Draft Genome Sequence of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli NIVEDI-P44, Isolated from a Chicken Fecal Sample in Northeast India.

We report here the draft genome sequence of a multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli strain (NIVEDI-P44) isolated from a chicken fecal sample. The estimated genome size is 4.76 Mb, with a G+C content of 50.65%. The genome harbors multiple antibiotic resistance genes, blaDHA-1, mph(A), strA, strB, dfrA14, sul-2, tet(A), and qnrS1.

GENOME ANNOUNCEMENT

There is worldwide concern about the emergence and rapid rise of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli strains in human and veterinary medicine in both developed and developing countries (1). Although the gut of livestock, especially poultry, is an important reservoir for drug-resistant E. coli, these bacterial pathogens can be transmitted to humans through direct contact, food of animal origin, and environmental routes (2, 3). Whole-genome sequencing is considered essential in the epidemiological surveillance of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains circulating in different hosts to decipher their resistome and transmission dynamics and to gain insights into their phylogenetic and phylodynamic aspects (4). Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the MDR E. coli strain NIVEDI-P44, recovered from a chicken fecal sample during our molecular surveillance study of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase- and carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria in farm animals from Northeast India. An MIC method utilizing a broth microdilution procedure revealed NIVEDI-P44 to be resistant to 7 different antibiotics (viz., ampicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, cefotetan, ceftazidime, and ceftriaxone). These antibiotics are of human clinical relevance and are classified as “veterinary critically important antimicrobial agents” (VCIA) in veterinary medicine.

The strain was sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq sequencing platform. The paired-end technology of Illumina platform produced a total of 12,884,022 paired-end reads of 100 bp. The next-generation sequencing quality control (NGS QC) toolkit version 2.3 (5) was used to filter high-quality data for the genome assembly. A total of 11,499,584 reads were generated and assembled using the Velvet assembler (version 1.2.10) (6), yielding 216 contigs of 4,791,462 bp and an N50 value of 90,342 bp. The estimated complete genome size is 4.76 Mb, with a G+C content of 50.65%. Genome annotation was performed using the Rapid Annotations using Subsystems Technology (RAST) server (7), which predicted a total of 4,611 protein-coding sequences, 73 pseudogenes, 72 tRNAs, and 3 rRNA clusters. The NIVEDI-P44 strain belongs to multilocus sequence type (MLST) 746 (ST746). Plasmid Finder and PLACNET (8, 9) detected three plasmid sequences, viz., IncN, ColpVC, and p0111 (IncHI1). Of these, p0111 harbored the tet(A) gene (encodes tetracycline resistance). PHAST analysis (10) detected 3 intact phages totaling 117.9 kb, which accounts for 2.46% of the total genome.

Analysis by ResFinder version 2.1 (11), ARDB (12), and CARD (13) revealed the presence of the multiple antibiotic resistance genes blaDHA-1 (class C β-lactamase resistance), mph(A) (macrolide resistance), strA and strB (streptomycin resistance), dfrA14 (trimethoprim resistance), sul-2 (sulfonamide resistance), and qnrS1 (quinolone resistance).

In addition, genes encoding the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), the resistance-nodulation-division (RND) family, multidrug resistance protein A (ErmA), multidrug transporter (MdtABCD), multiple antibiotic resistance protein (Mar ABCR), and the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family of efflux pumps were ascertained. Further, several metal tolerance genes, namely those for nickel, copper, arsenic, cadmium, and zinc, were also identified.

The E. coli strains harboring such genetic resistance determinants and circulating in constantly changing environments contribute to the resistance gene pool, raising the public health threat. Therefore, diligent study of the resistome and mobilome of MDR strains widely disseminated in various environments through comparative genome evaluation will enable us to acquire information about the emergence of resistance.

Accession number(s).

The draft genome sequences have been deposited in DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank under the accession number LUYD00000000. The version described in this article is the first version.