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A transferrable IncL/M plasmid harboring a gene encoding IMP-1 metallo-β-lactamase in clinical isolates of

Nobuyoshi Mori1,2, Tatsuya Tada3, Satoshi Oshiro2

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

BMC Infectious Diseases
|October 14, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

A transferable IncL/M plasmid carrying the blaIMP-1 gene was found in three carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae species from a single patient. This plasmid facilitated inter-species transfer, highlighting a public health concern for antimicrobial resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) pose a global health threat due to resistance to carbapenem antibiotics.
  • Plasmids are key drivers in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes among Enterobacteriaceae.
  • This study investigated a unique case of a patient infected with multiple CPE species harboring a shared, transferable plasmid.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the IncL/M plasmid shared among three CPE species isolated from a single patient.
  • To investigate the transferability of this plasmid between different Enterobacteriaceae species.
  • To assess the clinical and public health implications of plasmid-mediated carbapenem resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Collected and identified three CPE species (Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella aerogenes, Serratia marcescens) from a patient with bloodstream infection.
  • Determined the complete plasmid sequences using MiSeq and MinION technologies.
  • Performed conjugation experiments to assess inter-species plasmid transfer.

Main Results:

  • An IncL/M plasmid, pSL264 (81,133 bp), harboring the blaIMP-1 gene was identified in all three CPE species.
  • Serratia marcescens successfully transferred the pSL264 plasmid to Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella aerogenes.
  • Plasmid transfer from E. cloacae or K. aerogenes to S. marcescens was not observed.

Conclusions:

  • The IncL/M plasmid pSL264 demonstrates inter-species transferability among Enterobacteriaceae within a patient.
  • The emergence and spread of IncL/M plasmids carrying carbapenemase genes represent a significant and growing public health risk.
  • Effective strategies are needed to control the dissemination of such transferable resistance elements.
Keywords:
Carbapenemase producing EnterobacteriaceaeIMP-1 metallo-β-lactamaseIncL/M

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