TY - JOUR
T1 - The emergence of a multidrug resistant Salmonella Muenchen in Israel is associated with horizontal acquisition of the epidemic pESI plasmid
AU - Cohen, Emiliano
AU - Kriger, Or
AU - Amit, Sharon
AU - Davidovich, Maya
AU - Rahav, Galia
AU - Gal-Mor, Ohad
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s)
PY - 2022/11
Y1 - 2022/11
N2 - Objectives: Horizontal acquisition of mobile genetic elements is a powerful evolutionary driving force that can profoundly affect pathogens epidemiology and their interactions with the environment and host. In the last decade, the role of the epidemic megaplasmid, pESI was demonstrated in the global emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis strains, but it was unknown if this was a one-time phenomenon, or that pESI can drive the emergence of other pathogens. Methods: Epidemiological, molecular, whole genome sequencing, de-novo assembly, bioinformatics and genetic approaches were used to analyze the emergence of a pESI-positive Salmonella enterica serovar Muenchen strain in Israel. Results: Since 2018, we report the emergence and high prevalence of S. Muenchen in Israel, which consisted at 2020, 40% (1055/2671) of all clinical Salmonella isolates. We show that the emergence of S. Muenchen is dominated by a clonal MDR strain, report its complete assembled genome sequence, and demonstrate that in contrast to preemergent strains, it harbors the epidemic megaplasmid, pESI, which can be self-mobilized into E. coli and other Salmonella serovars. Additionally, we identified bioinformatically highly similar genomes of clinical isolates that were recently collected in South Africa, UK and USA. Conclusions: This is a second documented case of a pathogen emergence associated with pESI acquisition. Considering the genetic cargo of pESI that enhances resistance, stress tolerance and virulence, and its ability to conjugate into prevalent Salmonella serovars, we provide further support that pESI facilities the emergence and spreading of new Salmonella strains.
AB - Objectives: Horizontal acquisition of mobile genetic elements is a powerful evolutionary driving force that can profoundly affect pathogens epidemiology and their interactions with the environment and host. In the last decade, the role of the epidemic megaplasmid, pESI was demonstrated in the global emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis strains, but it was unknown if this was a one-time phenomenon, or that pESI can drive the emergence of other pathogens. Methods: Epidemiological, molecular, whole genome sequencing, de-novo assembly, bioinformatics and genetic approaches were used to analyze the emergence of a pESI-positive Salmonella enterica serovar Muenchen strain in Israel. Results: Since 2018, we report the emergence and high prevalence of S. Muenchen in Israel, which consisted at 2020, 40% (1055/2671) of all clinical Salmonella isolates. We show that the emergence of S. Muenchen is dominated by a clonal MDR strain, report its complete assembled genome sequence, and demonstrate that in contrast to preemergent strains, it harbors the epidemic megaplasmid, pESI, which can be self-mobilized into E. coli and other Salmonella serovars. Additionally, we identified bioinformatically highly similar genomes of clinical isolates that were recently collected in South Africa, UK and USA. Conclusions: This is a second documented case of a pathogen emergence associated with pESI acquisition. Considering the genetic cargo of pESI that enhances resistance, stress tolerance and virulence, and its ability to conjugate into prevalent Salmonella serovars, we provide further support that pESI facilities the emergence and spreading of new Salmonella strains.
KW - Antibiotic resistance
KW - Conjugation
KW - Emerging pathogens
KW - Epidemiology
KW - MDR
KW - Outbreak
KW - Salmonella Muenchen
KW - Salmonellosis
KW - pESI
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135894377&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.05.029
DO - 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.05.029
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
C2 - 35654317
AN - SCOPUS:85135894377
SN - 1198-743X
VL - 28
SP - 1499.e7-1499.e14
JO - Clinical Microbiology and Infection
JF - Clinical Microbiology and Infection
IS - 11
ER -