Horizontal Transfer of the Salmonella enterica Serovar Infantis Resistance and Virulence Plasmid pESI to the Gut Microbiota of Warm-Blooded Hosts. 2016

Gili Aviv, and Galia Rahav, and Ohad Gal-Mor
The Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis is one of the prevalent salmonellae worldwide. Recently, we showed that the emergence of S Infantis in Israel was facilitated by the acquisition of a unique megaplasmid (pESI) conferring multidrug resistance and increased virulence phenotypes. Here we elucidate the ecology, transmission properties, and regulation of pESI. We show that despite its large size (~280 kb), pESI does not impose a significant metabolic burden in vitro and that it has been recently fixed in the domestic S Infantis population. pESI conjugation and the transcription of its pilus (pil) genes are inhibited at the ambient temperature (27°C) and by ≥1% bile but increased under temperatures of 37 to 41°C, oxidative stress, moderate osmolarity, and the microaerobic conditions characterizing the intestinal environment of warm-blooded animals. The pESI-encoded protein TraB and the oxygen homeostasis regulator Fnr were identified as transcriptional regulators of pESI conjugation. Using the mouse model, we show that following S Infantis infection, pESI can be horizontally transferred to the gut microbiota, including to commensal Escherichia coli strains. Possible transfer, but not persistence, of pESI was also observed into Gram-positive mouse microbiota species, especially Lactobacillus reuteri Moreover, pESI was demonstrated to further disseminate from gut microbiota to S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, in the context of gastrointestinal infection. These findings exhibit the ability of a selfish clinically relevant megaplasmid to distribute to and from the microbiota and suggest an overlooked role of the microbiota as a reservoir of mobile genetic elements and intermediator in the spread of resistance and virulence genes between commensals and pathogenic bacteria. Plasmid conjugation plays a key role in microbial evolution, enabling the acquisition of new phenotypes, including resistance and virulence. Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis is one of the ubiquitous salmonellae worldwide and a major cause of foodborne infections. Previously, we showed that the emergence of S Infantis in Israel has involved the acquisition of a unique megaplasmid (pESI) conferring multidrug resistance and increased virulence phenotypes. Recently, the emergence of another S Infantis strain carrying a pESI-like plasmid was identified in Italy, suggesting that the acquisition of pESI may be common to different emergent S Infantis populations globally. Transmission of this plasmid to other strains or bacterial species is an alarming scenario. Understanding the ecology, regulation, and transmission properties of clinically relevant plasmids and the role of the microbiota in their spreading offers a new mechanism explaining the emergence of new pathogenic and resistant biotypes and may assist in the development of appropriate surveillance and prevention measures.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010957 Plasmids Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS. Episomes,Episome,Plasmid
D003227 Conjugation, Genetic A parasexual process in BACTERIA; ALGAE; FUNGI; and ciliate EUKARYOTA for achieving exchange of chromosome material during fusion of two cells. In bacteria, this is a uni-directional transfer of genetic material; in protozoa it is a bi-directional exchange. In algae and fungi, it is a form of sexual reproduction, with the union of male and female gametes. Bacterial Conjugation,Conjugation, Bacterial,Genetic Conjugation
D004195 Disease Models, Animal Naturally-occurring or experimentally-induced animal diseases with pathological processes analogous to human diseases. Animal Disease Model,Animal Disease Models,Disease Model, Animal
D000069196 Gastrointestinal Microbiome All of the microbial organisms that naturally exist within the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. Enteric Bacteria,Gastric Microbiome,Gastrointestinal Flora,Gastrointestinal Microbial Community,Gastrointestinal Microbiota,Gastrointestinal Microflora,Gut Flora,Gut Microbiome,Gut Microbiota,Gut Microflora,Intestinal Flora,Intestinal Microbiome,Intestinal Microbiota,Intestinal Microflora,Bacteria, Enteric,Flora, Gastrointestinal,Flora, Gut,Flora, Intestinal,Gastric Microbiomes,Gastrointestinal Microbial Communities,Gastrointestinal Microbiomes,Gastrointestinal Microbiotas,Gut Microbiomes,Gut Microbiotas,Intestinal Microbiomes,Intestinal Microbiotas,Microbial Community, Gastrointestinal,Microbiome, Gastric,Microbiome, Gastrointestinal,Microbiome, Gut,Microbiome, Intestinal,Microbiota, Gastrointestinal,Microbiota, Gut,Microbiota, Intestinal,Microflora, Gastrointestinal,Microflora, Gut,Microflora, Intestinal
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012480 Salmonella Infections Infections with bacteria of the genus SALMONELLA. Salmonellosis,Infections, Salmonella,Infection, Salmonella,Salmonella Infection,Salmonelloses
D014774 Virulence The degree of pathogenicity within a group or species of microorganisms or viruses as indicated by case fatality rates and/or the ability of the organism to invade the tissues of the host. The pathogenic capacity of an organism is determined by its VIRULENCE FACTORS. Pathogenicity
D041981 Gastrointestinal Tract Generally refers to the digestive structures stretching from the MOUTH to ANUS, but does not include the accessory glandular organs (LIVER; BILIARY TRACT; PANCREAS). Digestive Tract,GI Tract,Digestive Tracts,GI Tracts,Gastrointestinal Tracts
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D019779 Salmonella enterica A subgenus of Salmonella containing several medically important serotypes. The habitat for the majority of strains is warm-blooded animals.

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