Genomic analysis of Oceanotoga teriensis strain UFV_LIMV02, a multidrug-resistant thermophilic bacterium isolated from an offshore oil reservoir

Full text loading... Abstract Bacteria of the species Oceanotoga teriensis belong to the Family Petrotogaceae, are Gram-negative bacilli, moderately thermophilic, and are included in the group of thiosulfate-reducing bacteria (TRB), being capable of significantly accelerating corrosion in metallic structures. However, no in-depth study on the genome, antibiotic resistance, and mobile elements has been carried out so far. In this work, the isolation, phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the multi-resistant O. teriensis UFV_LIMV02 strain was carried out, from water samples from an offshore oil extraction platform in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). We determined that the isolate has a genome 2,812,778 bp in size, with 26% GC content, organized into 34 contigs. Genomic annotation using RAST revealed the presence of genes related to resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals. By evaluating the antimicrobial resistance of the isolate using the disk diffusion technique, resistance was verified for the classes of antibiotics, beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, lincosamides, and rifamycins, a total of 14 antibiotics. The search for genomic islands, prophages, and defense systems against phage infection revealed the presence of 5 genomic islands in its genome, containing genes related to resistance to heavy metals and antibiotics, most of which are efflux pumps and several transposases. No prophage was found in its genome, however, 9 different defense systems against phage infection were detected. When analyzing the CRISPR systems four CRISPR arrays, classified as types I-B and III-B, with 272 spacers, can provide the strain with immunity to different mobile genetic elements and bacteriophage infection. The results found in this study show that the isolate UFV_LIVM02 is an environmental bacterium, resistant to different classes of antibiotics and that the proteins encoded by the predicted genomic islands may be associated with the development of greater resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals. They provide evidence that environmental bacteria found in offshore oil exploration residues may pose a risk for the spread of ARGs. More comprehensive studies on the microbial community present in oil waste are needed to assess the risks of horizontal gene transfer. - Received: - Version Posted: Funding - Petrobras (Award 00000) - Principal Award Recipient: Roberto Sousa Dias - Petrobras (Award 00000) - Principal Award Recipient: Maira Paula de Sousa - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Award 00000) - Principal Award Recipient: Adriele Jéssica do Carmo Santos