Epidemiology of Klebsiella michiganensis Carrying Multidrug-Resistant IncHI5 Plasmids in the Southeast Coastal Area of China

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to explore the genomic characterization of multidrug-resistant IncHI5-carrying Klebsiella michiganensis strains and detailed genomic dissection of the IncHI5 plasmids.

Materials and Methods

Through whole-genome sequencing, the IncHI5 plasmid pK92-qnrS was obtained from a single clinical K. michiganensis isolate K92. All complete genomes of K. michiganensis strains from the Genome database of NCBI were collected and used to construct a maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree. The epidemiology and geographic distribution of all the K. michiganensis strains were conducted. An extensive comparison of the seven IncHI5 plasmids of K. michiganensis (one from this study, six from GenBank) was applied.

Results

This study revealed that all K. michiganensis strains carrying IncHI5 plasmids from different clonal groups were located in the southeast coastal area of China. The backbone regions of IncHI5 plasmids were composed of replicon (repHI5B and repFIB), partition (parABC), and conjugal transfer (tra1/tra2). The main accessory resistant regions of IncHI5 could be divided into two categories, Tn1696-related region and Tn6535-related region. These seven IncHI5 plasmids carried multiple drug-resistance genes which were all mediated by the mobile genetic elements (MGEs).

Conclusion

Data presented here help to provide an overall in-depth understanding of epidemiology and geographic distribution of IncHI5-carrying K. michiganensis and the structure and evolutionary history of IncHI5 plasmids.

Keywords:

• Klebsiella michiganensis
• mobile genetic elements
• Tn1696
• Tn6535
• antimicrobial resistance

Data Sharing Statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The plasmid sequences analyzed in this study can be found in public NCBI GenBank database. The accession numbers were provided in this article when these plasmids were firstly indicated.

Ethics Approval

The specimens were obtained with the patient’s consent. The use of human specimens and all related experimental protocols was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Taizhou Municipal Hospital affiliated with Taizhou University, Zhejiang, China, in accordance with the medical research regulations of the Ministry of Health, China. Research and all related procedures involving biohazardous materials were approved by the Biosafety Committee of Taizhou Municipal Hospital affiliated with Taizhou University. This research was conducted in China.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Foundation of Zhejiang Health Department (2022KY1395), and the Foundation of Taizhou Science and Technology Bureau (1902ky47).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.