Novel linear plasmids carrying vanA cluster drives the spread of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium in India

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2022.03.013
• Publication Date: 2022-03-23T16:24:54Z
• Authors: Yamuna Devi Bakth...; Mamta Puraswani; Abel Livingston; Monisha Priya; Dhanalakshmi Venk...; Divya Sharma; Ramya Iyadurai; Kishore Pichamuthu; Balaji Veeraraghavan; Purva Mathur
• Keywords: Enterococcus faecium; Multilocus sequence typing; Insertion sequence

The genetic basis for the spread of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium is largely unexplored India. present study aimed to investigate plasmid diversity and variation Tn1546 associated with vanA harbouring VREfm isolates.A total 122 isolates collected from blood cultures were included this study. MLST analysis was performed on all isolates, they also screened presence vanB genes. Whole genome sequencing a subset fifteen belonging ST1643.All carried gene. Twenty-four different sequence types seen; these, ST1643, ST80 ST17 predominant. 15 ST1643. For eight gene found pRUM-like circular plasmids, remaining seven linear plasmids. Novel variants carrying both Interestingly, co-presence optrA seen backbone three plasmids.Multiple vanA-carrying plasmids Tn1546-like elements involved dissemination VREfm. co-occurrence Tn554 family transposon worrisome. such may pose treatment infection control challenges.