Molecular characterization of plasmids encoding CTX-M-15 β-lactamases from Escherichia coli strains in the United Kingdom

E. Karisik, M. J. Ellington, R. Pike, R. E. Warren, D. M. Livermore, N. Woodford

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

113 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: The UK, like other countries worldwide, has a growing problem with CTX-M ß-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli. Five major clonally related strains have been identified among CTX-M-15 producers. We characterize here the plasmids from clonal strains A and D. Methods: Plasmids were extracted and transformed into E. coli DH5a; conjugative mating was attempted on agar. MICs were determined by agar dilution. ß-Lactamases were typed by isoelectric focusing; antibiotic resistance genes and integrons were identified by PCR and sequenced. Plasmid incompatibility groups were determined by replicon PCR. Results: blaCTX-M-15 was carried by a 150 kb plasmid in strain A and a 70 kb plasmid in strain D. Conjugative transfer of cefotaxime resistance was only achieved from strain D; plasmids from both strains were transferred by transformation. The plasmid from strain A additionally carried blaTEM-1 (variably), blaOXA-1, aac(6')-Ib-cr and tet(A), as well as a class 1 integron with the gene cassettes aadA5 and dfr17; the plasmid from strain D carried blaTEM-1 consistently, also blaOXA-1, aac(6')-Ib-cr, aac3-IIa and tet(A). Both plasmids belonged to incompatibility group FII. Conclusions: blaCTX-M-15 was plasmid-mediated in both strains A and D and was linked to other antibiotic resistance genes including aac(6')-Ib-cr, which encodes an acetyltransferase, not previously found in Europe, acting on both aminoglycosides and some fluoroquinolones. Although the plasmids from the two strains differed in size, both were related and conferred similar multi-drug resistance phenotypes, suggesting that they may share a similar genetic scaffold. Both shared features with plasmids encoding CTX-M-15 ß-lactamases in E. coli from Canada and India.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)665-668
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
Volume58
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sep 2006

Cite this