Fitness effects of blaCTX-M-15-harbouring F2:A1:B− plasmids on their native Escherichia coli ST131 H30Rx hosts

Palkovicova, J., Sukkar, I., Delafuente, J., Valcek, A., Medvecky, M., Jamborova, I., Bitar, I., Phan, M. D., San Millan, A. and Dolejska, M. (2022) Fitness effects of blaCTX-M-15-harbouring F2:A1:B− plasmids on their native Escherichia coli ST131 H30Rx hosts. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 77(11), pp. 2960-2963. (doi: 10.1093/jac/dkac250) (PMID:35880751)

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the fitness effects of large blaCTX-M-15-harbouring F2:A1:B− plasmids on their native Escherichia coli ST131 H30Rx hosts. Methods: We selected five E. coli ST131 H30Rx isolates of diverse origin, each carrying an F2:A1:B− plasmid with the blaCTX-M-15 gene. The plasmid was eliminated from each isolate by displacement using an incompatible curing plasmid, pMDP5_cureEC958. WGS was performed to obtain complete chromosome and plasmid sequences of original isolates and to detect chromosomal mutations in ‘cured’ clones. High-throughput competition assays were conducted to determine the relative fitness of cured clones compared with the corresponding original isolates. Results: We were able to successfully eliminate the F2:A1:B− plasmids from all five original isolates using pMDP5_cureEC958. The F2:A1:B− plasmids produced non-significant fitness effects in three isolates and moderate reductions in relative fitness (3%–4%) in the two remaining isolates. Conclusions: We conclude that F2:A1:B− plasmids pose low fitness costs in their E. coli ST131 H30Rx hosts. This plasmid-host fitness compatibility is likely to promote the maintenance of antibiotic resistance in this clinically important E. coli lineage.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Medvecky, Dr Matej
• Authors: Palkovicova, J., Sukkar, I., Delafuente, J., Valcek, A., Medvecky, M., Jamborova, I., Bitar, I., Phan, M. D., San Millan, A., and Dolejska, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0305-7453
• ISSN (Online): 1460-2091
• Published Online: 26 July 2022