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. 2015:2015:414681.
doi: 10.1155/2015/414681. Epub 2015 Jul 8.

Diversity and Global Distribution of IncL/M Plasmids Enabling Horizontal Dissemination of β-Lactam Resistance Genes among the Enterobacteriaceae

Marcin Adamczuk  1 , Piotr Zaleski  2 , Lukasz Dziewit  1 , Renata Wolinowska  3 , Marta Nieckarz  1 , Pawel Wawrzyniak  4 , Piotr Kieryl  2 , Andrzej Plucienniczak  2 , Dariusz Bartosik  1
Affiliations

Diversity and Global Distribution of IncL/M Plasmids Enabling Horizontal Dissemination of β-Lactam Resistance Genes among the Enterobacteriaceae

Marcin Adamczuk et al. Biomed Res Int. 2015.

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance determinants are frequently associated with plasmids and other mobile genetic elements, which simplifies their horizontal transmission. Several groups of plasmids (including replicons of the IncL/M incompatibility group) were found to play an important role in the dissemination of resistance genes encoding β-lactamases. The IncL/M plasmids are large, broad host range, and self-transmissible replicons. We have identified and characterized two novel members of this group: pARM26 (isolated from bacteria inhabiting activated sludge from a wastewater treatment plant) and pIGT15 (originating from a clinical strain of Escherichia coli). This instigated a detailed comparative analysis of all available sequences of IncL/M plasmids encoding β-lactamases. The core genome of these plasmids is comprised of 20 genes with conserved synteny. Phylogenetic analyses of these core genes allowed clustering of the plasmids into four separate groups, which reflect their antibiotic resistance profiles. Examination of the biogeography of the IncL/M plasmids revealed that they are most frequently found in bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae originating from the Mediterranean region and Western Europe and that they are able to persist in various ecological niches even in the absence of direct antibiotic selection pressure.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Linear map showing the genetic structure of circular plasmids pACM1, pARM26, and pIGT15. Arrows indicate the direction of gene transcription. The gray-shaded area connects DNA regions of different plasmids with at least 99% nucleotide sequence identity. Yellow frames indicate DNA regions (I and II) of pARM26 not present within pIGT15. REP: replication system; TRA: conjugal transfer system; PAR: partitioning system; InA and InB: class 1 integrons.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparative analyses of IncL/M plasmids. (a) Phylogenetic tree based on the 20 core genes of the IncL/M plasmids. (b) Comparative genomic analysis of the IncL/M plasmids (sequence annotations of several plasmids have been manually corrected; the distinguished genes are shown by arrows on the linear maps: red: bla genes; yellow: other AR genes). The gray-shaded areas connect DNA regions of different plasmids with at least 68% nucleotide sequence identity. (c–k) Comparison of the antibiotic resistance gene contents of the IncL/M plasmids: (c) β-lactam resistance genes; (d) aminoglycoside resistance genes; (e) macrolide resistance genes; (f) quinolone resistance genes; (g) trimethoprim resistance genes; (h) sulfonamide resistance genes; (i) bleomycin resistance genes; (j) chloramphenicol resistance genes; (k) tetracycline resistance genes.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Geographical distribution of IncL/M plasmids.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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