title: Achromobacter xylosoxidans: an emerging pathogen carrying different elements involved in horizontal genetic transfer.
abstract: In the last few years, numerous cases of multidrug-resistant Achromobacter xylosoxidans infections have been documented in immunocompromised and cystic fibrosis patients. To gain insights into the molecular mechanisms and mobile elements related to multidrug resistance in this bacterium, we studied 24 non-epidemiological A. xylosoxidans clinical isolates from Argentina. Specific primers for plasmids, transposons, insertion sequences, bla(ampC), intI1, and intI2 genes were used in PCR reactions. The obtained results showed the presence of wide host range IncP plasmids in ten isolates and a high dispersion of class 1 integrons (n = 10) and class 2 integrons (n = 3). Four arrays in the variable region (vr) of class 1 integrons were identified carrying different gene cassettes as the aminoglycoside resistance aac(6')-Ib and aadA1, the trimethoprim resistance dfrA1 and dfrA16, and the β-lactamase bla(OXA-2). In only one of the class 2 integrons, a vr was amplified that includes sat2-aadA1. The bla(ampC) gene was found in all isolates, confirming its ubiquitous nature. Our results show that A. xylosoxidans clinical isolates contain a rich variety of genetic elements commonly associated with resistance genes and their dissemination. This supports the hypothesis that A. xylosoxidans is becoming a reservoir of horizontal genetic transfer elements commonly involved in spreading antibiotic resistance.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones de los Mecanismos de Resistencia a Antibióticos, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Paraguay 2155 Piso 12, 1121 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: German Matías
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Traglia
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almuzara
authors.forename: Andrea Karina
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Merkier
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galanternik
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vay
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Centrón
authors.forename: María Soledad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ramírez
mesh_terms: D042441:Achromobacter denitrificans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001118:Argentina; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal / Q000235:genetics*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements