Whole genome analysis of multidrug-resistant isolate collected from drinking water in Armenia revealed the plasmid-borne mediated colistin resistance.

UNLABELLED

The rate of polymyxin-resistant , as well as human and animal infections caused by them, is increasing worldwide, posing a high epidemiological threat since colistin represents a last-resort antibiotic to treat complicated infections. The study of environmental niches, in particular, aquatic ecosystems in terms of genome analysis of inhabiting antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) microorganisms as reservoirs of acquired resistance determinants (AMR genes), represents a specific concern from a One Health approach. Here, we present a phenotypic AMR analysis and molecular characterization of isolate found in municipal drinking water after an accident in the water supply system of a residential building in Armenia in 2021. CrieF1144 isolate was resistant to ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, colistin, and tigecycline, whereas whole genome sequencing (WGS) revealed , ), and a combination of with resistance determinants, which corresponds well with phenotypic resistance above. Moreover, the multidrug-resistant isolate studied harbored gene on a conjugative 251 Kb IncHI2 plasmid, whose structure was determined using hybrid short- and long-reads assembly. CrieF1141_p1 plasmid carried all antimicrobial resistance genes revealed in the isolate and did not harbor any virulence determinants, so it could contribute to the spread of AMR genes in the bacterial population. Two copies of ISApl1 transposase-encoding element, which is likely to mediate gene mobilization, were revealed surrounding this gene in a plasmid.

IMPORTANCE

Evolutionary patterns of show that they usually develop into highly pathogenic forms by acquiring fitness advantages such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and various virulence factors through horizontal gene transfer mediated by mobile elements. This has led to high prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, which highlights the relevancy of enhanced surveillance to monitor and prevent transmission of the MDR bacteria to human and animal populations. However, the limited number of reports regarding the whole genome sequencing (WGS) investigation of MDR strains isolated from drinking water and harboring genes hampers the adoption of a comprehensive approach to address the relationship between environmental populations and human and veterinary infections. Our results highlight the relevance of analyzing the environment, especially water, as a part of the surveillance programs to understand the origins and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance within the One Health concept.