Identification of a Novel Plasmid-Mediated Carbapenemase-Encoding Gene, blaVMB-2, in Vibrio diabolicus

Here, we characterized a carbapenem-resistant Vibrio diabolicus strain of shrimp origin with various experiments and bioinformatics analysis. A novel metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) gene, bla(VMB-2), that confers resistance to beta-lactams, including meropenem and cephalosporins, was identified on a plasmid-borne composite transposon, ISShfr9-ISCR1-bla(VMB-2)-bla(CARB-12)-aadA1-ISShfr9, which is capable of generating a bla(VMB-2)-bearing circular intermediate. ISShfr9 was found to be disseminated in multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, arousing the concern of further transmission of a bla(VMB-2)-bearing circular intermediate to clinical Enterobacterales strains via such insertion sequences, which warrants further investigations.

Automated summary

Through experiments and analysis, we identified a carbapenem-resistant Vibrio diabolicus strain of shrimp origin carrying a novel MBL gene that confers resistance to multiple antibiotics. The discovery of this resistance gene on a plasmid raises concerns about further transmission to clinical Enterobacterales strains.