Investigation of Antioxidant Activity, Myco-Chemical Content, and GC-MS Based Molecular Docking Analysis of Bioactive Chemicals from Amanita konajensis (Agaricomycetes), a Tribal Myco-Food from India.

In humans, a wide range of health disorders have been induced due to an imbalanced metabolism and an excess generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Different biological properties found in mushrooms seem to be the reason for their customary use as a favourite delicacy. Therefore, exploration of wild edible mushrooms as a source of various biological compounds is gaining much importance today. Amanita konajensis, one of the underutilized macrofungi popularly consumed in Eastern India, demands a systematic study of its medicinal values. The study aims to explore the myco-chemical contents of A. konajensis ethanolic extract (EtAK1) and screen their antioxidant potency through various in vitro assays. GC-MS analysis identified the chemical components of EtAK1. Further, structure-based virtual screening of the identified compounds was analysed for drug-like properties and molecular docking with the human p38 MAPK protein, a potent targeting pathway for human lung cancer. The morpho-molecular features proved the authenticity of the collected mushroom. The screening assays showed that EtAK1 was abundant in flavonoids, followed by phenolics, ß-carotene, and lycopene, and had strong antioxidant activity with EC50 values of 640-710 µg/mL. The GC-MS analyses of EtAK1 identified the occurrence of 19 bioactive compounds in the mushroom. In silico analysis revealed that anthraergostatetraenol p-chlorobenzoate, one of the compounds identified, displayed high binding affinity (ΔG = -10.6 kcal/mol) with human p38 MAPK. The outcome of this study will pave the way for the invention of myco-medicine using A. konajensis, which may lead to a novel drug for human lung cancer.

Carriage and within-host diversity of mcr-1.1-harbouring Escherichia coli from pregnant mothers: inter- and intra-mother transmission dynamics of mcr-1.1.

Exchange of antimicrobial resistance genes via mobile genetic elements occur in the gut which can be transferred from mother to neonate during birth. This study is the first to analyse transmissible colistin resistance gene, mcr, in pregnant mothers and neonates. Samples were collected from pregnant mothers (rectal) and septicaemic neonates (rectal and blood) and analysed for the presence of mcr, its transmissibility, genome diversity, and exchange of mcr between isolates within an individual and across different individuals (not necessarily mother-baby pairs). mcr-1.1 was detected in rectal samples of pregnant mothers (n = 10, 0.9%), but not in neonates. All mcr-positive mothers gave birth to healthy neonates from whom rectal specimen were not collected. Hence, the transmission of mcr between these mother-neonate pairs could not be studied. mcr-1.1 was noted only in Escherichia coli (phylogroup A & B1), and carried few resistance and virulence genes. Isolates belonged to diverse sequence types (n = 11) with two novel STs (ST12452, ST12455). mcr-1.1 was borne on conjugative IncHI2 bracketed between ISApl1 on Tn6630, and the plasmids exhibited similarities in sequences across the study isolates. Phylogenetic comparison showed that study isolates were related to mcr-positive isolates of animal origin from Southeast Asian countries. Spread of mcr-1.1 within this study occurred either via similar mcr-positive clones or similar mcr-bearing plasmids in mothers. Though this study could not build evidence for mother-baby transmission but the presence of such genes in the maternal specimen may enhance the chances of transmission to neonates.

Plasmid-mediated AmpC in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli from septicaemic neonates: diversity, transmission and phenotypic detection.

