Genomic Analysis of Antibiotic-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Summary
Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections owing to its remarkable capacity to acquire resistance to multiple antibiotic classes. Genome sequencing of diverse clinical isolates has delineated two predominant global clones (GC1 and GC2) that harbour extensive arrays of resistance determinants, often clustered within genomic resistance islands. Comparative genomics has revealed an open pan-genome marked by frequent gain and loss of gene clusters through horizontal gene transfer, natural transformation and mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, transposons and integrons. High-resolution phylogenetic analyses trace the evolution of carbapenem resistance, highlighting the dissemination of oxa-type carbapenemases and the convergence of resistance mechanisms in distinct lineages. Insights into surface polysaccharide loci, efflux pump regulation and mutation hotspots underpin our understanding of adaptive strategies. These genomic insights inform global surveillance, outbreak tracking and the design of novel therapeutics and diagnostics to curb the spread of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Complete sequencing of a hypervirulent outbreak-associated ST10 strain has provided a detailed map of insertion sequences, novel transposons and genomic islands that correlate with antibiotic susceptibility profiles. This work identified multiple copies of distinct insertion elements driving gene expression, three newly discovered composite transposons carrying resistance genes and a capsule biosynthesis locus associated with immune evasion. A conserved heme oxygenase gene cluster was found across outbreak isolates, suggesting its role in virulence. The study exemplifies how high-quality, complete genomes can link genetic architecture to pathogenic traits and guide targeted infection control measures.
Genomic Analysis of Antibiotic-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in genomic analysis of antibiotic-resistant acinetobacter baumannii across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Antibiotic resistance: Ability of bacteria to survive exposure to an antibiotic that would normally inhibit or kill them.
Plasmid: Circular, self-replicating DNA molecule that often carries genes conferring antimicrobial resistance.
Pan-genome: Full complement of genes found across all strains of a species, including core and accessory elements.
Genomic resistance island: Large chromosomal region containing clusters of resistance genes integrated via mobile elements.
Sequence type (ST): Unique identifier for a bacterial lineage based on allelic profiles at housekeeping loci.
Transposon: Mobile DNA segment that can move within or between genomes, often carrying resistance genes.
Integron: Genetic platform that captures and expresses gene cassettes, frequently involved in resistance gene accumulation.
References
- Examining the role of Acinetobacter baumannii plasmid types in disseminating antimicrobial resistance. npj Antimicrobials and Resistance (2024).
- Detection of carbapenemase producing Acinetobacter baumannii ST19 from Georgia and Ukraine carrying bla OXA-23, bla OXA-72, and/or bla NDM-5, December 2019 to June 2023. Eurosurveillance (2024).
- Global Epidemiology and Mechanisms of Resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus Complex. Clinical Infectious Diseases (2023).
- Emergence, molecular mechanisms and global spread of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Microbial Genomics (2019).
- Complete genome sequence of hypervirulent and outbreak-associated Acinetobacter baumannii strain LAC-4: epidemiology, resistance genetic determinants and potential virulence factors. Scientific Reports (2015).
- A novel method of consensus pan-chromosome assembly and large-scale comparative analysis reveal the highly flexible pan-genome of Acinetobacter baumannii. Genome Biology (2015).
- Genome dynamics of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii during infection and treatment. Genome Medicine (2016).
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