The fos operon encoding short-chain fructooligosaccharide (scFOS) utilization enables bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae to grow and be sustained in environments where they would struggle to survive. Despite several cases of the detection of the fos operon in isolates of avian and equine origins, its global distribution in bacterial genomes remains unknown. The presence of the plasmid-harbored fos operon among resistant bacteria may promote the spread of antibiotic resistance. A collection of 11,538 antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates from various sources was screened for the fosT gene encoding the scFOS transporter. Out of 307 fosT-positive isolates, 80% of them originated from sources not previously linked to fosT (humans, wastewater, and animals). The chromosomally harbored fos operon was detected in 163/237 isolates subjected to whole-genome sequencing. In the remaining 74 isolates, the operon was carried by plasmids. Further analyses focusing on the isolates with a plasmid-harbored fos operon showed that the operon was linked to various incompatibility (Inc) groups, including the IncHI1, IncF-type, IncK2, IncI1, and IncY families. Long-read sequencing of representative plasmids showed the colocalization of fos genes with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in IncHI1 (containing a multidrug resistance region), IncK2 (blaTEM-1A), IncI1 [sul2 and tet(A)], and IncY [aadA5, dfrA17, sul2, and tet(A)] plasmids, while IncF-type plasmids had no ARGs but coharbored virulence-associated genes. Despite the differences in the locations and structures of the fos operons, all isolates except one were proven to utilize scFOSs. In this study, we show that the fos operon and its spread are not strictly bound to one group of plasmids, and therefore, it should not be overlooked. IMPORTANCE It was believed that members of the family Enterobacteriaceae are unable to grow under conditions with short-chain fructooligosaccharides as the only source of carbon. Nevertheless, the first Escherichia coli isolate from chicken intestine was able to utilize these sugars owing to the chromosomally harbored fos operon. Studies on E. coli isolates from horses discovered the horizontal transfer of the fos operon on IncHI1 plasmids along with genes for antibiotic resistance. The first plasmid detected was pEQ1, originating from the feces of a hospitalized horse in the Czech Republic. Follow-up studies also revealed the dissemination of the IncHI1 plasmid-harbored fos operon in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and France among healthy horses. Despite several cases of detection of the fos operon, its global distribution in bacterial genomes remains unknown. The fos operon possibly plays a role in the adaptation of plasmids among resistant bacteria and therefore may promote the spread of antibiotic resistance.

• Klíčová slova
• Escherichia coli, MinION, scFOS, sequencing,
• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky * farmakologie   MeSH
• antibiotická rezistence MeSH
• beta-laktamasy genetika   MeSH
• Enterobacteriaceae MeSH
• Escherichia coli MeSH
• infekce vyvolané Escherichia coli * mikrobiologie   MeSH
• koně MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
• operon MeSH
• plazmidy genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antibakteriální látky * MeSH
• beta-laktamasy MeSH
• fructooligosaccharide MeSH Prohlížeč

Wild animals foraging in the human-influenced environment are colonized by bacteria with clinically important antibiotic resistance. The occurrence of such bacteria in wildlife is influenced by various biological, ecological, and geographical factors which have not yet been fully understood. More research focusing on the human-animal-environmental interface and using novel approaches is required to understand the role of wild animals in the transmission of antibiotic resistance and to assess potential risks for the public health.

• Klíčová slova
• antibiotics, carbapenemase, environment, landfill, transmission, wild animal,
• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky farmakologie   MeSH
• Bacteria účinky léků   enzymologie   genetika   MeSH
• bakteriální léková rezistence MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• beta-laktamasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• divoká zvířata mikrobiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antibakteriální látky MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny MeSH
• beta-laktamasy MeSH
• carbapenemase MeSH Prohlížeč