Plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance encompasses many classes of currently used antibiotics. In globally distributed Escherichia coli lineages plasmids, which spread via horizontal gene transfer, are responsible for the dissemination of genes encoding extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL). In this study, we combined 2nd and 3rd generation sequencing techniques to reconstruct the plasmidome of overall 97 clinical ESBL-E. coli isolates. Our results highlight the enormous plasmid diversity in respect to size, replicon-type and genetic content. Furthermore, we emphasize the diverse plasmid distribution patterns among the clinical isolates and the high intra- and extracellular mobility potential of resistance conferring genes. While the majority of resistance conferring genes were located on large plasmids of known replicon type, small cryptic plasmids seem to be underestimated resistance gene vectors. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the dissemination of resistance-conferring genes through horizontal gene transfer as well as clonal spread.
Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Escherichia coli; Horizontal gene transfer; Plasmids; Sequencing.
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