Characterization of <i>Enterobacter cloacae complex</i> clinical isolates: comparative genomics and the role of the efflux pump AcrAB-TolC over-expression and NDM-1 production.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC) has emerged as the third most prevalent nosocomial Enterobacterales pathogen, propelled by the synergy between intrinsic defenses, e.g. AcrAB-TolC efflux pump overexpression and horizontally acquired determinants such as the plasmid-borne bla _NDM-1.

Methods

Our study employed a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy to characterize three carbapenem-resistant, NDM-1-positive ECC isolates, named x9, F12, and x230151. The integrated methodology merged phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing with functional conjugation and electroporation assays. High-resolution hybrid Nanopore-Illumina genome assemblies enabled detailed genomic annotation and extensive resistance profiling. We further qu

SUBMITTER: Jiang N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12635725 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature