High Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Harboring Several Virulence and β-Lactamase Encoding Genes in a Brazilian Intensive Care Unit

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important opportunistic pathogen that commonly causes nosocomial infections and contributes to substantial morbidity and mortality. We sought to investigate the antibiotic resistance profile, pathogenic potential and the clonal relationships between K. pneumoniae (n = 25) isolated from patients and sources at a tertiary care hospital’s intensive care units (ICUs) in the northern region of Brazil. Most of K. pneumoniae isolates (n = 21, 84%) were classified as multidrug resistant (MDR) with high-level resistance to β-lactams, aminoglycosides, quinolones, tigecycline, and colistin. All the 25 isolates presented extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing (ESBL), including carbapenemase producers, and carried the blaKPC (100%), blaTEM (100%), blaSHV variants (n = 24, 96%), blaOXA-1 group (n = 21, 84%) and blaCTX-M-1 group (n = 18, 72%) genes. The K2 serotype was found in 4% (n = 1) of the isolates, and the K1 was not detected. The virulence-associated genes found among the 25 isolates were mrkD (n = 24, 96%), fimH-1 (n = 22, 88%), entB (100%), iutA (n = 10, 40%), ybtS (n = 15, 60%). The genes related with efflux pumps and outer membrane porins found were AcrAB (100%), tolC (n = 24, 96%), mdtK (n = 22, 88%), OmpK35 (n = 15, 60%), and OmpK36 (n = 7, 28%). ERIC-PCR was employed to determine the clonal relationship between the different isolated strains. The obtained ERIC-PCR patterns revealed that the similarity between isolates was above 70%. To determine the sequence types (STs) a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) assay was used. The results indicated the presence of high-risk international clones among the isolates. In our study, the wide variety of MDR K. pneumoniae harboring β-lactams and virulence genes strongly suggest a necessity for the implementation of effective strategies to prevent and control the spread of antibiotic resistant infections

Whole genome sequencing of the multidrug-resistant Chryseobacterium indologenes isolated from a patient in Brazil

Chryseobacterium indologenes is a non-glucose-fermenting Gram-negative bacillus. This emerging multidrug resistant opportunistic nosocomial pathogen can cause severe infections in neonates and immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to present the first detailed draft genome sequence of a multidrug-resistant C. indologenes strain isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of an infant hospitalized at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Brazilian Tertiary Hospital. We first analyzed the susceptibility of C. indologenes strain to different antibiotics using the VITEK 2 system. The strain demonstrated an outstanding resistance to all the antibiotic classes tested, including β-lactams, aminoglycosides, glycylcycline, and polymyxin. Next, C. indologenes was whole-genome-sequenced, annotated using Prokka and Rapid Annotation using Subsystems Technology (RAST), and screened for orthologous groups (EggNOG), gene ontology (GO), resistance genes, virulence genes, and mobile genetic elements using different software tools. The draft genome contained one circular chromosome of 4,836,765 bp with 37.32% GC content. The genomic features of the chromosome present numerous genes related to cellular processes that are essential to bacteria. The MDR C. indologenes revealed the presence of genes that corresponded to the resistance phenotypes, including genes to β-lactamases (blaIND–13, blaCIA–3, blaTEM–116, blaOXA–209, blaVEB–15), quinolone (mcbG), tigecycline (tet(X6)), and genes encoding efflux pumps which confer resistance to aminoglycosides (RanA/RanB), and colistin (HlyD/TolC). Amino acid substitutions related to quinolone resistance were observed in GyrA (S83Y) and GyrB (L425I and K473R). A mutation that may play a role in the development of colistin resistance was detected in lpxA (G68D). Chryseobacterium indologenes isolate harbored 19 virulence factors, most of which were involved in infection pathways. We identified 13 Genomic Islands (GIs) and some elements associated with one integrative and conjugative element (ICEs). Other elements linked to mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as insertion sequence (ISEIsp1), transposon (Tn5393), and integron (In31), were also present in the C. indologenes genome. Although plasmids were not detected, a ColRNAI replicon type and the most resistance genes detected in singletons were identified in unaligned scaffolds. We provided a wide range of information toward the understanding of the genomic diversity of C. indologenes, which can contribute to controlling the evolution and dissemination of this pathogen in healthcare settings

Populações brasileiras da espécie exótica invasora Bubulcus ibis: distribuição da diversidade genética avaliada pelos microssatélites

