Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae ST1859 O5:KL35 from Soil: First Report of qnrE1 in the Environment

Author(s)

Lopes, Ralf ; Furlan, Joao Pedro Rueda ; Ramos, Micaela Santana ; dos Santos, Lucas David Rodrigues ; Rosa, Rafael da Silva ; Stehling, Eliana Guedes

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MICROBIAL DRUG RESISTANCE; v. N/A, p. 5-pg., 2023-07-10.

Abstract

A Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae strain, named S915, belonging to the ST1859 O5:KL35, and harboring the plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance qnrE1 gene, was isolated from a soil sample cultivated with lettuce in Brazil. The core genome multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed that S915 strain was most related to a clinical strain of Brazil. Comparative genomic analysis showed that ST1859 O5:KL35 strains have been circulating in clinical settings and are closely related to multidrug resistance and multimetal tolerance. Strain S915 presented a plasmid contig co-harboring the qnrE1 gene and tellurite tolerance operon. The region harboring the qnrE1 gene (ISEcp1-qnrE1-araJ-ahp) shared high similarity with others from infected humans, ready-to-eat dish, and food-producing animals in Brazil. This is the first report of the plasmid-mediated qnrE1 gene in the environment. Our findings evidence the initial dissemination of the qnrE1 gene in the environment by the introduction of a clinical strain, which may be spread to different sectors, representing a One Health challenge. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/01655-7 - Resistome, plasmidome and virulome of Enterobacterales isolated from the environment carrying mcr-like genes
• Grantee: Eliana Guedes Stehling
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants