Tolerance to arsenic contaminant among multidrug-resistant and copper-tolerant Salmonella successful clones is associated with diverse ars operons and genetic contexts

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Mourao, J (Author) Other; Rebelo, A (Author) Other; Ribeiro, S (Author) Other; Peixe, L. (Author) FFUP; Novais, Carla (Author) FFUP; Antunes, Patrícia (Author) FCNAUP

Journal

Title: Environmental Microbiology

Vol. 22

Pages: 2829-2842

ISSN: 1462-2912

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 12 Citations

Scopus - 15 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Health sciences

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

Associated Projects

FOODnanoHEALTH - FOODnanoHEALTH

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-1WG

DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15016

Abstract (EN): Emergence and expansion of frequent multidrug-resistant (MDR) major Salmonella clones/serotypes has been a significant threat in the last years. Metal compounds, such as copper, commonly used in animal-production settings, have been pointed out as possible contributors for the selection of such strains/clones. However, the scarcity of studies limits our understanding of the impact of other metal environmental contaminants as arsenic (used in insecticides/herbicides/coccidiostats). We analysed arsenic tolerance (AsT) dispersion by phenotypic and genotypic (PCR/sequencing/I-CeuI/S1/XbaI-PFGE/hybridization) assays among Salmonella with diverse epidemiological and genetic backgrounds. Then, to better understand ars operon genetic contexts, the whole genome of five representative strains was sequenced. We found a high dispersion of ars operons conferring AsT, especially among copper-tolerant and relevant serotypes/clones related to pig-production setting. The acr3-type was found dispersed in the chromosome of diverse serotypes, including the emergent S. Rissen. Conversely, arsBII was almost confined to the MDR ST34 European clone of S. Typhimurium/S. 4,[5],12:i:-, always along with copper/silver tolerance sil + pco clusters in an integrative conjugative element. These data suggest that AsT is an essential adaptive feature for the ecological success of these epidemic clones/serotypes and alerts for global strategies to reduce arsenic-based compounds' impact thus preventing environmental/food contamination with frequent MDR foodborne pathogens.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14