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Rapid and Specific Detection of Acinetobacter baumannii Infections Using a Recombinase Polymerase Amplification/Cas12a-based System
Published on: April 25, 2025
[Identification of a new subtype of blaADC produced by Acinetobacter baumannii isolated in children]
Rui-zhen Zhao1, Qian Chen, Yue-jie Zheng
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Objective:
To investigate the genotype of blaADC which was a kind of AmpC produced by Acinetobacter baumannii (AB), isolated through the detection of 28 similar strains among children.
Methods:
28 strains of AB were collected and isolated from the Pediatrics clinic during 2006, and were identified through bacteria and susceptibility test using Vitex-32 automicroscan GNI and GNS cards. The genotype of blaADC was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and them sequenced.
Results:
3 of the 28 strains of AB showed multi-drugs resistance, with a positive rate of 10.71%. blaADC was discovered in 17 of the 28 strains and the positive rate was 60.71%. All the 28 strains of AB were resistant to Cefoxitin. blaADC positive strains were all sensitive to Ampicil/Sulbactam, and only one of them was resistant to Piperacillin/Tazobactan. There were no blaADC genes discovered in the strains that were resistant to Ampicil/Sulbactam or Piperacillin/Tazobactan. There were changes of amino acids on the site 4, 242, 342 and 376 in the sequence of blaADC of No.2 strain, comparing to gi /7258342/ emb /CAB77444. 1/ in GenBank.
Conclusion:
Above 60% of the AB isolated in children were carrying blaADC while a strain was collected from them at random. When they were undertaken nucleotide sequence analysis, significant difference was found from the others that landed in GenBank, which identified itself as new subtype.
Insights
Over 60% of Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) strains from children carried the blaADC gene, a type of AmpC enzyme. Sequencing revealed a novel blaADC subtype in these pediatric isolates.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) is an opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with hospital-acquired infections.
- AmpC-type enzymes, including blaADC, are significant contributors to antimicrobial resistance in bacteria.
- Pediatric populations can be vulnerable to multidrug-resistantAB infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and genetic characteristics of the blaADC gene in Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from children.
- To investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns associated with blaADC-positive AB strains in a pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and identification of 28 AB strains from pediatric patients.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using Vitex-32 automicroscan.
- Confirmation and sequencing of the blaADC gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Main Results:
- The blaADC gene was detected in 60.71% (17/28) of the isolated AB strains.
- All 28 strains were resistant to Cefoxitin; blaADC-positive strains showed sensitivity to Ampicillin/Sulbactam.
- A novel subtype of blaADC was identified through nucleotide sequence analysis, differing from existing GenBank sequences.
Conclusions:
- The blaADC gene is highly prevalent in pediatric AB isolates, indicating a significant public health concern.
- The identification of a new blaADC subtype suggests ongoing evolution of resistance mechanisms in AB.
- Understanding the genetic basis of resistance in pediatric AB is crucial for effective treatment strategies.
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