Plasmidome analyses of Klebsiella pneumoniae co-producing blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1 in Southern Brazil: characterisation of mobile genetic elements
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: • bla KPC-2 and bla NDM-1 co-producers presented distinct Inc groups for each gene; • The genetic environment of bla NDM-1 has undergone significant changes over the years; • Several resistance genes presented in the transposon lead to its co-selection; • We identified a new plasmid type carrying the bla KPC-2 gene, IncN/IncFIB. Infections due to carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales harboring more than one carbapenemase-encoding gene spreads mainly by plasmid and transposon mobilization. Analyze the mobile genetic elements carrying bla KPC and bla NDM of K. pneumoniae carbapenemase co-producers (KpKN). K. pneumoniae isolates with reduced susceptibility to carbapenems were obtained from 2016 to 2023. To evaluate the genetic environment of KpKN, 22 isolates were selected for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The bla KPC-2 gene was carried mainly by IncN/IncFIB, a novel co-integrated plasmid in the Tn 4401b transposon. The bla NDM-1 was disseminated in the only two KpKN isolates recovered before 2020 by IncHI1B/IncFIB plasmid type, in the Tn 3000 transposon. Noteworthy, isolates obtained since 2020 showed the bla NDM-1 gene carried by IncA/C in an IS 26 -flanked pseudo-composite transposon containing IS CR1 , which also had genes that confer resistance to sulfonamides, aminoglycosides, macrolides, quinolones, amphenicols, tetracyclines, rifampicin, sulfonamide, and trimethoprim. The isolates belong mainly to ST11 and ST16. The plasmid and transposon changes during the different periods could be related to higher dissemination of the bla NDM-1 and the large number of resistance genes present in the IS 26 -flanked transposon may have increased the co-selection of this plasmid through the wide use of antimicrobials during the pandemic.
Authors: Mayana Kieling Hernandez Berdichevski, Rafaela R. Guerra, Dariane C. Pereira, Camila M. Wilhelm, Patricia O. Barth, Melise C. Silveira, Fabiana C.Z. Volpato, Claudio Rocha-de-Souza, Richard M. Carrassai, Ana Paula Carvalho-Assef, Andreza F. Martins, Afonso Luís Barth
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Medicine
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,890
OpenAlex ID: W4408253091