Characterization of the Diversity in Host Range of an Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Type IV Secretion System-Encoding Plasmid in <i>Acinetobacter</i>
The World Health Organization (WHO) cites antimicrobial resistance as among the greatest threats to human health. The multidrug-resistant pathogen <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, recognized as a priority pathogen for healthcare and research, is responsible for a diverse array of infectio...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Kailey Martz Dalya Alomar Marisha Karim Sara Knezevic Vanessa M. D’Costa |
| author_facet | Kailey Martz Dalya Alomar Marisha Karim Sara Knezevic Vanessa M. D’Costa |
| author_sort | Kailey Martz |
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| description | The World Health Organization (WHO) cites antimicrobial resistance as among the greatest threats to human health. The multidrug-resistant pathogen <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, recognized as a priority pathogen for healthcare and research, is responsible for a diverse array of infections including respiratory tract, soft tissue and wound, and bloodstream infections. Despite this importance, the mechanisms of its pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Conjugation represents a central mechanism for bacterial adaptation and evolution and is responsible for the spread of genes that promote pathogen survival, antibiotic resistance, virulence, and biofilm formation. Our laboratory recently characterized a large group of almost 120 Type IV Secretion System (T4SS)-encoding plasmids in <i>Acinetobacter</i>, distributed globally across 20 countries spanning four continents, and demonstrated that an XDR <i>A. baumannii</i> plasmid from this family was transmissible to another <i>A. baumannii</i> strain. This research investigated the potential diversity of host strains for this representative member plasmid. Using the GC1 lineage strain <i>A. baumannii</i> AB5075-UW harbouring the XDR plasmid p1AB5075 and a series of previously characterized clinical and environmental <i>Acinetobacter</i> strains, conjugative analyses demonstrated transfer of the XDR plasmid to both <i>A. baumannii</i> strains of more genetically divergent sequence types and to non-<i>baumannii Acinetobacter</i> species both inside and outside the <i>Acinetobacter calcoaceticus–baumannii</i> (ACB) complex. Successful recipients included diverse strains of both clinical and environmental origin within the <i>Acinetobacter</i> genus. Collectively, this research could provide insights into an important genetic element for future surveillance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e4831c494cc47a1b8d1370656b2bb1d |
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| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-7e4831c494cc47a1b8d1370656b2bb1d2025-06-25T14:17:11ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-06-0114660610.3390/pathogens14060606Characterization of the Diversity in Host Range of an Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Type IV Secretion System-Encoding Plasmid in <i>Acinetobacter</i>Kailey Martz0Dalya Alomar1Marisha Karim2Sara Knezevic3Vanessa M. D’Costa4Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, CanadaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, CanadaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, CanadaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, CanadaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, CanadaThe World Health Organization (WHO) cites antimicrobial resistance as among the greatest threats to human health. The multidrug-resistant pathogen <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, recognized as a priority pathogen for healthcare and research, is responsible for a diverse array of infections including respiratory tract, soft tissue and wound, and bloodstream infections. Despite this importance, the mechanisms of its pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Conjugation represents a central mechanism for bacterial adaptation and evolution and is responsible for the spread of genes that promote pathogen survival, antibiotic resistance, virulence, and biofilm formation. Our laboratory recently characterized a large group of almost 120 Type IV Secretion System (T4SS)-encoding plasmids in <i>Acinetobacter</i>, distributed globally across 20 countries spanning four continents, and demonstrated that an XDR <i>A. baumannii</i> plasmid from this family was transmissible to another <i>A. baumannii</i> strain. This research investigated the potential diversity of host strains for this representative member plasmid. Using the GC1 lineage strain <i>A. baumannii</i> AB5075-UW harbouring the XDR plasmid p1AB5075 and a series of previously characterized clinical and environmental <i>Acinetobacter</i> strains, conjugative analyses demonstrated transfer of the XDR plasmid to both <i>A. baumannii</i> strains of more genetically divergent sequence types and to non-<i>baumannii Acinetobacter</i> species both inside and outside the <i>Acinetobacter calcoaceticus–baumannii</i> (ACB) complex. Successful recipients included diverse strains of both clinical and environmental origin within the <i>Acinetobacter</i> genus. Collectively, this research could provide insights into an important genetic element for future surveillance.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/6/606<i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>bacterial pathogenantibiotic resistancecarbapenem resistanceconjugationhorizontal gene transfer |
| spellingShingle | Kailey Martz Dalya Alomar Marisha Karim Sara Knezevic Vanessa M. D’Costa Characterization of the Diversity in Host Range of an Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Type IV Secretion System-Encoding Plasmid in <i>Acinetobacter</i> Pathogens <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> bacterial pathogen antibiotic resistance carbapenem resistance conjugation horizontal gene transfer |
| title | Characterization of the Diversity in Host Range of an Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Type IV Secretion System-Encoding Plasmid in <i>Acinetobacter</i> |
| title_full | Characterization of the Diversity in Host Range of an Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Type IV Secretion System-Encoding Plasmid in <i>Acinetobacter</i> |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of the Diversity in Host Range of an Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Type IV Secretion System-Encoding Plasmid in <i>Acinetobacter</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of the Diversity in Host Range of an Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Type IV Secretion System-Encoding Plasmid in <i>Acinetobacter</i> |
| title_short | Characterization of the Diversity in Host Range of an Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Type IV Secretion System-Encoding Plasmid in <i>Acinetobacter</i> |
| title_sort | characterization of the diversity in host range of an extensively drug resistant xdr type iv secretion system encoding plasmid in i acinetobacter i |
| topic | <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> bacterial pathogen antibiotic resistance carbapenem resistance conjugation horizontal gene transfer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/6/606 |
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