AUTHOR=Hussain Arif , Shaik Sabiha , Ranjan Amit , Suresh Arya , Sarker Nishat , Semmler Torsten , Wieler Lothar H. , Alam Munirul , Watanabe Haruo , Chakravortty Dipshikha , Ahmed Niyaz 

TITLE=Genomic and Functional Characterization of Poultry Escherichia coli From India Revealed Diverse Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Lineages With Shared Virulence Profiles

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02766

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2019.02766

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) form the most important resistance determinants prevalent worldwide. Data on ESBL-producing <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> from poultry and livestock are scarce in India. We present data on the functional and genomic characterization of ESBL-producing <italic>E. coli</italic> obtained from poultry in India. The whole genome sequences of 28 ESBL-producing <italic>E. coli</italic> were analyzed comprising of 12 broiler chicken <italic>E. coli</italic> isolates, 11 free-range chicken <italic>E. coli</italic> isolates, and 5 human extraintestinal pathogenic <italic>E. coli</italic>. All of the 28 ESBL-producing <italic>E. coli</italic> isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibilities, <italic>in vitro</italic> conjugation, and virulence-associated phenotypic characteristics. A total of 13 sequence types were identified from the poultry <italic>E. coli</italic>, which included globally successful sequence types such as ST117 (9%), ST131 (4.3%), and ST10 (4.3%). The most common ESBL gene detected in poultry <italic>E. coli</italic> genomes was <italic>bla</italic><sub>CTX-M-15</sub> (17%). Also, FIB (73%) and FII (73%) were the most common plasmid replicons identified. Conjugation experiments demonstrated 54 (7/13), 30 (3/10), and 40% (2/5) of broiler, free-range, and human ExPEC <italic>E. coli</italic> to be able to transfer their ESBL genes, respectively. The <italic>in vitro</italic> virulence-associated phenotypic tests revealed the broiler, free-range, and human ExPEC isolates to be comparable in biofilm formation, resistance to serum bactericidal activity, adherence, and invasion capabilities. Our overall results showed prevalence of virulence phenotypes among the diverse ESBL-producing <italic>E. coli</italic> from poultry; while certain <italic>E. coli</italic> clones from broiler-poultry may indeed have the potential to cause infection in humans.</p>