Genes on the Move: In Vitro Transduction of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes between Human and Canine Staphylococcal Pathogens

Frosini, Sian-Marie; Bond, Ross; McCarthy, Alex; Feudi, Claudia; Schwarz, Stefan; Lindsay, Jodi; Loeffler, Anette

Abstract

Transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) between people and pets, and their co-carriage, are well-described. Potential exchange of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes amongst these staphylococci was investigated in vitro through endogenous bacteriophage-mediated transduction. Bacteriophages were UV-induced from seven donor isolates of canine (MRSP) and human (MRSA) origin, containing tet(M), tet(K), fusB or fusC, and lysates filtered. Twenty-seven tetracycline- and fusidic acid- (FA-) susceptible recipients were used in 122 donor-recipient combinations (22 tetracycline, 100 FA) across 415 assays (115 tetracycline, 300 FA). Bacteriophage lysates were incubated with recipients and presumed transductants quantified on antimicrobial-supplemented agar plates. Tetracycline resistance transduction from MRSP and MRSA to methicillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius (MSSP) was confirmed by PCR in 15/115 assays. No FA-resistance transfer occurred, confirmed by negative fusB/fusC PCR, but colonies resulting from FA assays had high MICs (≥32 mg/L) and showed mutations in fusA, two at a novel position (F88L), nine at H457[Y/N/L]. Horizontal gene transfer of tetracycline-resistance confirms that resistance genes can be shared between coagulase-positive staphylococci from different hosts. Cross-species AMR transmission highlights the importance of good antimicrobial stewardship across humans and veterinary species to support One Health.

Citation

Frosini, S.-M., Bond, R., McCarthy, A., Feudi, C., Schwarz, S., Lindsay, J., & Loeffler, A. (2020). Genes on the Move: In Vitro Transduction of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes between Human and Canine Staphylococcal Pathogens. Microorganisms, https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8122031

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 17, 2020
• Publication Date: Dec 18, 2020
• Deposit Date: Dec 17, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 21, 2020
• Journal: Microorganisms
• Electronic ISSN: 2076-2607
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8122031
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1442619