Conjugative transfer of multi-drug resistance IncN plasmids from environmental waterborne bacteria to Escherichia coli

• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.997849
• Publication Date: 2022-10-26T12:41:50Z
• Authors: Jessica Guzman-Otazo; Enrique Joffré; Jorge Agramont; Nataniel Mamani; Jekaterina Jutkina; Fredrik Boulund; Yue O. O. Hu; Daphne Jumilla-Lo...; Anne Farewell; D. G. Joakim Larsson; Carl-Fredrik Flach; Volga Iñiguez; Åsa Sjöling
• Keywords: Horizontal Gene Transfer

Watersheds contaminated with municipal, hospital, and agricultural residues are recognized as reservoirs for bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The objective of this study was to determine the potential environmental bacterial communities from highly La Paz River basin in Bolivia transfer ARGs an Escherichia coli lab strain used recipient. Additionally, we tested ZnSO4 CuSO4 at sub-inhibitory concentrations stressors analyzed frequencies (TFs), diversity, richness, acquired profiles. were collected surface water urban site close a hospital near area. High potentials large set factors E. observed both sites. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that putative plasmids belonging incompatibility group N (IncN, IncN2, IncN3) predominant among transconjugants. All IncN variants verified be mobile by second conjugation step. plasmid backbones similar other isolated worldwide carried wide range extensively corroborated phenotypic patterns. Interestingly, all transconjugants also class 1 integron intl1, which is commonly known proxy anthropogenic pollution. addition did not affect rate. Metal absent most transconjugants, suggesting minor role, if any, metals spread multidrug-resistant investigated