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A newly identified sequence type: genomic and pathogenic profiling of the highly virulent Acinetobacter baumannii

Tian Wang1,2, Xian Deng1, Maolin Xu1

  • 1College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|April 30, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

A novel Acinetobacter baumannii strain, ST3475, identified in Chinese bovine mastitis, shows enhanced virulence and potential adaptation to cattle. This highlights the need for One Health surveillance to monitor antimicrobial resistance in livestock.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Bovine mastitis poses significant global economic challenges.
  • Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging pathogen in cattle, raising concerns about multidrug resistance and zoonotic potential.
  • Understanding A. baumannii in Chinese bovine mastitis, especially novel sequence types, is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize a novel Acinetobacter baumannii sequence type (ST3475) isolated from bovine mastitis in China.
  • To compare the virulence and genomic features of ST3475 with a known bovine strain (ST3256).
  • To assess the potential for zoonotic transmission and antimicrobial resistance implications.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-genome sequencing of A. baumannii isolates.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
  • Phenotypic pathogenicity assays including biofilm formation, cell adhesion/invasion, and in vivo infection models in Galleria mellonella and mice.

Main Results:

  • Identified novel bovine mastitis pathogen A. baumannii ST3475 with an expanded virulence gene repertoire (70 genes) and 18 antimicrobial resistance genes, including a unique carbapenemase gene blaOXA-344.
  • ST3475 exhibited enhanced biofilm formation, adhesion, invasion, and cytotoxicity in bovine cells, with significantly higher lethality in Galleria mellonella compared to ST3256.
  • Murine models showed ST3475 caused severe alveolar destruction and inflammation, indicating high pathogenicity.

Conclusions:

  • ST3475 represents a novel, virulent, and putatively bovine-adapted lineage within clonal complex CC2, distinct from human-associated clones.
  • Despite current susceptibility to carbapenems, the presence of high-risk resistance genes suggests livestock can be reservoirs for clinically relevant determinants.
  • This discovery underscores the importance of integrated One Health surveillance strategies for managing antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic risks in animal populations.
Keywords:
Acinetobacter baumannii ST3475antimicrobial resistancebovine mastitispathogenesiswhole genome sequencing

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