Publications by authors named "Liang-Xing Fang"

The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through plasmids is a major mechanism for the development of bacterial antimicrobial resistance. The adaptation and evolution mechanisms of multidrug-resistant (MDR) plasmids with their hosts are not fully understood. Herein, we conducted experimental evolution of a 244 kb MDR plasmid (pJXP9) under various conditions including no antibiotics and mono- or combinational drug treatments of colistin (CS), cefotaxime (CTX), and ciprofloxacin (CIP).

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  • * A new tool called CRISPR-AMRtracker has been developed to track ARG transfer using advanced techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 fluorescence tagging and microbial community analysis, without affecting the host cell's antibiotic resistance.
  • * Preliminary results show that a specific ARG, labeled with a fluorescent tag, can transfer between various bacterial species in fecal samples, suggesting this tool could enhance our understanding of ARG spread and inform strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.
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Sewages from duck farms are often recognized as a major source of antimicrobial resistance and pathogenic bacteria discharged to natural water bodies, but few studies depicted the dynamic changes in resistome and microbial communities in the rivers under immense exposure of sewage discharge. In this study, we investigated the ecological and environmental risks of duck sewages to the rivers that geographically near to the duck farms with short-distance (<1 km) using 16S rRNA amplicon and metagenomic sequencing. The results showed that a total of 20 ARG types were identified with abundances ranged from 0.

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  • The study focuses on intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (InPEC), a major cause of diarrhea in piglets, analyzing E. coli isolates from 15 swine farms in southern China.
  • Researchers found that 12.71% of the isolates contained six key virulence genes, with different pathotypes identified, including enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (STEC).
  • Genetic analysis revealed that InPEC strains commonly carried multiple antibiotic resistance genes, indicating a complex population structure and the role of plasmids in the spread of virulence and resistance genes.
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The increasing antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health challenge, threatening our ability to combat infectious diseases. The phenomenon of collateral sensitivity, whereby resistance to one antibiotic is accompanied by increased sensitivity to another, offers potential avenues for novel therapeutic interventions against infections unresponsive to classical treatments. In this study, we elucidate the emergence of tobramycin (TOB)-resistant small colony variants (SCVs) due to mutations in the gene, which render .

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4,[5],12:i:-, a monophasic variant of Typhimurium, has emerged as a global cause of multidrug-resistant salmonellosis and has become endemic in many developing and developed countries, especially in China. Here, we have sequenced 352 clinical isolates in Guangdong, China, during 2009-2019 and performed a large-scale collection of 4,[5],12:i:- with whole genome sequencing (WGS) data across the globe, to better understand the population structure, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genomic characterization, and transmission routes of 4,[5],12:i:- across Guangdong. 4,[5],12:i:- strains showed broad genetic diversity; Guangdong isolates were found to be widely distributed among the global lineages.

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  • The increasing problem of global antimicrobial resistance highlights the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies, as few new antibiotics have been created in recent years.
  • Researchers developed a screening platform that identified three flavonoids—7,8-dihydroxyflavone, myricetin, and luteolin—that enhance the effectiveness of the antibiotic colistin.
  • These flavonoids disrupt bacterial iron balance by converting ferric to ferrous iron, which improves colistin's binding and effectiveness, showing potential for future antibacterial therapies targeting iron signaling.
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This study was designed to investigate the occurrence and dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) harboring in various ecological niches under the one health approach. A total of 793 samples were collected from animals, humans, and the environment. The findings of the study revealed the occurrence of as follows: animals (11.

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Objectives: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections have limited treatment options due to the impermeability of the outer membrane. New therapeutic strategies or agents are urgently needed, and combination therapies using existing antibiotics are a potentially effective means to treat these infections. In this study, we examined whether phentolamine can enhance the antibacterial activity of macrolide antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria and investigated its mechanism of action.

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The banning of colistin as a feed additive for food-producing animals in mainland China in 2017 caused the decline in the prevalence of Escherichia coli-mobilized colistin resistance () in China. Salmonella Typhimurium and its monophasic 1,4,[5],12:i:- variants are also the main species associated with the spread of ; however, the evidence of the prevalence and transmission of among Salmonella is lacking. Herein, the 5,354 Salmonella isolates recovered from fecal samples of diarrheal patients in Guangdong, Southern China, from 2009 to 2019 were screened for colistin resistance and , and -positive isolates were characterized based on whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data.

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Antibiotics have been widely used for improving human and animal health and well-being for many decades. However, the enormous antibiotic usage in agriculture especially for livestock leads to considerable quantities of antibiotic residues in associated food products and can reach potentially hazardous levels for consumers. Therefore, timely detection and systematical surveillance on residual antibiotics in food materials are of significance to minimize the negative impact caused by such unwanted antibiotic leftovers.

