Host dependent maintenance of a bla_NDM-1-encoding plasmid in clinical Escherichia coli isolates.

ABSTRACT: Dissemination of bacterial clones carrying plasmid-mediated resistance genes is a major factor contributing to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance. Understanding the evolution of successful clones and the association to mobile resistance elements are therefore crucial. In this study, we determined the sequence of a 145 kb IncC multi-drug resistance plasmid (pK71-77-1-NDM), harbouring resistance genes to last-resort antibiotics including carbapenems. We show that the plasmid is able to transfer into a range of genetically diverse clinical Escherichia coli strains and that the fitness cost imposed on the host is often low. Moreover, the plasmid is stably maintained under non-selective conditions across different genetic backgrounds. However, we also observed a lower conjugatio

SUBMITTER: Gama JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7283256 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature