Journal Article

First report on comprehensive genomic analysis of a multidrug-resistant Enterobacter asburiae isolated from diabetic foot infection from Bangladesh

Rahaman, Md. Mizanur, Amiruzzaman, Hossen, Md. Azad, Gomes, Donald James, Mondol, Spencer Mark, Islam, Md. Rafiul, Khatun, Mst. Poli, Selim, Shahjada

2025

Overview

Enterobacter asburiae ( E. asburiae ) is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium which has emerging significance as an opportunistic pathogen having high virulence pattern and drug resistant properties. In this study, we present the detailed analysis of the whole genome sequence of a multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. asburiae strain BDW1M3 from Bangladesh. The isolate was collected from an infected foot wound of a diabetic foot ulcer patient. Through sophisticated genomic techniques encompassing whole genome sequencing and in-depth bioinformatic analyses, this research unveils a profound understanding of the isolate’s antimicrobial resistance patterns, virulence determinants, biosynthetic gene clusters, metabolic pathways and pathogenic potential. The isolate displayed resistance to Ampicillin, Fosfomycin, Cefoxitin, Tigecycline, Meropenem, Linezolid, Vancomycin antibiotics and demonstrated the capacity for biofilm formation. Several antimicrobial resistance genes such as bla ACT−2, fos A2, bae R, qnr E2, van A and numbers of virulence genes including yba J, csr A, bar A, uvr Y, pga D, hly D, hly C, ter C, pur D were detected. Metal resistance genes investigation revealed the presence of cusCFBA operon system, and many other genes including znt A, zit B, czr B. Prophage region of Myoviridae was detected. Comparative genomics with 47 whole genome sequence ( n  = 47) shed light on the genetic diversity of E. asburiae strains from diverse sources and countries, with a notable observation that strains from both human and non-human origins exhibited significant pathogenicity potential, genomic and phylogenomic relations hinting at potential cross-species transmission. Pangenome analysis indicated toward an expanding pangenome of E. asburiae . Further research and in-depth comprehensive studies are required to investigate the prevalence of E. asburiae in Bangladesh and emphasize towards unraveling the bacterium’s inherent pathogenic potential and the intricate molecular mechanisms that underlie its resistance traits and virulence properties.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 631/114 / 631/114/2785 / 631/326 / Ampicillin / Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology / Antibiotics / Antimicrobial agents / Antimicrobial resistance / Bangladesh / Biofilms / Biofilms - drug effects / Cefoxitin / Diabetes / Diabetes mellitus / Diabetic Foot - microbiology / Diabetic foot infection / Diabetic foot ulcer / Drug resistance / Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial - genetics / Enterobacter - drug effects / Enterobacter - genetics / Enterobacter - isolation & purification / Enterobacter - pathogenicity / Enterobacter asburiae / Enterobacteriaceae Infections - microbiology / Feet / Foot diseases / Fosfomycin / Gene clusters / Genetic diversity / Genome, Bacterial / Genomes / Genomic analysis / Genomics / Genomics - methods / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / Linezolid / Meropenem / Metabolic pathways / Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Molecular modelling / multidisciplinary / Multidrug resistance / Multidrug resistant / Nucleotide sequence / Opportunist infection / Pathogenicity / Pathogens / Penicillin / Phylogeny / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Tigecycline / Vancomycin / Virulence / Virulence Factors - genetics / Whole Genome Sequencing