Co-Occurrence of Colistin and Meropenem Resistance Determinants in a Stenotrophomonas Strain Isolated from Sewage Water

Abstract

Development of antibiotic resistance can be achieved either by mutation or by acquiring a resistance gene from foreign sources, with some resistance genes likely originating in microbial populations to counteract antibiotics present in natural ecosystems. In this study, we describe the first report of a strain of nonclinical multidrug-resistant Stenotrophomonas sp. strain G4 with high-level resistance to colistin and meropenem, phylogenetically distinct from well-studied multiple drug-resistant species of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. As the high-level colistin resistance of this strain was of great concern, the genome of this strain was completely sequenced. Only one chromosome was identified, and no plasmids were found. Chromosomal gene variants and other potential genetic determinants conferring resistance to colistin and meropenem were comparatively analyzed, and results showed that strain G4 harbored two putative colistin resistance determinants (named mcr-5.3 and mcr-8.2) and four extended-spectrum β-lactamase genes. In addition, 12 genes potentially encoding seven different types of efflux pumps were identified, which may have a major role in acquisition/transfer of colistin resistance. Our discovery of multiple antibiotic resistance determinants in this environmental strain extensively expands our understanding of the extent of dissemination of colistin and meropenem resistance.

Keywords: Stenotrophomonas; antibiotic resistance; colistin; gene transfer; meropenem.