Diversified mcr-1-harbouring plasmid reservoirs confer resistance to colistin in human gut microbiota

Abstract

Colistin is an ultimate line of refuge against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Very recently, the emergence of plasmid-mediated mcr-1 colistin resistance has become a great challenge to global public health, raising the possibility that dissemination of the mcr-1 gene is underestimated and diversified. Here, we report three cases of plasmid-carried MCR-1 colistin resistance in isolates from gut microbiota of diarrhea patients. Structural and functional analyses determined that the colistin resistance is conferred purely by the single mcr-1 gene. Genetic and sequence mapping revealed that mcr-1-harbouring plasmid reservoirs are present in diversity. Together, the data represent the first evidence of diversity in mcr-1-harbouring plasmid reservoirs of human gut microbiota.