Targeting Plasmids to Limit Acquisition and Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global threat to both public health and the environment. The emergence and expansion of AMR is sustained by the enormous diversity and mobility of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Different mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer (HGT), including conjugation, transduction, and transformation, have facilitated the accumulation and dissemination of ARGs in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This has resulted in the development of multidrug resistance in some bacteria. The most clinically significant ARGs are usually located on different mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that can move intracellularly (between the bacterial chromosome and plasmids) or intercellularly (within the same species or between different species or genera). Resistance plasmids play a central role both in HGT and as support elements for other MGEs, in which ARGs are assembled by transposition and recombination mechanisms. Considering the crucial role of MGEs in the acquisition and transmission of ARGs, a potential strategy to control AMR is to eliminate MGEs. This review discusses current progress on the development of chemical and biological approaches for the elimination of ARG carriers.

Predominance of III/ST19 and Ib/ST10 Lineages With High Multidrug Resistance in Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Group B Streptococci Isolates in Which a New Integrative and Conjugative Element Was Identified

“…These findings, taken together with other reported literatures, have significant clinical implications focused mainly on the emergence of MDR GBS in clinical settings (Seki et al, 2015 ; Hays et al, 2016 ). Clinically significant antimicrobial resistance genes are usually located on different MGEs, mainly ICEs, which are highly variable and can easily lose or acquire different modules and, therefore, play a vital role in the acquisition and transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes (Wozniak and Waldor, 2010 ; Vrancianu et al, 2020 ). ICESag236 was identified in a III/ST19 isolate that harbored the macrolide resistance genes mef (I) and erm (TR) and chloramphenicol resistance gene catQ (Morici et al, 2016 ).…”

Antibiotic Resistance Profiles, Molecular Mechanisms and Innovative Treatment Strategies of Acinetobacter baumannii

“…Bacteriophages are viral parasites able to infect bacteria by recognizing surface receptors, injecting their genetic material into the host and replicating using the host cellular machinery [ 281 ]. Phages exhibit ecological and genetic effects on bacteria at the population level, and these effects can impact plasmid stability [ 282 , 283 ].…”

Anti-biofilm Fe3O4@C18-[1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ium-2-thiolate Derivative Core-shell Nanocoatings

“…The most threatening are those produced by the multiple drug-resistant (MDR) bugs that emerged in both hospitals and the community. The Gram-negative MDR bugs are intrinsically or clinically resistant to all currently available antibiotics (mediated by efflux pumps overexpression or by the presence of protective outer membrane), the resistance genes being often located on mobile genetic elements, facilitating their accumulation and dissemination [ 4 ].…”

“…Among these, the thiadiazolopyrimidine fused systems are particularly interesting as mesoionic purine bases analogs. Otherwise, the [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]thiadiazolo [3,2- a ]pyrimidine core induces a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ] and antitumoral ones [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ].…”