A novel plasmid-encoded mcr-4.3 gene in a colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical strain

Abstract

Objectives: To identify the molecular mechanism of colistin resistance in an MDR Acinetobacter baumannii clinical strain isolated in 2008 from a meningitis case in Brazil.

Methods: Long- and short-read WGS was used to identify colistin resistance genes in A. baumannii strain 597A with a colistin MIC of 64 mg/L. MS was used to analyse lipid A content. mcr was cloned into pET-26b (+) and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(λDE3)pLysS for analysis.

Results: A novel plasmid (pAb-MCR4.3) harbouring mcr-4.3 within a Tn3-like transposon was identified. The A. baumannii 597A lipid A MS spectra showed a main molecular ion peak at m/z=2034, which indicated the addition of phosphoethanolamine to the lipid A structure. E. coli BL21 transformed with pET-26b-mcr-4.3 gained colistin resistance with a colistin MIC of 8 mg/L.

Conclusions: Colistin resistance in A. baumannii 597A was correlated with the presence of a novel plasmid-encoded mcr-4.3 gene.