Epidemiological characteristics of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii ST369 in Anhui, China

Acinetobacter baumannii is a major health threat due to its antibiotic resistance and ability to cause nosocomial infections. Epidemiological studies indicated that the majority of globally prevalent ST369 clones originated from China, indicating a significant impact on public health in the country. In this study, we conducted whole-genome sequencing, comparative genomics, and Galleria mellonella infection model on eight A. baumannii ST369 isolates collected from a provincial hospital in China to comprehensively understand the organism. We identified two mutations (G540A and G667D) on the wzc gene that can affect bacterial virulence and viscosity. We confirmed their impact on resistance and virulence. We also investigated the potential involvement of AB46_0125 and AB152_03903 proteins in virulence. This finding provides a theoretical reference for further research on A. baumannii ST369 clinical isolates with similar mutations.