Evidence of in vitro mecB-mediated β-lactam antibiotic resistance transfer to Staphylococcus aureus from Macrococcus psychrotolerans sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium from food-producing animals and human clinical specimens
| Autoři | |
|---|---|
| Rok publikování | 2025 |
| Druh | Článek v odborném periodiku |
| Časopis / Zdroj | Applied and Environmental Microbiology |
| Fakulta / Pracoviště MU | |
| Citace | |
| www | https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01652-24 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.01652-24 |
| Klíčová slova | Gram-positive cocci; methicillin resistance; cephalosporin resistance; conjugation; food safety; cold temperature tolerance; linear plasmid |
| Přiložené soubory | |
| Popis | Macrococci are usually found as commensals on the skin and mucosa of animals and have been isolated from mammal-derived fermented foods; however, they can also act as opportunistic pathogens. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing, comparative genomics, extensive biotyping, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and chemotaxonomy to characterize Macrococcus sp. strains isolated from livestock and human-related specimens. Based on the results of polyphasic taxonomy, we propose the species Macrococcus psychrotolerans sp. nov. (type strain NRL/St 95/376T = CCM 8659T = DSM 111350T) belonging to the Macrococcus caseolyticus phylogenetic clade. It grows at 4°C, and the core genome of the isolates contains suspected genes contributing to low-temperature tolerance. Variable genetic elements include prophages, chromosomal islands, a composite staphylococcal cassette chromosome island, and many plasmids that affect the overall genome expansion and adaptation to specific ecological settings of the studied isolates. Large plasmids carrying the methicillin resistance gene mecB were identified in M. psychrotolerans sp. nov. strains and confirmed as self-transmissible to Staphylococcus aureus in vitro. In addition to plasmids with circular topology, a 150-kb-long linear plasmid with 14.1-kb-long inverted terminal repeats, harboring many IS elements and putative genes for a type IV secretion system was revealed. The described strains were isolated from human clinical material, food-producing animals, meat, and a wooden cheese board and have the potential to proliferate at refrigerator temperatures. Their presence in the food chain and human infections indicates that attention needs to be paid to this potential novel opportunistic pathogen. |
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