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Third-generation cephalosporin resistance (3GC-R) in Escherichia coli is a rising problem in human and farmed animal populations. We conducted whole genome sequencing analysis of 138 representative 3GC-R isolates previously collected from dairy farms in South West England and confirmed by PCR to carry acquired 3GC-R genes. This analysis identified blaCTX-M (131 isolates: encoding CTX-M-1, −14, −15, −32 and the novel variant, CTX-M-214), blaCMY-2 (6 isolates) and blaDHA-1 (one isolate). A highly conserved plasmid was identified in 73 isolates, representing 27 E. coli sequence types. This novel ~220 kb IncHI2 plasmid carrying blaCTX-M-32 was sequenced to closure and designated pMOO-32. It was found experimentally to be stable in cattle and human transconjugant E. coli even in the absence of selective pressure and was found by multiplex PCR to be present on 26 study farms representing a remarkable range of transmission over 1500 square kilometres. However, the plasmid was not found amongst human urinary E. coli we have recently characterised from people living in the same geographical location, collected in parallel with farm sampling. There were close relatives of two blaCTX-M plasmids circulating amongst eight human and two cattle isolates, and a closely related blaCMY-2 plasmid found in one cattle and one human isolate. However, phylogenetic evidence of recent sharing of 3GC-R strains between farms and humans in the same region was not found. Third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs) are critically important antibacterials and 3GC-resistance (3GC-R) threatens human health, particularly in the context of opportunistic pathogens such as Escherichia coli. There is some evidence for zoonotic transmission of 3GC-R E. coli through food, but little work has been done examining possible transmission (e.g. via interaction of people with the local near-farm environment). We characterised acquired 3GC-R E. coli found on dairy farms in a geographically restricted region of the United Kingdom and compared these with E. coli from people living in the same region, collected in parallel. Whilst there is strong evidence for recent farm-to-farm transmission of 3GC-R strains and plasmids – including one epidemic plasmid that has a remarkable capacity to transmit – there was no evidence that 3GC-R found on study farms had a significant impact on circulating 3GC-R E. coli strains or plasmids in the local human population.

Footrot is a polymicrobial infectious disease in sheep causing severe lameness, leading to one of the industry's biggest welfare problems. The complex aetiology of footrot makes in-situ or in-vitro investigations difficult. Computational methods offer a solution to understanding the bacteria involved, how they may interact with the host and ultimately providing a way to identify targets for future hypotheses driven investigative work. Here we present the first combined global analysis of the bacterial community transcripts together with the host immune response in healthy and diseased ovine feet during a natural polymicrobial infection state using metatranscriptomics. The intra tissue and surface bacterial populations and the most abundant bacterial transcriptome were analysed, demonstrating footrot affected skin has a reduced diversity and increased abundances of, not only the causative bacteria Dichelobacter nodosus, but other species such as Mycoplasma fermentans and Porphyromonas asaccharolytica. Host transcriptomics reveals a suppression of biological processes relating to skin barrier function, vascular functions, and immunosurveillance in unhealthy interdigital skin, supported by histological findings that type I collagen (associated with scar tissue formation) is significantly increased in footrot affected interdigital skin comparted to outwardly healthy skin. Finally, we provide some interesting indications of host and pathogen interactions associated with virulence genes and the host spliceosome which could lead to the identification of future therapeutic targets.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the mechanisms of cefotaxime resistance (CTX-R) in 1226 Escherichia coli from 4581 environmental samples collected on 53 dairy farms over a 2-year period in South West England and to characterise a blaCTX-M-32-producing plasmid, pMOO-32, found to be widely distributed. Methods: CTX-R isolates were identified using MIC breakpoint agar plates. β-lactamase genes of interest (GOIs) were detected by PCR. WGS was performed and analysed using the Center for Genomic Epidemiology platform. A plasmid-specific multiplex PCR was designed to indicate the presence of plasmid pMOO-32. Results: Amongst 1226 CTX-R isolates, PCR identified blaCTX-M group 1 (549 isolates), blaCTX-M group 9 (100 isolates), blaCMY (12 isolates), blaDHA (1 isolate) and no GOI (566 isolates). WGS analysis of 184 representative isolates identified blaCTX-M (131 isolates; encoding CTX-M-1, -14, -15, -32 and the novel variant, CTX-M-214), blaCMY-2 (6 isolates), blaDHA-1 (one isolate) and presumed AmpC-hyperproduction in 46 isolates that were PCR negative for GOIs. A highly conserved plasmid was identified in 73 isolates, representing 27 E. coli STs. This ~220 kb IncHI2 plasmid carrying blaCTX-M-32 was designated pMOO-32, was found to be stable in cattle and human transconjugant E. coli even in the absence of selective pressure, and was found by multiplex PCR to be present on 26/53 study farms. Conclusions: β-lactamases capable of conferring resistance to third generation cephalosporins were evident on 47/53 farms within this study. This was largely because of the widespread dissemination of an IncHI2 plasmid carrying blaCTX-M-32.