Virulence factors are preserved within carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clades.

ABSTRACT: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is an important threat to hospitalized patients. The virulence of A. baumannii varies between strains and geographic locations, which is believed to be related to its genetic plasticity. A comprehensive evaluation of virulence factor (VF) content of CRAB across genetically related clones is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to determine the evolution of VFs among 246 CRAB isolates belonging to major STs, ST2 and ST3. We used WGS to assess 136 VFs and found that 110 VFs were present in most isolates (49 VFs were universally present, 61 were ubiquitous) and 25 occurred sporadically. The distribution of the 25 sporadic VF genes was homogenous in ST3 but heterogeneous in ST2. Within ST2, we found high intra-clade homogeneity and high inter-clade h

SUBMITTER: Lurie-Weinberger MN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12377095 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature