Project description:Antibiotic resistance associated with the expression of the clinically significant carbapenemases, IMP, KPC, and NDM and OXA-48 in Enterobacteriaceae is emerging as a worldwide calamity to health care. In Australia, IMP-producing Enterobacteriaceae is the most prevalent carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). Genomic characteristics of such carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are well described, but the corresponding proteome is poorly characterised. We have thus developed a method to analyse dynamic changes in the proteome of CPE under antibiotic pressure. Specifically, we have investigated the effect of meropenem at sub-lethal concentrations to develop a better understanding of how antibiotic pressure leads to resistance. Escherichia coli, producing either NDM, IMP or KPC type carbapenemase were included in this study, and their proteomes were analysed in growth conditions with or without meropenem.
Project description:<p>Mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes undermine the efficacy of last-line polymyxin antibiotics, and the global prevalence of mcr-3 continues to rise despite reduced colistin use. Here, we show that mcr-3-positive Escherichia coli (E. coli) confers a survival advantage by reprogramming macrophage immunity. MCR-3-mediated lipid A modification blunted TLR4-NF-kappaB signaling, suppressed macrophage reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and delayed phagosome-lysosome fusion, allowing mcr-3-positive strains to evade intracellular killing. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed extensive immunometabolic rewiring in infected macrophages, including altered glycerophospholipid metabolism and iron homeostasis. Consistently, mcr-3 enhanced bacterial tolerance to ferrous iron stress, likely mitigating host-induced ferroptotic damage. In a mouse co-infection model, mcr-3-positive strains outcompeted isogenic mcr-3-negative strains under antibiotic treatment without any difference in antibiotic susceptibility in vitro. These findings reveal a dual-action mechanism that mcr-3 endows E. coli with both antibiotic resistance and host immune suppression, enabling persistence under antibiotic pressure and highlighting the long-term threat of mcr-3 dissemination even in the absence of polymyxin use.</p>
2026-05-30 | MTBLS13550 | MetaboLights
Project description:NDM- and MCR-producing Escherichia coli strains in Yangzhou, China
