Genetic and biochemical characterization of GES-16, a new GES-type β-lactamase with carbapenemase activity in Serratia marcescens

We evaluated the genetic environment of blaGES-16 found in two carbapenem-resistant Serratia marcescens clinical isolates recovered from patients hospitalized at a tertiary hospital located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We also compared the kinetics constants for GES-16 and GES-5 against several β-lactams. Both S. marcescens isolates showed identical PFGE pattern and carried the carbapenemase-encoding gene blaGES-16, and the extended-spectrum β-lactamase encoding gene blaOXA-10. The blaGES-16 was inserted at the first position of a defective class 1 integron, composed by a fragmented inte grase gene that lacked its attI1 recombination site, followed by dfr22, aac(6′)-IIc and aadA1 genes.
Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease - Category: Microbiology Authors: Source Type: research