OBJECTIVES: Presence and dissemination of plasmid-mediated AmpC genes (pAmpCs) have made bacteria cephalosporin-resistant and assessment of their prevalence and diversity is essential. Coexistence of pAmpCs with New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase (blaNDM) has facilitated their spread and NDM interferes with correct pAmpC phenotypic identification. METHODS: Assessment of pAmpCs in different species and sequence types (STs), co-transmission with blaNDM and phenotypic detection were analysed among Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 256) and Escherichia coli (n = 92) isolated from septicaemic neonates over 13 years. RESULTS: pAmpCs were present in 9% (30/348) of strains, 5% in K. pneumoniae and 18% in E. coli. pAmpC genes (blaCMY and blaDHA) were detected, blaCMY-42 and blaDHA-1 variants being predominant. Strains were resistant to most antimicrobials tested. blaCMY and blaDHA were dominant among E. coli (14/17) and K. pneumoniae (9/13), respectively. pAmpC-bearing strains belonged to diverse STs, including epidemic K. pneumoniae ST11 and ST147. Some strains co-harboured carbapenemase genes, blaNDM (17/30) and blaOXA-48 (5/30). In 40% (12/30) of strains, pAmpC genes were transferred by conjugation, of which 8/12 exhibited co-transfer with blaNDM. pAmpCs were frequently found in replicons as follows: blaDHA-1 with IncHIB-M, blaCMY-4 with IncA/C, blaCMY-6 with IncA/C, and blaCMY-42 with IncFII. The combination disk-diffusion test correctly detected pAmpC in 77% (23/30) of pAmpC-bearing strains. However, correct detection of pAmpC was higher in strains that did not harbour blaNDM vs. those with blaNDM (85% vs. 71%). CONCLUSION: Presence of pAmpCs along with carbapenemases, linkage with multiple STs, and replicon types indicated their potential for spread. pAmpCs can go undetected in the presence of blaNDM; hence, regular surveillance is required.

Overexpression of Efflux Pumps, Mutations in the Pumps' Regulators, Chromosomal Mutations, and AAC(6')-Ib-cr Are Associated With Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Diverse Sequence Types of Neonatal Septicaemic Acinetobacter baumannii: A 7-Year Single Center Study.

This study investigates susceptibility toward three fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin), multiple fluoroquinolone-resistance mechanisms, and epidemiological relationship of neonatal septicaemic Acinetobacter baumannii. Previous studies on fluoroquinolone resistance in A. baumannii focused primarily on ciprofloxacin susceptibility and assessed a particular mechanism of resistance; a more holistic approach was taken here. Epidemiological relationship was evaluated by Multi Locus Sequence Typing. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations of fluoroquinolones was determined with and without efflux pump inhibitors. Overexpression of efflux pumps, resistance-nodulation-cell-division (RND)-type, and multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE)-type efflux pumps were evaluated by reverse transcriptase-qPCR. Mutations within regulatory proteins (AdeRS, AdeN, and AdeL) of RND-pumps were examined. Chromosomal mutations, presence of qnr and aac(6')-Ib-cr were investigated. A. baumannii were highly diverse as 24 sequence-types with seven novel STs (ST-1440/ST-1441/ST-1481/ST-1482/ST-1483/ST-1484/ST-1486) were identified among 47 A. baumannii. High resistance to ciprofloxacin (96%), levofloxacin (92%), and particularly moxifloxacin (90%) was observed, with multiple mechanisms being active. Resistance to 4th generation fluoroquinolone (moxifloxacin) in neonatal isolates is worrisome. Mutations within GyrA (S83L) and ParC (S80L) were detected in more than 90% of fluoroquinolone-resistant A. baumannii (FQRAB) spread across 10 different clonal complexes (CC1/CC2/CC10/CC25/CC32/CC126/CC149/CC216/CC218/CC513). Efflux-based FQ resistance was found in 65% of FQRAB with ≥2 different active pumps in 38% of strains. Overexpression of adeB was highest (2.2-34-folds) followed by adeJ, adeG, and abeM. Amino acid changes in the regulators (AdeRS/AdeN/AdeL) either as single or multiple substitutions substantiated the overexpression of the pumps. Diverse mutations within AdeRS were detected among different CCs whereas mutations within AdeN linked to CC10 and CC32. Chromosomal mutations and active efflux pumps were detected simultaneously among 64% of FQRAB. Presence of aac(6')-Ib-cr was also high (74% of FQRAB) but qnrS were absent. As most FQRABs had chromosomal mutations, this was considered predominant, however, isolates where pumps were also active had higher MIC values, establishing the critical role of the efflux pumps. The high variability of FQ susceptibility among FQRAB, possessing the same set of mutations in gyrA, parC, and efflux pump regulators, was also noted. This reveals the complexity of interpreting the interplay of multiple resistance mechanisms in A. baumannii.

