Genomic Insights into Drug Resistance Determinants in <i>Cedecea neteri</i>, A Rare Opportunistic Pathogen

• Main Authors: Dorothea K. Thompson, Stephen M. Sharkady
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
• Series: Microorganisms
• Subjects: <i>Cedecea neteri</i>; opportunistic pathogen; drug-resistance genes; β-lactamases; multidrug efflux pumps; genomic islands
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/8/1741

<i>Cedecea</i>, a genus in the <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> family, includes several opportunistic pathogens reported to cause an array of sporadic acute infections, most notably of the lung and bloodstream. One species, <i>Cedecea neteri</i>, is associated with cases of bacteremia in immunocompromised hosts and has documented resistance to different antibiotics, including β-lactams and colistin. Despite the potential to inflict serious infections, knowledge about drug resistance determinants in <i>Cedecea</i> is limited. In this study, we utilized whole-genome sequence data available for three environmental strains (SSMD04, M006, ND14a) of <i>C. neteri</i> and various bioinformatics tools to analyze drug resistance genes in this bacterium. All three genomes harbor multiple chromosome-encoded β-lactamase genes. A deeper analysis of β-lactamase genes in SSMD04 revealed four metallo-β-lactamases, a novel variant, and a CMY/ACT-type AmpC putatively regulated by a divergently transcribed AmpR. Homologs of known resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND)-type multidrug efflux pumps such as OqxB, AcrB, AcrD, and MdtBC were also identified. Genomic island prediction for SSMD04 indicated that <i>tolC</i>, involved in drug and toxin export across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, was acquired by a transposase-mediated genetic transfer mechanism. Our study provides new insights into drug resistance mechanisms of an environmental microorganism capable of behaving as a clinically relevant opportunistic pathogen.