The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a median sized bird, of African origin, considered as an invasive and exotic species in the American continent. In Brazil, first record was in the north, in 1964. The species have been maintaining a pattern of constant population growth, endangering the reproduction and survivorship of native species, as observed in the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. The purposes of this work were the isolation of microsatellite loci for the species in question and to genetically characterize Brazilian populations, as a starting point in a study that contributes for the comprehension of the colonization process occurred in the country. Thereafter, two partially enriched genomic libraries were obtained, in which the generated fragments were posteriorly sequenced and analyzed for the presence of microsatellite sequences; being the cloning efficacy of 15.74%. Thirty-two microsatellite loci were selected for the analysis, of which eleven proved to be polymorphic. Content of polymorphic information for these loci varied between 0.079 and 0.453. Fragments of expected size were amplified in the eleven polymorphic loci in other six species from the same family as the Cattle Egret. Six populations from different latitudes in the country were genotyped in seven polymorphic loci. A low variability was found, with mean values of expected heterozigosity in the populations varying between 0.408 and 0.562. The population holding the higher diversity was the northern one, closest to the point of the first historic record of the species in the country. Low genetic structuring by AMOVA was detected, and some values of pairwise Fst and Rst proved to be significant when the pair contained populations from South and North of the country. Effective size (Ne) of the Brazilian population was 6.6 individuals (95% CL: 5.7-7.7). Diversity indices and population parameters analyzed did not show evidence that the dispersion of individuals occurred in a north-south axis, occurring more in an opportunistic and erratic manner. Fernando de Noronha s population, which have been managed by a population control program since 2007, presented diversity levels and population parameters comparable to the mainland populations, what indicates that the species will not be easily eliminated from this area.Universidade Federal de Sao CarlosA garça-vaqueira (Bubulcus ibis) é uma ave de médio porte, de origem africana, considerada espécie exótica invasora no continente americano. No Brasil, o primeiro registro foi na região norte, em 1964. A espécie vem mantendo um padrão de crescimento populacional constante, ameaçando a reprodução e sobrevivência de outras espécies nativas, como observado no arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha. Os objetivos desse trabalho foram isolar locos de microssatélites específicos para a espécie e caracterizar geneticamente as populações brasileiras, iniciando um estudo que contribui para a compreensão do processo de colonização ocorrido no país. Com esse intuito, foram construídas duas bibliotecas genômicas parciais enriquecidas, cujos fragmentos gerados foram posteriormente sequenciados e analisados quanto à presença de sequências de microssatélites, sendo de 15,74% a eficiência de clonagem. Foram selecionados 32 locos de microssatélites para as análises, dos quais 11 mostraram-se polimórficos. O conteúdo de informação polimórfica para esses locos variou de 0,079 à 0,453. Fragmentos de tamanho esperado foram amplificados nos onze locos polimórficos em outras seis espécies da mesma família. Seis populações de diferentes latitudes do país foram genotipadas em sete locos polimórficos. Uma baixa variabilidade foi encontrada, com valores médios de heterozigosidade esperada variando de 0,408 à 0,562 nas populações. A população detentora de maior diversidade foi a da região norte, mais próxima do ponto do local do primeiro registro histórico da espécie no país. Foi detectada baixa estruturação genética pela AMOVA e alguns valores de Fst e Rst par-a-par se mostraram significativos quando o par incluía populações da região sul e norte do país. O tamanho efetivo (Ne) da população brasileira foi de 6,6 indivíduos (95% CL:5,7-7,7). Os índices de diversidade e os parâmetros populacionais analisados não mostraram evidências de que a dispersão dos indivíduos tenha ocorrido segundo um eixo- norte-sul, mas sim de maneira oportunista e errática. A população de Fernando de Noronha, que vem sendo manejada por um programa de controle populacional desde 2007, apresentou níveis de diversidade e parâmetros populacionais comparáveis às populações do continente, o que indica que a espécie não será facilmente exterminada nessa área

Evolução molecular e padrões de expressão de genes da família das proteínas ligantes a odores (OBPs) em duas espécies de moscas-das-frutas do grupo Anastrepha fraterculus

