Comparative genomic analyses of Escherichia coli ST405 strains from Pakistan

Escherichia coli sequence type (ST) 405, a high-risk international clone, has emerged as a critical lineage for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), including the bla_NDM-5 gene. This study aims to elucidate the genomic landscape of ST405 through comparative genomic analysis of both publicly available ST405 genomes and three ST405 isolates from sewage and wild-bird fecal samples in Pakistan. A total of 1,778 E. coli ST405 genomes were investigated through phylogenomic and population-structure analyses, revealing distinct clusters and subgroup lineages within this ST. Among these, subgroup B was identified as a pivotal contributor to the dissemination of the bla_NDM-5 gene within ST405. Temporal analysis indicates that subgroup B is expanding over time, raising concerns regarding its potential contributions to increased antibiotic resistance within ST405 populations. Genetic-structure analyses of bla_NDM-5-carrying plasmids of the sewage isolates uncovered the presence of nearly identical plasmids in other multidrug-resistant STs, ST156 and ST648, suggesting a genetic linkage among these STs. Additionally, a novel bla_NDM-5 genetic context was identified in the animal isolate, characterized by unique composite-transposon and inversion structures mediated by IS26 replicative transposition, highlighting the dynamic evolution of the ST405-associated plasmid. These findings underscore the intra-ST dissemination of the bla_NDM-5 gene and the ongoing diversification of its genetic context within ST405. This comprehensive analysis advances our understanding of ST405, providing insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying its enhanced antibiotic resistance and the emergence of a novel ARG-carrying plasmid within the One Health framework.

This study provides a comprehensive genomic landscape of ST405, a high-risk international clone and a carrier of the bla_NDM-5 gene, revealing phylogenetically distinct patterns in the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors, and a critical phylogenetic lineage that serves as a primary reservoir of the bla_NDM-5 gene. Furthermore, the genetic linkage between ST405 and other STs (ST156 and ST648) through the sharing of identical bla_NDM-5-carrying plasmids, and the emergence of a novel bla_NDM-5 genetic structure in an animal isolate, underscore the pivotal role of ST405 in the dissemination of the bla_NDM-5 gene. These findings highlight the public health significance of ST405 and its contribution to the global spread of carbapenem resistance.