Complete Genome Sequences of Two Novel KPC-2-Producing IncU Multidrug-Resistant Plasmids From International High-Risk Clones of in China

The rapidly increasing prevalence of carbapenemase 2 (KPC-2)-producing bacteria has become a serious challenge to public health. Currently, the gene is mainly disseminated through plasmids of different sizes and replicon types. However, the plasmids carrying the gene have not been fully characterized. In this study, we report the complete genome sequences of two novel -harboring incompatibility group U (IncU) plasmids, pEC2341-KPC and pEC2547-KPC, from international high-risk clones of isolated from Zhejiang, China. Two KPC-2-producing isolates (EC2341 and EC2547) were collected from clinical samples. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis indicated that EC2341 and EC2547 belonged to the ST410 and ST131 clones, respectively. S1-nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE), Southern blot and conjugation experiments confirmed the presence of the gene on the pEC2341-KPC plasmid and that this was a conjugative plasmid, while the gene on the pEC2547-KPC plasmid was a non-conjugative plasmid. In addition, plasmid analysis further revealed that the two -harboring plasmids have a close evolutionary relationship. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of strains carrying the gene on IncU plasmids. The emergence of the IncU-type -positive plasmid highlights further dissemination of in . Therefore, effective measures should be taken immediately to prevent the spread of these positive plasmids.