Characterization of antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative bacteria that cause neonatal sepsis in seven low- and middle-income countries.

Antimicrobial resistance in neonatal sepsis is rising, yet mechanisms of resistance that often spread between species via mobile genetic elements, ultimately limiting treatments in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), are poorly characterized. The Burden of Antibiotic Resistance in Neonates from Developing Societies (BARNARDS) network was initiated to characterize the cause and burden of antimicrobial resistance in neonatal sepsis for seven LMICs in Africa and South Asia. A total of 36,285 neonates were enrolled in the BARNARDS study between November 2015 and December 2017, of whom 2,483 were diagnosed with culture-confirmed sepsis. Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 258) was the main cause of neonatal sepsis, with Serratia marcescens (n = 151), Klebsiella michiganensis (n = 117), Escherichia coli (n = 75) and Enterobacter cloacae complex (n = 57) also detected. We present whole-genome sequencing, antimicrobial susceptibility and clinical data for 916 out of 1,038 neonatal sepsis isolates (97 isolates were not recovered from initial isolation at local sites). Enterobacterales (K. pneumoniae, E. coli and E. cloacae) harboured multiple cephalosporin and carbapenem resistance genes. All isolated pathogens were resistant to multiple antibiotic classes, including those used to treat neonatal sepsis. Intraspecies diversity of K. pneumoniae and E. coli indicated that multiple antibiotic-resistant lineages cause neonatal sepsis. Our results will underpin research towards better treatments for neonatal sepsis in LMICs.

Evaluation of co-transfer of plasmid-mediated fluoroquinolone resistance genes and blaNDM gene in Enterobacteriaceae causing neonatal septicaemia.

Background: The blaNDM-1 (New Delhi Metallo-ß-lactamase-1) gene has disseminated around the globe. NDM-1 producers are found to co-harbour resistance genes against many antimicrobials, including fluoroquinolones. The spread of large plasmids, carrying both blaNDM and plasmid-mediated fluoroquinolone resistance (PMQR) markers, is one of the main reasons for the failure of these essential antimicrobials. Methods: Enterobacteriaceae (n = 73) isolated from the blood of septicaemic neonates, admitted at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Kolkata, India, were identified followed by PFGE, antibiotic susceptibility testing and determination of MIC values for meropenem and ciprofloxacin. Metallo-ß-lactamases and PMQRs were identified by PCR. NDM-positive isolates were studied for mutations in GyrA & ParC and for co-transmission of blaNDM and PMQR genes (aac(6')-Ib-cr, qnrB, qnrS) through conjugation or transformation. Plasmid types, integrons, plasmid addiction systems, and genetic environment of the blaNDM gene in NDM-positive isolates and their transconjugants/ transformants were studied. Results: Isolated Enterobacteriaceae comprised of Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 55), Escherichia coli (n = 16), Enterobacter cloacae (n = 1) and Enterobacter aerogenes (n = 1). The rates of ciprofloxacin (90%) and meropenem (49%) non-susceptibility were high. NDM was the only metallo-ß-lactamase found in this study. NDM-1 was the predominant metallo-ß-lactamase but NDM-5, NDM-7, and NDM-15 were also found. There was no significant difference in ciprofloxacin non-susceptibility (97% vs 85%) and the prevalence of PMQRs (85% vs 77%) between NDM-positive and NDM-negative isolates. Among the PMQRs, aac(6')-Ib-cr was predominant followed by qnrB1 and qnrS1. Twenty-nine isolates (40%) co-harboured PMQRs and blaNDM, of which 12 co-transferred PMQRs along with blaNDM in large plasmids of IncFIIK, IncA/C, and IncN types. Eighty-two percent of NDM-positive isolates possessed GyrA and/or ParC mutations. Plasmids carrying only blaNDM were of IncHIB-M type predominantly. Most of the isolates had ISAba125 in the upstream region of the blaNDM gene. Conclusion: We hypothesize that the spread of PMQRs was independent of the spread of NDM-1 as their co-transfer was confirmed only in a few isolates. However, the co-occurrence of these genes poses a great threat to the treatment of neonates.