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Dissemination of pHK01-like incompatibility group IncFII plasmids encoding CTX-M-14 in Escherichia coli from human

P L Ho1, W U Lo, M K Yeung

  • 1Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China. plho@hkucc.hku.hk

Veterinary Microbiology
|March 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The IncFII group, specifically pHK01-like plasmids, are crucial for spreading the CTX-M-14 gene among Escherichia coli from both human and animal sources. This highlights the importance of tracking these plasmids across different environments.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • CTX-M enzymes are a major cause of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production in Enterobacteriaceae.
  • Few studies have comparatively analyzed CTX-M encoding plasmids from diverse ecological niches.
  • Understanding plasmid epidemiology is vital for controlling the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the molecular epidemiology of CTX-M-14 encoding plasmids in Escherichia coli from human and animal sources.
  • To characterize the genetic environment and replicon types of these plasmids.
  • To identify common plasmid lineages disseminating CTX-M-14 across different hosts.

Main Methods:

  • Molecular characterization of 160 Escherichia coli isolates from animal and human faecal and human urine samples.
  • Plasmid replicon typing, genetic environment analysis (ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-14-IS903), and IncFII plasmid subtyping.
  • Replicon sequence typing, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and marker gene profiling for IncFII plasmids.

Main Results:

  • The IncFII incompatibility group was the most prevalent type (n=61) among CTX-M-14 encoding plasmids.
  • The genetic structure ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-14-IS903 was conserved across animal, human faecal, and human urine isolates.
  • A significant proportion of IncFII plasmids were identified as pHK01-like, originating from both human and animal sources.

Conclusions:

  • The IncFII group, particularly pHK01-like plasmids, plays a significant role in the dissemination of CTX-M-14.
  • The findings underscore the interconnectedness of human and animal reservoirs in the spread of CTX-M-14.
  • Effective control strategies for CTX-M-14 require a One Health approach targeting diverse sources.

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