Horizontal transfer of the blaNDM-1 gene to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii in biofilms.
Horizontal gene transfer has contributed to the global spread of the blaNDM-1 gene. Multiple studies have demonstrated plasmid transfer of blaNDM-1 between Gram-negative bacteria, primarily Enterobacteriaceae species, but conjugational transfer of natural blaNDM-1 plasmids from Enterobacteriaceae into Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii has not previously been shown. As P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii are both typically strong biofilm formers, transfer of natural blaNDM-1 plasmids could potentially occur more readily in this environment. To determine whether natural blaNDM-1 plasmids could transfer to P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii in biofilms, three clinical and environmental Enterobacteriaceae strains carrying NDM-1-encoding plasmids of different incompatibility types were mated with E. coli J53, producing E. coli J53- blaNDM-1 transconjugants. Subsequently, dual-species biofilms were created using the E. coli J53 transconjugants as plasmid donors and either P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii as recipients. Biofilm transfer of NDM-encoding plasmids to P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii was successful from one and two E. coli J53- blaNDM-1 transconjugants, respectively. This demonstrates the potential for the spread of blaNDM-1, genes to P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii in clinical and environmental settings.
Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
Windy D
WD
Tanner
Utah Public Health Laboratory, Taylorsville, UT 84129, USA.
Robyn M
RM
Atkinson
Department of Civil Environmental Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
Ramesh K
RK
Goel
Department of Infection, Immunity and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
Mark A
MA
Toleman
Division of Public Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
Lowell Scott
LS
Benson
Division of Public Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
Christina A
CA
Porucznik
Division of Public Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
James A
JA
VanDerslice
D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018441:Biofilms; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010957:Plasmids; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001618:beta-Lactamases
Acinetobacter baumannii; NDM-1; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; biofilm; conjugation; horizontal gene transfer