bla (OXA-48)-like genome architecture among carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in the Netherlands

Carbapenem-hydrolysing enzymes belonging to the OXA-48-like group are encoded by bla (OXA-48)-like alleles and are abundant among Enterobacterales in the Netherlands. Therefore, the objective here was to investigate the characteristics, gene content and diversity of the bla (OXA-48)-like carrying plasmids and chromosomes of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae collected in the Dutch national surveillance from 2014 to 2019 in comparison with genome sequences from 29 countries. A combination of short-read genome sequencing with long-read sequencing enabled the reconstruction of 47 and 132 complete bla (OXA-48)-like plasmids for E. coli and K. pneumoniae , respectively. Seven distinct plasmid groups designated as pOXA-48-1 to pOXA-48-5, pOXA-181 and pOXA-232 were identified in the Netherlands which were similar to internationally reported plasmids obtained from countries from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. The seven plasmid groups varied in size, G+C content, presence of antibiotic resistance genes, replicon family and gene content. The pOXA-48-1 to pOXA-48-5 plasmids were variable, and the pOXA-181 and pOXA-232 plasmids were conserved. The pOXA-48-1, pOXA-48-2, pOXA-48-3 and pOXA-48-5 groups contained a putative conjugation system, but this was absent in the pOXA-48-4, pOXA-181 and pOXA-232 plasmid groups. pOXA-48 plasmids contained the PemI antitoxin, while the pOXA-181 and pOXA-232 plasmids did not. Furthermore, the pOXA-181 plasmids carried a virB2-virB3-virB9-virB10-virB11 type IV secretion system, while the pOXA-48 plasmids and pOXA-232 lacked this system. A group of non-related pOXA-48 plasmids from the Netherlands contained different resistance genes, non-IncL-type replicons or no replicons. Whole genome multilocus sequence typing revealed that the bla (OXA-48)-like plasmids were found in a wide variety of genetic backgrounds in contrast to chromosomally encoded bla (OXA-48)-like alleles. Chromosomally localized bla (OXA-48) and bla (OXA-244) alleles were located on genetic elements of variable sizes and comprised regions of pOXA-48 plasmids. The bla (OXA-48)-like genetic element was flanked by a direct repeat upstream of IS1R, and was found at multiple locations in the chromosomes of E. coli . Lastly, K. pneumoniae isolates carrying bla (OXA-48) or bla (OXA-232) were mostly resistant for meropenem, whereas E. coli bla (OXA-48), bla (OXA-181) and chromosomal bla (OXA-48) or bla (OXA-244) isolates were mostly sensitive. In conclusion, the overall bla (OXA-48)-like plasmid population in the Netherlands is conserved and similar to that reported for other countries, confirming global dissemination of bla (OXA-48)-like plasmids. Variations in size, presence of antibiotic resistance genes and gene content impacted pOXA-48, pOXA-181 and pOXA-232 plasmid architecture.