Prevalence and characterization of aminoglycoside resistance gene aph(2")-If-carrying Campylobacter jejuni

Jin Kang; Cheng Zhang; Shuigen Wan; Wenjun Li; Wenbo Zhao; Longyu Li; Yanhong Shang; Xiang-Dang Du; Dejun Liu; Hong Yao

doi:10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2024.110747

Prevalence and characterization of aminoglycoside resistance gene aph(2")-If-carrying Campylobacter jejuni

Int J Food Microbiol. 2024 May 15:419:110747. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2024.110747. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jin Kang¹, Cheng Zhang¹, Shuigen Wan¹, Wenjun Li¹, Wenbo Zhao¹, Longyu Li¹, Yanhong Shang¹, Xiang-Dang Du¹, Dejun Liu², Hong Yao³

Affiliations

¹ College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Animal Pathogens and Biosafety; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, P.R. China.
² National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: liudejun@cau.edu.cn.
³ College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Animal Pathogens and Biosafety; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, P.R. China. Electronic address: yaoh0913@henau.cn.

PMID: 38772218
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2024.110747

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni is recognized as a significant foodborne pathogen, and recent studies have indicated a rising trend of aminoglycosides resistance gene aph(2″)-If among C. jejuni isolates from food-producing animals in China. However, systematic information about aph(2″)-If-positive C. jejuni from food-producing animals and other sources worldwide based on whole-genome analysis remains a knowledge gap. In this study, we aimed to analyze the worldwide distribution, genetic environment and phylogenetic tree of aph(2″)-If by utilizing Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) data obtained, coupled with information in the GenBank database. A total of 160C. jejuni isolates in the GenBank database and 14C. jejuni isolates in our laboratory carrying aph(2″)-If gene were performed for further analysis. WGS analysis revealed the global distribution of aph(2″)-If among C. jejuni from 6 countries. Multilocus Sequence Typing(MLST) results indicated that 70 STs were involved in the dissemination of aph(2″)-If, with ST10086 being the predominant ST. Whole-genome Multilocus Sequence Typing(wg-MLST) analysis according to times, countries, and origins of C. jejuni isolation further demonstrated a close relationship between aph(2″)-If carrying C. jejuni isolates from farm and food. The findings also revealed the existence of 32 distinct types of genetic environments surrounding aph(2″)-If among these isolates. Notably, Type 30, characterized by the arrangement ISsag10-deoD-ant(9)-hp-hp-aph(2″)-If, emerged as the predominant genetic environment. In conclusion, our analysis provides the inaugural perspective on the worldwide distribution of aph(2″)-If. This resistance gene demonstrates horizontal transferability and regional diffusion in a clonal pattern. The close association observed among aph(2″)-If-positive C. jejuni strains isolated from poultry, food, and clinical environments underscores the potential for zoonotic transmission from these isolates.

Keywords: Aminoglycoside resistance; Campylobacter jejuni; Dissemination; Food-borne pathogen; Horizontal gene transfer; aph(2″)-If.