title: Diversity and Global Distribution of IncL/M Plasmids Enabling Horizontal Dissemination of β-Lactam Resistance Genes among the Enterobacteriaceae.
abstract: Antibiotic resistance determinants are frequently associated with plasmids and other mobile genetic elements, which simplifies their horizontal transmission. Several groups of plasmids (including replicons of the IncL/M incompatibility group) were found to play an important role in the dissemination of resistance genes encoding β-lactamases. The IncL/M plasmids are large, broad host range, and self-transmissible replicons. We have identified and characterized two novel members of this group: pARM26 (isolated from bacteria inhabiting activated sludge from a wastewater treatment plant) and pIGT15 (originating from a clinical strain of Escherichia coli). This instigated a detailed comparative analysis of all available sequences of IncL/M plasmids encoding β-lactamases. The core genome of these plasmids is comprised of 20 genes with conserved synteny. Phylogenetic analyses of these core genes allowed clustering of the plasmids into four separate groups, which reflect their antibiotic resistance profiles. Examination of the biogeography of the IncL/M plasmids revealed that they are most frequently found in bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae originating from the Mediterranean region and Western Europe and that they are able to persist in various ecological niches even in the absence of direct antibiotic selection pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adamczuk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Staroscinska 5, 02-516 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zaleski
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dziewit
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Oczki 3, 02-007 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolinowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nieckarz
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland ; Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Staroscinska 5, 02-516 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wawrzyniak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Staroscinska 5, 02-516 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kieryl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Staroscinska 5, 02-516 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plucienniczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bartosik
mesh_terms: D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000235:genetics; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000235:genetics*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D014644:Genetic Variation; D023281:Genomics; D058974:Phylogeography; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004270:DNA, Circular; D001618:beta-Lactamases