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Understanding the fitness costs associated with plasmid carriage is a key to better understanding the mechanisms of plasmid maintenance in bacteria. In the current work, we performed multiple serial passages (63 days, 627.8 generations) to identify the compensatory mechanisms that Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ATCC 14028 utilized to maintain the multidrug-resistant (MDR) IncHI2 plasmid pJXP9 in the presence and absence of antibiotic selection.

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Types 1 and 3 fimbriae in Enterobacteriaceae play versatile roles in bacterial physiology including attachment, invasion, cell motility as well as with biofilm formation and urinary tract infections. Herein, we investigated the prevalence and transmission of plasmid-mediated types 1 and 3 fimbriae from 1753 non-duplicate Enterobacteriaceae from diseased food Animals. We identified 123 (7.

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Objectives: To reconstruct the genomic epidemiology and evolution of MDR Salmonella Indiana in China.

Methods: A total of 108 Salmonella Indiana strains were collected from humans and livestock in China. All isolates were subjected to WGS and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

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  • * Out of 1,263 Typhimurium isolates, 221 were found to be positive for certain resistance genes, with CTX-M-1 being the most prevalent, and these resistant strains showed notably higher resistance rates to multiple antibiotics.
  • * Advanced genetic analysis revealed clonal transmission among isolates, connections between resistant strains and pork, and the presence of various antibiotic resistance genes, emphasizing the necessity for ongoing monitoring of these resistant microbes in diarrheal patients.
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  • The study examined the prevalence and genetic traits of the fosA3 and fosA7 resistance genes in Salmonella isolates from food animals in China between 2016 and 2019.
  • Results showed a high occurrence of fosA7 (9.26%) and fosA3 (6.53%), with fosA3 linked to high-level resistance, while fosA7 provided low-level resistance and helped Salmonella survive oxidative stress.
  • The research revealed that fosA3 and fosA7 have different genetic structures and origins, indicating their evolution in Salmonella is likely distinct, with fosA3 located on plasmids and fosA7 strictly found in chromosomes.
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The emergence and re-emergence of zoonotic diseases significantly impact human health, particularly those who live in impoverished areas and have close contact with domestic or wild animals. Nearly 75% of zoonotic diseases are transmitted directly from animals to humans or indirectly vector/agent interactions between animals and humans. Growing populations, globalization, urbanization, and the interaction of the environment with humans and livestock all play roles in the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases.

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The extensive use of tetracycline antibiotics has led to the widespread presence of tetracycline-resistance genes in Gram-negative bacteria and this poses serious threats to human and animal health. In our previous study, we reported a method for rapid detection of Tet(X)-producers using MALDI-TOF MS. However, there have been multiple machineries involved in tetracycline resistance including efflux pump, and ribosomal protection protein.

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  • The study reports the identification of 322 instances (1.21%) of (X) genes resistant to the last-line antibiotic tigecycline from a large dataset of 12,829 human microbiome samples across four continents.
  • Most (X) genes found were (X2)-like orthologs, with 12 novel genes (X45, X46, X47) also noted; these genes are mainly present in anaerobic bacteria from human gut origins.
  • Riemerella anatipestifer was identified as a potential ancestral source of (X) genes, highlighting the role of mobile genetic elements in spreading resistance and emphasizing the human gut as a significant reservoir for these antibiotic resistance genes.
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  • The study aimed to investigate the transmission and molecular characteristics of blaNDM-producing E. coli between pet animals and veterinary healthcare providers in Guangzhou, China.
  • Researchers collected 359 samples from both groups and found 45 blaNDM-positive bacteria, primarily E. coli, with blaNDM-5 being the most prevalent variant identified.
  • Results revealed a clonal spread of blaNDM-positive E. coli, particularly with specific sequence types, and the presence of two novel plasmids that may enhance the horizontal transmission of resistance genes.
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The emergence of novel plasmid-mediated high-level tigecycline resistance genes tet(X) in the Enterobacteriaceae has increased public health risk for treating severe bacterial infections. Despite growing reports of tet(X)-positive isolates detected in animal sources, the epidemiological association of animal- and environment-derived isolates with human-derived isolates remains unclear. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of tet(X4)-positive Escherichia coli isolates collected in a hospital in Guangdong province, China.

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This study aimed to determine the prevalence and transmission characteristics of New Delhi metallo β-lactamase (NDM)-producing from ducks in Guangdong, China. In this study, a total of 28 NDM-producing isolates were recovered from 88 unduplicated diseased duck samples (31.8%) from veterinary clinics in Guangzhou, Foshan, Qingyuan, and Huizhou.

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Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are some of the most important pathogens responsible for nosocomial infections, which can be challenging to treat. The carbapenemase genes, which are expressed by New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing Escherichia coli isolates, have been found in humans, environmental samples, and multiple other sources worldwide. Importantly, these genes have also been found in farm animals, which are considered an NDM reservoir and an important source of human infections.

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