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IncHI1A plasmids potentially facilitate a horizontal flow of antibiotic resistance genes to pathogens in microbial communities of urban residential sewage
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  • Asmus Olesen,
  • Rafel Pinilla-Redondo,
  • Mads Hansen,
  • Jakob Russel,
  • Arnaud Dechesne,
  • Barth F. Smets,
  • Jonas Madsen,
  • Joseph Nesme,
  • Søren Sørensen
Asmus Olesen
University of Copenhagen

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Rafel Pinilla-Redondo
University of Copenhagen
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Mads Hansen
University of Copenhagen
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Jakob Russel
University of Copenhagen
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Arnaud Dechesne
Technical University of Denmark
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Barth F. Smets
Technical University of Denmark
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Jonas Madsen
University of Copenhagen
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Joseph Nesme
University of Copenhagen
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Søren Sørensen
University of Copenhagen
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Abstract

Horizontal gene transfer via plasmids is important for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes among medically relevant pathogens. Specifically, the transfer of IncHI1A plasmids is believed to facilitate the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, such as carbapenemases, within the clinically important family Enterobacteriaceae. The microbial community of urban wastewater treatment plants has been shown to be highly permissive towards conjugal transfer of IncP1 plasmids. Here, we tracked the transfer of the P1 plasmid pB10 and the clinically relevant HI1A plasmid R27 in the microbial communities present in urban residential sewage entering full-scale wastewater treatment plants. We found that both plasmids readily transferred to these communities and that strains in the sewage were able to further disseminate them. Furthermore, that R27 has a broad potential host range, but a low host divergence. Interestingly, although the majority of R27 transfer events were to members of Enterobacteriaceae, we found a subset of transfer to other families, even other phyla. Indicating, that HI1A plasmids facilitate horizontal gene transfer both within Enterobacteriaceae, but also across families of especially Gammaproteobacteria, such as Moraxellaceae, Pseudomonadaceae and Shewanellaceae. pB10 displayed a similar potential host range as R27. In contrast to R27, pB10 had a high host divergence. By culture enrichment of the transconjugant communities, we show that sewage strains of Enterobacteriaceae and Aeromonadaceae can stably maintain R27 and pB10, respectively. Our results suggest that dissemination in the urban residual water system of HI1A plasmids may result in an accelerated acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes among pathogens.
13 Sep 2021Submitted to Molecular Ecology
20 Sep 2021Submission Checks Completed
20 Sep 2021Assigned to Editor
28 Sep 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
25 Oct 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Nov 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
29 Nov 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Nov 20211st Revision Received
02 Dec 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Jan 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Mar 2022Published in Molecular Ecology volume 31 issue 5 on pages 1595-1608. 10.1111/mec.16346