{"title":"Coexistence of Multidrug Resistance and Hypervirulence-Associated Genes in Clinical Carbapenem-Resistant <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>.","authors":"Hye Hyun Cho, Yumi Park","doi":"10.4014/jmb.2505.05031","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The recent worldwide emergence of hypervirulent, multidrug-resistant <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> represents a critical public health threat. The molecular typing, multidrug resistance (MDR) rates, and hypervirulence-associated genes in carbapenem-resistant <i>P. aeruginosa</i> (CRPA) isolates can vary across geographic locations and patients, highlighting their clinical significance. In this study we investigated the epidemiology and relationship between MDR and the presence of hypervirulence-associated genes in CRPA isolates. Accordingly, we performed antimicrobial susceptibility tests, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and PCR-based detection of carbapenemase and virulence-associated genes. Notably, 34.9% (139/398) of the isolates were carbapenem-resistant, with 79.1% of these exhibiting MDR. Of the 30 sequence types (STs) identified by MLST, ST773 was the most prevalent (28.8%), followed by ST235 (23.0%). New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-1 or imipenemase-6 occurred in 45.3% of the CRPA strains. Common virulence genes included <i>exoT</i> (100.0% of isolates), <i>exoY</i> (95.7%), <i>exoU</i> (66.2%), and <i>exoS</i> (34.5%). <i>exoU</i> was associated with antibiotic resistance (<i>p</i><0.05), except for carbapenems in CRPA isolates. The <i>exoU</i>/<i>exoT</i>/<i>exoY</i> Type III secretion system (T3SS) genotype was the most prevalent among the carbapenemase-producing CRPA strains. Among the 139 CRPA isolates, we identified a pandrug-resistant, NDM-1-producing ST235 strain co-expressing <i>exoS</i> and <i>exoU</i>. This study highlights the important association between <i>exoU</i> and MDR, indicating a potential relationship between T3SS genotypes and antibiotic resistance. Additionally, the identification of a hypervirulent, pandrug-resistant <i>P. aeruginosa</i> ST235 isolate harboring <i>bla</i><sub>IMP-6</sub> underscores the critical need for enhanced surveillance against high-risk strains.</p>","PeriodicalId":16481,"journal":{"name":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","volume":"35 ","pages":"e2505031"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.4014/jmb.2505.05031","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The recent worldwide emergence of hypervirulent, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa represents a critical public health threat. The molecular typing, multidrug resistance (MDR) rates, and hypervirulence-associated genes in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) isolates can vary across geographic locations and patients, highlighting their clinical significance. In this study we investigated the epidemiology and relationship between MDR and the presence of hypervirulence-associated genes in CRPA isolates. Accordingly, we performed antimicrobial susceptibility tests, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and PCR-based detection of carbapenemase and virulence-associated genes. Notably, 34.9% (139/398) of the isolates were carbapenem-resistant, with 79.1% of these exhibiting MDR. Of the 30 sequence types (STs) identified by MLST, ST773 was the most prevalent (28.8%), followed by ST235 (23.0%). New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-1 or imipenemase-6 occurred in 45.3% of the CRPA strains. Common virulence genes included exoT (100.0% of isolates), exoY (95.7%), exoU (66.2%), and exoS (34.5%). exoU was associated with antibiotic resistance (p<0.05), except for carbapenems in CRPA isolates. The exoU/exoT/exoY Type III secretion system (T3SS) genotype was the most prevalent among the carbapenemase-producing CRPA strains. Among the 139 CRPA isolates, we identified a pandrug-resistant, NDM-1-producing ST235 strain co-expressing exoS and exoU. This study highlights the important association between exoU and MDR, indicating a potential relationship between T3SS genotypes and antibiotic resistance. Additionally, the identification of a hypervirulent, pandrug-resistant P. aeruginosa ST235 isolate harboring blaIMP-6 underscores the critical need for enhanced surveillance against high-risk strains.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (JMB) is a monthly international journal devoted to the advancement and dissemination of scientific knowledge pertaining to microbiology, biotechnology, and related academic disciplines. It covers various scientific and technological aspects of Molecular and Cellular Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Food Biotechnology, and Biotechnology and Bioengineering (subcategories are listed below). Launched in March 1991, the JMB is published by the Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (KMB) and distributed worldwide.