Fecal Carriage and Genetic Characterization of CTX-M-1/9/1-Producing Escherichia coli From Healthy Humans in Hangzhou, China

Abstract

CTX-M-199, a novel chimeric β-lactamase which mediated resistance to sulbactam and tazobactam, was recently identified in Hangzhou, China. This study investigated the prevalence of fecal carriage of bacteria producing CTX-M-199 and other CTX-M-1/9/1-type enzymes among healthy individuals and characterized the genetic features of bla CTX–M– 1/9/1 -bearing mobile elements. A total of 74 Enterobacterales strains carrying various bla CTX–M– 1/9/1 genes, including bla CTX–M– 64 ( n = 40, carriage rate of 0.74%), bla CTX–M– 199 ( n = 23, 0.40%), bla CTX–M– 123 ( n = 5, 0.10%), novel bla CTX–M– 153 ( n = 5, 0.10%), and bla CT X–M– 132 ( n = 2, 0.04%), were isolated from 68 out of 5,000 (1.36%) fecal samples of healthy adults in Hangzhou City. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole-genome sequencing data showed that 72 bla CTX–M– 1/9/1 -bearing Escherichia coli isolates were clustered into four major clades, three of which included CTX-M-199 producers. Sixty out of 75 bla CTX–M –1/9/1 genes were located on plasmids belonging to four Inc types: IncI2, IncI1, IncFIB, and IncHI2. The bla CTX–M– 199 genes were harbored by three of the four types of plasmids except for IncHI2. All these bla CTX–M– 1/9/1 genes were carried on an IS Ecp1 -mediated transposition unit. In conclusion, human fecal carriage of bla CTX–M– 1/9/1 was low in healthy populations of China. The IS Ecp1 was commonly associated with bla CTX–M– 1/9/1 and may mediate its transmission on various mobile elements. Our findings provide insights into the dissemination and the development of further measures for the control of pathogens producing CTX-M-1/9/1-type enzymes.

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