Comparative genomics of type 1 IncC plasmids from China.

AIM

This study dealt with genomic characterization of type 1 IncC resistance plasmids, capable of spreading across taxonomic borders, from China.

MATERIALS & METHODS: p112298-tetA was sequenced and compared with type 1 IncC reference plasmid pR148 and two available sequenced type 1 IncC plasmids pHS36-NDM and pVAS3-1 from China.

RESULTS

These plasmids contained one or more exogenous resistance islands, which included the ARI-A islands, the ARI-B islands, the ISEcp1-bla units and the bla region and were inserted at various sites in the IncC backbone and thus represented three distinct lineages.

CONCLUSION

Complex rearrangement and homologous recombination events have occurred during evolution of p112298-tetA, making it significantly differ modularly from the other three plasmids with respect to both plasmid backbone and exogenous resistance regions.