Amikacin resistance due to the aphA6 gene in multi-antibiotic resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates belonging to global clone 1 from Iran

BMC Microbiol. 2019 Sep 18;19(1):221. doi: 10.1186/s12866-019-1592-6.

Abstract

Background: TnaphA6-carrying repAci6 plasmids have been detected in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates belonging to global clones, GC1 and GC2, worldwide. Here, we examined whether RepAci6 plasmids family play a role in the dissemination of the aphA6 in GC1 A. baumannii isolates from Iran.

Results: We found that 22 isolates carried the repAci6 gene, suggesting that they contain a RepAci6 plasmid family. Using the primers linking the aphA6 gene to the backbone of repAci6 plasmid, it was revealed that 16 isolates from different hospitals harbored TnaphA6 on a repAci6 plasmid.

Conclusions: This study provides evidence for the dissemination of TnaphA6 on the plasmids encoding RepAci6 in Iranian A. baumannii isolates. Furthermore, it seems that TnaphA6 might be acquired by distinct plasmids separately as it was found to be located on the variants of repAci6 plasmids.

Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii; Amikacin resistance; Iran; aphA6.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acinetobacter Infections / epidemiology
  • Acinetobacter Infections / microbiology
  • Acinetobacter baumannii / drug effects*
  • Acinetobacter baumannii / genetics
  • Acinetobacter baumannii / isolation & purification
  • Amikacin / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • DNA Transposable Elements / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Iran / epidemiology
  • Kanamycin Kinase / genetics*
  • Plasmids / genetics

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Amikacin
  • Kanamycin Kinase