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pEl1573 Carrying blaIMP-4, from Sydney, Australia, is closely related to other IncL/M plasmids

Sally R Partridge1, Andrew N Ginn, Ian T Paulsen

  • 1Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia. sally.partridge@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|August 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Sequencing of the IncL/M plasmid pEl1573 reveals a backbone similar to other plasmids, suggesting distinct evolutionary lineages. Its multiresistance region, while sharing components, shows unique rearrangements.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • IncL/M plasmids are significant vectors for antimicrobial resistance genes.
  • Understanding plasmid evolution is crucial for combating antibiotic resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the complete genome of pEl1573, an IncL/M plasmid carrying bla(IMP-4).
  • To compare pEl1573 with other IncL/M plasmids to infer evolutionary relationships and resistance mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-genome sequencing of the pEl1573 plasmid.
  • Comparative genomic analysis with publicly available IncL/M plasmid sequences.

Main Results:

  • The pEl1573 plasmid backbone (approx. 60 kb) is highly similar to pCTX-M3 and pCTX-M360, indicating shared ancestry but distinct lineages compared to pNDM-HK, pOXA-48a, and pEL60.
  • The Tn2-derived multiresistance region (approx. 28 kb) in pEl1573 shares insertion site and some components with pCTX-M3 and pNDM-HK but exhibits internal rearrangements.

Conclusions:

  • pEl1573 represents a distinct lineage within IncL/M plasmids.
  • Plasmid backbone conservation alongside multiresistance region variability highlights mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance gene dissemination and evolution.

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