BioF is a novel B2 metallo-β-lactamase from Pseudomonas sp. isolated from an on-farm biopurification system

Antimicrobial resistance represents a major global health concern and environmental bacteria are considered a source of resistance genes. Carbapenems are often used as the last antibiotic option to treat multidrug-resistant bacteria. Metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) are able to render resistance to almost all beta-lactam antibiotics, including carbapenems. Unfortunately, there are no inhibitors against MBLs for clinical use. Subclass B2 MBLs are the only enzymes working as strict carbapenemases, under-represented, encoded in chromosome genes and only functional as mono-zinc enzymes. Despite current efforts in MBLs inhibitor development, B2 carbapenemase activity is especially difficult to suppress, even in vitro. In this study we characterized BioF, a novel subclass B2 MBL identified in a new environmental Pseudomonas sp. strain isolated from an on-farm biopurification system (BPS). Although bla(BioF) is most likely a chromosomal gene, it is found in a genomic island and may represent a step previous to the horizontal transmission of B2 genes. The new B2 MBL is active as a mono-zinc enzyme and is a potent carbapenemase with incipient activity against some cephalosporins. BioF activity is not affected by excess zinc and is only inhibited at high metal chelator concentrations. The discovery and characterization of B2 MBL BioF as a potent carbapenemase in a BPS bacterial isolate emphasizes the importance of exploring antibiotic resistances existing in the environmental microbiota under the influence of human activities before they could emerge clinically.

Automated summary

This study characterized a novel subclass B2 MBL called BioF identified in an environmental Pseudomonas sp. strain, which functions as a potent carbapenemase with incipient activity against some cephalosporins. The BioF activity is not affected by excess zinc but is only inhibited at high metal chelator concentrations, highlighting the difficulty in suppressing B2 carbapenemase activity.