torsten Maechtig, Mathias Effenberger, Alfred Puehler, Andreas Schlueter, Susanne Theuerl
Summary: The study taxonomically investigated 67 microbiomes from 49 agricultural, full-scale biogas plants, revealing indicative microbial communities adapted to specific process conditions.
Article
Microbiology
Katharina Willenbuecher, Daniel Wibberg, Liren Huang, Marius Conrady, Patrice Ramm, Julia Gaetcke, Tobias Busche, Christian Brandt, Ulrich Szewzyk, Andreas Schlueter, Jimena Barrero Canosa, Irena Maus
Summary: The microbial biogas network is stable in its overall functionality but may be impaired if key microorganism groups are affected. Bacteriophages are believed to alter the steering process of the microbial network. This study extracted virus-like particles from a biogas reactor and identified 375 metagenome-assembled viral genomes. The metavirome sequencing provided new genome sequence information for viral genetic diversity in biogas reactors.
Article
Microbiology
Daniel Wibberg, Franziska Genzel, Bart Verwaaijen, Jochen Blom, Oliver Rupp, Alexander Goesmann, Rita Zrenner, Rita Grosch, Alfred Puehler, Andreas Schlueter
Summary: The study compared the genome sequences of two less aggressive Rhizoctonia solani isolates with a highly aggressive isolate, revealing potential gene differences that may explain the varying levels of aggressiveness.
Article
Microbiology
Lucas G. Castellani, Abril Luchetti, Juliet F. Nilsson, Julieta Perez-Gimenez, Ben Struck, Andreas Schlueter, Alfred Puehler, Karsten Niehaus, David Romero, Mariano Pistorio, Gonzalo Torres Tejerizo
Summary: In this study, two uncharacterized proteins that play a key role in the conjugative transfer of rhizobial plasmids were discovered using bioinformatics tools and molecular biology approaches. These findings set up the basis for a new regulatory circuit of the plasmid transfer.
Article
Microbiology
Nora Koeller, Sarah Hahnke, Vladimir Zverlov, Daniel Wibberg, Andreas Klingl, Tobias Busche, Michael Klocke, Alfred Puehler, Andreas Schlueter, Wolfgang Liebl, Irena Maus
Summary: In this study, an anaerobic bacterial strain M3/9T was isolated and characterized. Based on the physiological and genetic analysis, a new species and genus, Anaeropeptidivorans aminofermentans gen. nov., sp. nov., were proposed. The study also provided an emended description of Clostridium colinum.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Irena Maus, Daniel Wibberg, Peter Belmann, Sarah Hahnke, Liren Huang, Cathrin Sproeer, Boyke Bunk, Jochen Blom, Alexander Sczyrba, Alfred Puehler, Michael Klocke, Andreas Schlueter
Summary: Research on biogas-producing microbial communities aims to optimize the anaerobic digestion process and biogas output. The Lachnospiraceae species play a key role in the acidogenesis during the process. The specific strain M3/9(T) possesses genes for protein degradation and amino acid fermentation. Comparison of its genome with Anaerotignum strains revealed genomic diversity. Additionally, M3/9(T) was detected in the intestines of mammals, particularly abundant in goat feces used as substrate for biogas production.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Johanna Nelkner, Liren Huang, Timo W. W. Lin, Alexander Schulz, Benedikt Osterholz, Christian Henke, Jochen Blom, Alfred Puehler, Alexander Sczyrba, Andreas Schlueter
Summary: The family Nitrososphaeraceae is important in agricultural microbiomes. Metabolic reconstruction of Thaumarchaeota MAGs from German soil showed their relevance for soil fertility and plant health. This family plays a crucial role in agricultural soil microbial communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Julia Hassa, Tom Jonas Tubbesing, Irena Maus, Robert Heyer, Dirk Benndorf, Mathias Effenberger, Christian Henke, Benedikt Osterholz, Michael Beckstette, Alfred Puehler, Alexander Sczyrba, Andreas Schlueter
Summary: This study used metagenomic and metaproteomic analyses to investigate the microbial communities in a full-scale biogas plant with three differently operated digesters. The results showed that these microbial communities had a significant impact on the abundance of enzymes and genes involved in the biogas process, and identified key microorganisms involved in different steps of anaerobic digestion. Further analysis of the highly abundant MAGs in all digesters indicated their potential in ensuring biogas process stability.
Article
Microbiology
Juliet F. Nilsson, Lucas G. Castellani, Walter O. Draghi, Ezequiel G. Mogro, Daniel Wibberg, Anika Winkler, L. H. Hansen, Andreas Schluter, Alfred Puhler, Jorn Kalinowski, Gonzalo A. Torres Tejerizo, Mariano Pistorio
Summary: Acidic environments and improper agricultural management can lead to soil acidification globally, impacting the interaction between plants and rhizobia. Research on Rhizobium favelukesii revealed that under acidic conditions, 60% of genes were underexpressed. Transcriptome sequencing identified mechanisms including changes in energy metabolism and protein turnover, as well as GABA and histidine metabolism, contributing to acid tolerance in the bacteria.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2021)