First whole genome sequence of Paenalcaligenes suwonensis bearing blaVIM-5 Metallo-β-lactamase: A clinical isolate responsible for acute gastroenteritis

Abstract

Carbapenemase-producing Alcaligenes species has been described in only few studies, with none so far from the African continent. Here, we report the whole genome sequence of Peanalcaligenes suwonensis bearing bla_VIM-5 metallo-β-lactamase and first detection of carbapenemase producing Alcaligenes faecalis isolated from patients attending tertiary healthcare facilities in Nigeria. The isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. Antibiotic susceptibility assay, modified Carba NP test and genomic investigation revealed that two isolates of Alcaligenes faecalis and an isolate of Paenalcaligenes suwonensis harboured bla_VIM-5 gene. The genome sequence analysis of the P. suwonensis 191B isolate, responsible for acute gastroenteritis, reveal the presence of 18 antibiotic resistance genes coding for resistance to five different classes of antibiotics. Three of the genes (bla_OXA-368, bla_CARB-4 and bla_VIM-5) codes for resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. To our best knowledge, we describe here the first genome sequence of P. suwonensis species and the first detection of class B carbapenemase bla_VIM-5 in a clinical isolate of P. suwonensis species and Alcaligenes faecalis in Nigeria. The finding of this study is of concern, as lateral dissemination of the genes into clinically important Gram-negative pathogens is highly likely.

Keywords: Alcaligenes faecalis; Carbapenemase gene; Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL); Peanalcaligenes suwonensis; VIM-5; Whole genome sequence.