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Objective: We aimed to describe a colistin (COL)-resistant (R) Chromobacterium violaceum (Cvi) isolate from a septic patient in Argentina expressing a previously unknown gene, blaCVI-1. Methods: In 2019, a 12 year old child was injured with a thorn in a lagoon. The child was hospitalized due to sepsis and multiple abscesses. Cvi was isolated from skin and soft tissue and tracheal aspirate. The patient was successfully treated with imipenem (IMI) plus amikacin. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by disk diffusion, broth microdilution, and the E-test. Carbapenemase activity was assayed by double-disk synergy and microbiological tests. Resistance, virulence, and additional gene searches were performed by in silico analysis of sequences obtained by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was built with public Cvi genomes. Results: R was seen for IMI and COL. Expression of a metallo-β-lactamase was confirmed. Genome analysis revealed blaCVI-1, a subclass B2 metallo-β-lactamase with 62.66% ID with CphA from A. hydrophila (WP081086394). R to COL could be attributed to the arnC and arnT genes. Virulence factors required for invasion and toxicity were also found. No plasmids were detected. The phylogeny tree showed two main clades with geographical distinction, and the isolate studied here stands alone in a branch closely related to two clinical isolates from the USA. Conclusions: This is the second report of infection by Cvi in Argentina. This pathogen carried a new gene, blaCVI-1, a metallo-β-lactamase that can be detected by routine methods. Prompt suspicion of C. violaceum infection is crucial to treating this rare pathogen rapidly and properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) causes infections outside the intestine. Particular ExPEC clones, such as clonal complex (CC)/sequence type (ST)131, have been known to sequentially accumulate antimicrobial resistance that starts with chromosomal mutations against fluoroquinolones, followed with the acquisition of bla CTX–M–15 and, more recently, carbapenemases. Here we aimed to investigate the distribution of global epidemic clones of carbapenemase-producing ExPEC from Argentina in representative clinical isolates recovered between July 2008 and March 2017. Carbapenemase-producing ExPEC (n = 160) were referred to the Argentinean reference laboratory. Of these, 71 were selected for genome sequencing. Phenotypic and microbiological studies confirmed the presence of carbapenemases confirmed as KPC-2 (n = 52), NDM-1 (n = 16), IMP-8 (n = 2), and VIM-1 (n = 1) producers. The isolates had been recovered mainly from urine, blood, and abdominal fluids among others, and some were from screening samples. After analyzing the virulence gene content, 76% of the isolates were considered ExPEC, although non-ExPEC isolates were also obtained from extraintestinal sites. Pan-genome phylogeny and clonal analysis showed great clonal diversity, although the first phylogroup in abundance was phylogroup A, harboring CC10 isolates, followed by phylogroup B2 with CC/ST131, mostly H30Rx, the subclone co-producing CTX-M-15. Phylogroups D, B1, C, F, and E were also detected with fewer strains. CC10 and CC/ST131 were found throughout the country. In addition, CC10 nucleated most metalloenzymes, such as NDM-1. Other relevant international clones were identified, such as CC/ST38, CC155, CC14/ST1193, and CC23. Two isolates co-produced KPC-2 and OXA-163 or OXA-439, a point mutation variant of OXA-163, and three isolates co-produced MCR-1 among other resistance genes. To conclude, in this work, we described the molecular epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing ExPEC in Argentina. Further studies are necessary to determine the plasmid families disseminating carbapenemases in ExPEC in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) causes severe infections in neonates and adults with comorbidities. Prophages have been reported to contribute to GBS evolution and pathogenicity. However, no studies are available to date on the presence and diversity of prophages in GBS isolates from humans in South America. This study provides insights into the prophage content of 365 GBS isolates collected from clinical samples in the context of an Argentinean multicentric study. Using whole-genome sequence data, we implemented two previously proposed methods for prophage typing: a PCR approach (carried out in silico ) coupled with a blastx-based method to classify prophages based on their prophage group and integrase type, respectively. We manually searched the genomes and identified 325 prophages. However, only 80% of prophages could be accurately categorized with the previous approaches. Integration of phylogenetic analysis, prophage group and integrase type allowed for all to be classified into 19 prophage types, which correlated with GBS clonal complex grouping. The revised prophage typing approach was additionally improved by using a blastn search after enriching the database with ten new genes for prophage group classification combined with the existing integrase typing method. This modified and integrated typing system was applied to the analysis of 615 GBS genomes (365 GBS from Argentina and 250 from public databases), which revealed 29 prophage types, including two novel integrase subtypes. Their characterization and comparative analysis revealed major differences in the lysogeny and replication modules. Genes related to bacterial fitness, virulence or adaptation to stressful environments were detected in all prophage types. Considering prophage prevalence, distribution and their association with bacterial virulence, it is important to study their role in GBS epidemiology. In this context, we propose the use of an improved and integrated prophage typing system suitable for rapid phage detection and classification with little computational processing.

Human listeriosis is an infectious disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes. The invasive form of this disease leads to a high rate of hospitalizations and fatality. The main mode of transmission is through contaminated ready-to-eat foods such as dairy, vegetables and meat products. The knowledge of the diversity and population dynamics of isolates collected from human and food sources is essential for the detection of clusters and the identification of common sites of infection. The aim of this study was the molecular characterization of L. monocytogenes isolates in Argentina. We sequenced a total of 63 isolates, 35 from human and 28 from food sources, collected between 2018 and 2023. Our genomic study divided the isolates into two lineages, four serogroups, 17 sequence types and 15 clonal complexes (CCs). The hypervirulent clone CC1 (lineage I; serogroup IVb) predominated in human and food samples. The phylogenomic analysis showed a high and possible epidemiological relationship between isolates from human and/or food sources, suggesting the presence of transmission chains in our country. These findings highlight the need to strengthen genomic surveillance of L. monocytogenes in Argentina. The identification of geographic distribution and characteristics of predominant and emerging clones from human and food sources might help to focus action plans and public health policies better directed at the control and prevention of listeriosis., (Copyright © 2024 Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)