Mobilisation of plasmid-mediated blaVEB-1 gene cassette into distinct genomic islands of Proteus mirabilis after ceftazidime exposure

ABSTRACT Objectives We sought to integrate a VEB-1-encoding gene cassette into the integron of the MDR region of genomic islands (GIs) harboured by Proteus mirabilis strains after antibiotic exposure. Methods An IncP1 plasmid from Achromobacter xylosoxidans carrying the cassette array dfrA14–blaVEB-1–aadB was introduced by conjugation into five strains of P. mirabilis: PmBRI, PmABB, PmSCO and Pm2CHAMA harbouring Salmonella GI 1 and PmESC harbouring Proteus GI 1. Circular intermediates of the cassettes were amplified by PCR. blaVEB-harbouring P. mirabilis were exposed to increasing concentrations of ceftazidime each day. Presence of blaVEB-1 in the GI was assessed by PCR. The complete MDR re…