20.500.12556/DiRROS-22796 Limited clonality but widespread plasmid sharing of ESBL-producing E. coli between humans and the environment of northeastern Slovenia Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli is a critical antimicrobial-resistant pathogen. While well-studied in humans and animals, its presence in the environment remains underexplored. This study analyses the genotypes and plasmid composition of ESBL-producing E. coli from human and environmental sources in Northeastern Slovenia. Freshwater and sediment samples were collected bimonthly during one year at ten sites, including rivers, lakes, and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influents. Human isolates were collected during the same period and geographic area. Whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were conducted to evaluate genetic relatedness, antimicrobial resistance genes, and plasmid composition. Among 414 sequenced isolates (230 human, 184 environmental), 108 multilocus sequence types (MLST-ST) were identified, with 20 STs shared between sources. Core-genome MLST (cgMLST) revealed 59 clonal clusters, six of which included both human and environmental isolates. The dominant ESBL gene was blaCTX−M-15 (59 % of all ESBL isolates), and 54 % of all ESBL isolates carried ESBL genes on plasmids. Plasmid cluster AA474, found across different sources, STs, and locations, was linked to multiple ESBL genes, suggesting a key role in resistance dissemination. Despite shared STs, ESBL genes, and plasmids between humans and the environment, cgMLST analysis indicated limited clonal spread. This suggest that transmission between humans and the environment remains restricted and is more often linked to spread of plasmids than of strains. one health environment water sediment epidemiology plasmids ST1193 true false true Elsevier B.V. Angleški jezik Ni določen Neznano 2025-06-27 07:48:36 2025-06-27 07:52:55 2025-10-24 03:52:12 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 Soavtorji: Sandra Janezic, Camilla Wiuff Coia, Louise Roer, Maja Rupnik; Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Opis vira z dne 3. 6. 2025; Str. 1-11 [št. članka] 100408 Letn. 9 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 2025-05-21 614.2(497.4) 2666-5174 10.1016/j.crmicr.2025.100408 238157315 Maric_et_al_2025_Limited_clonality.pdf Maric_et_al_2025_Limited_clonality.pdf 1 E1CE66A4ED0449A9B3CC2D6A2B4D5E05 b3ff6d0df921645b725705653335a5b966f8a7e15418383873b2a7a25d8a18be a8624877-531b-11f0-8080-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=33127 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666517425000707?via%3Dihub 1 5f26fb8a-531a-11f0-8080-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=33125 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crmicr.2025.100408 0 babd9bfc-531b-11f0-8080-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=33128 Nacionalni laboratorij za zdravje, okolje in hrano 0 0 0