Isolation and genomic characterization of WHO critical priority pathogens in soils and vegetables

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistant bacteria have grown sharply in recent years, a fact that has favored the increase in mortality and morbidity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this problem was intensified, with a significant increase in multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria and, mainly, in carbapenemase-producing strains. Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains carbapenem resistant and Enterobacteriaceae resistant to both carbapenems and extended-spectrum ²-lactamases (ESBL) producers are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as critical priority pathogens for research and development of new antimicrobials. The environment and plants have a significant influence on the evolution and dissemination of these microorganisms as a result of anthropogenic actions. In addition, to date there are a limited number of studies investigating the presence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in different types of soil and ready-to-eat vegetables. Therefore, the objective of this study will be to isolate and characterize WHO critically important bacteria from soils and ready-to-eat vegetables obtained from different cities in the state of São Paulo. Thus, it is expected to characterize antimicrobial resistant strains and determine the main genes and mobile genetic elements involved in this phenotype. The results obtained will allow highlighting the possible routes of contamination of clinically relevant pathogens resistant to antimicrobials in soils and ready-to-eat vegetables and the possible risks to human health.