The Pivotal Role of IncFIB(Mar) Plasmid in the Emergence and Spread of Hypervirulent Carbapenem-resistant

Overview

Journal Sci Adv

Date 2025 Jan 31

PMID 39888998

Authors

Zhewei Sun

Jianfeng Zhang

Chuning Wang

Jinhong Chen

Pei Li

Jiachun Su

Xiaogang Xu

Minggui Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant (hv-CRKP) poses a substantial challenge to the global health care. However, the mechanism behind its evolution and transmission remain elusive. Here, four virulence plasmid types were identified from 310 hv-CRKP isolates collected nationwide during 2017-2018, based on their aerobactin ( locus) lineage and IncFIB replicons. Notably, pIUC1-IncFIB(K) and pIUC1-IncFIB(Mar), representing two epidemic virulence plasmids in Asia and Europe, respectively, accounted for >90% of the hv-CRKP episodes. Analysis of 494 isolates (376 from 2010-2013; 118 from 2017-2018) and 2578 public genomes indicated the notable role of IncFIB(Mar) plasmids in the hv-CRKP emergence and spread. Conjugation assays showed the helper IncFIB(Mar) plasmid could efficiently transfer into a hypervirulent strain and uniquely retromobilize with pIUC1-IncFIB(K) back into CRKP. Thereafter, the IncFIB(Mar) plasmid either lost rapidly or recombined with pIUC1-IncFIB(K), generating the hybrid pIUC1-IncFIB(Mar) plasmid. Our findings elucidated formation, evolution, and dissemination trajectories of the two major hv-CRKP strains in different regions.

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