MOLECULAR-GENETIC MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE OF NOSOCOMIAL KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE STRAINS TO POLYMYXINS AND ANTIBIOTICS OF OTHER GROUPS ACCORDING TO WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING DATA

Abstract

Identification of numerous mechanisms of resistance to colistin and other antibiotics is possible using whole genome sequencing. Objectives. To assess the molecular-genetic mechanisms of resistance to polymyxins and antibiotics of other groups in nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. Material and methods. For 13 multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant K.pneumoniae strains semiconductor sequencing was performed in the Ion PGM System genomic sequencer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA). The assembly of genomic sequences and their annotation were carried out. The PROVEAN software tool was used to predict the influence of nucleotide replacements on the structure of amino acid sequences and functional activity of proteins. The identification of antibiotic resistance genes and the search for efflux mechanisms were performed by the ResFinder v.4.1 and CARD web resources. Results. Several types of β-lactamase genes were detected simultaneously in all strains, as well as genes of resistance to fosfomycin. Genes of resistance to aminoglycosides were identified in 11 strains, to chloramphenicol - in 10, to rifampicin - in 5, to macrolides - in 4. The mcr phosphoethanolamine transferase genes were absent in all strains. Functionally significant substitutions were revealed in the pmrB gene (D150Y, T157P, G207S) comparing the studied samples with the reference K. pneumoniae strain ATCC 700603. Changes in the mgrB gene were also found in colistin-resistant strains (W20R replacement, insertional inactivation of the gene by transposons of the IS1, IS4 and IS5 families). Conclusions. The results of whole genome sequencing represent the significant resistance of nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae strains to the majority of antibiotics including β-lactams, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, fosfomycin, chloramphenicol, polymyxins. Genetic determinants of colistin resistance were revealed (insertional inactivation and deletion of the mgrB gene; D150Y, T157P and G207S substitutions in the pmrB gene) in strains with colistin MIC 64-128 mg/l and their absence in colistin-susceptible strains.