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are of great importance for survival and reproduction since they participate in initial steps of the olfactory signal transduction cascade, solubilizing and transporting chemical signals to the olfactory receptors. A comparative analysis of OBPs between closely related species may help explain how these genes evolve and are maintained under natural selection and how differences in these proteins can affect olfactory responses, and consequently lead to species differentiation. We studied OBP genes in the closely related species Anastrepha fraterculus and Anastrepha obliqua, which, albeit generalists, have different host preferences, using transcriptomes and real time quantitative PCR data. We identified 24 different OBP sequences from Anastrepha fraterculus and 25 from A. obliqua, which correspond to 21 Drosophila melanogaster OBP genes. Phylogenetic analysis separated Anastrepha OBPs sequences in four branches that represent four subfamilies: classic, minus-C, plus-C and dimer. We found evidence of positive selection in three classic subfamily genes OBP56h-1, OBP56h-2 e OBP57c and in the plus-C subfamily gene OBP50a, and at least one duplication event that preceded the speciation of these two species. Four positively selected sites putatively resulted in radical changes in amino acid properties. Inferences on tertiary structures of putative proteins from these genes revealed that at least one positively selected change involves the binding cavity (the odorant binding region) in the plus-C OBP50a, which is important because changes in the binding cavity could change OBPs specificity. Differential gene expression analysis at different reproductive stages showed that all nine OBP genes tested were significantly differentially expressed between A. fraterculus and A. obliqua at several reproductive profiles, but OBP56a, OBP56d, OBP57c and both OBP56h paralogs showed the highest differences in expression levels. The results generated in this study indicated that at least seven OBP genes may be involved in the A. fraterculus e A. obliqua differentiation, and in the fraterculus group differentiation as well.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)As proteínas ligantes a odores (OBPs – odorant-binding proteins) são de grande importância para a sobrevivência e reprodução, pois participam do passo inicial da cascata de transdução dos sinais olfatórios, solubilizando e transportando os sinais químicos (odores e feromônios) até os receptores olfativos. A análise comparativa dos genes OBPs entre espécies próximas pode ajudar na compreensão de como o repertório desses genes é mantido sob seleção natural, além de fornecer informações acerca de como as diferenças observadas podem afetar as respostas olfatórias e, consequentemente, levar à diferenciação dessas espécies. Estudamos genes OBP em duas espécies-irmãs Anastrepha fraterculus e Anastrepha obliqua, as quais têm preferência por diferentes frutos hospedeiros, usando dados de transcriptomas e de PCR quantitativa. Identificamos 24 sequências OBP para A. fraterculus e 25 para A. obliqua, que corresponderam a 21 genes OBP de Drosophila melanogaster. Análises filogenéticas separaram as OBPs de Anastrepha em quatro ramos, que representam quatro subfamílias dessa família gênica: classic, minus-C, plus-C e dimer. Evidências de seleção positiva foram observadas nos genes da subfamília classic OBP56h-1, OBP56h-2 e OBP57c, e para o gene da subfamília plus-C OBP50a, e pelo menos um evento de duplicação gênica que precede a especiação dessas duas espécies. Quatro sítios selecionados positivamente resultavam em mudanças radicais nas propriedades dos aminoácidos. Inferências utilizando a estrutura terciária predita para essas OBPs revelaram que pelo menos um desses sítios faz parte da cavidade ligante ao odor de OBP50a, sendo que uma mudança nessa região pode alterar a especificidade de uma OBP. Análises de expressão por PCR quantitativa em diferentes estágios reprodutivos das moscas mostraram que todos os nove genes testados possuíam expressão gênica significativamente diferente entre A. fraterculus e A. obliqua para mais de um perfil reprodutivo, sendo que OBP56a, OBP56d, OBP57c e os dois parálogos OBP56h foram os que mais apresentaram diferenças entre as duas espécies. Todos os resultados gerados pelo presente trabalho indicam que pelo menos sete genes OBP podem estar envolvidos na diferenciação entre A. fraterculus e A. obliqua e, potencialmente, na diferenciação do grupo fraterculus.FAPESP: 2012/17160-8.CAPES: 99999.004252/2014-0

Head Transcriptomes of Two Closely Related Species of Fruit Flies of the Anastrepha fraterculus Group Reveals Divergent Genes in Species with Extensive Gene Flow

Several fruit flies species of the Anastrepha fraterculus group are of great economic importance for the damage they cause to a variety of fleshy fruits. Some species in this group have diverged recently, with evidence of introgression, showing similar morphological attributes that render their identification difficult, reinforcing the relevance of identifying new molecular markers that may differentiate species. We investigated genes expressed in head tissues from two closely related species: A. obliqua and A. fraterculus, aiming to identify fixed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and highly differentiated transcripts, which, considering that these species still experience some level of gene flow, could indicate potential candidate genes involved in their differentiation process. We generated multiple libraries from head tissues of these two species, at different reproductive stages, for both sexes. Our analyses indicate that the de novo transcriptome assemblies are fairly complete. We also produced a hybrid assembly to map each species’ reads, and identified 67,470 SNPs in A. fraterculus, 39,252 in A. obliqua, and 6386 that were common to both species. We identified 164 highly differentiated unigenes that had a mean interspecific index (D¯ ) of at least 0.94. We selected unigenes that had Ka/Ks higher than 0.5, or had at least three or more highly differentiated SNPs as potential candidate genes for species differentiation. Among these candidates, we identified proteases, regulators of redox homeostasis, and an odorant-binding protein (Obp99c), among other genes. The head transcriptomes described here enabled the identification of thousands of genes hitherto unavailable for these species, and generated a set of candidate genes that are potentially important to genetically identify species and understand the speciation process in the presence of gene flow of A. obliqua and A. fraterculus