Genomic characterisation of multidrug-resistant Bacillus toyonensis strain 4HC1 isolated from marine plastic in Norway.

OBJECTIVES

Bacillus toyonensis is widespread in nature. Multidrug-resistant B. toyonensis strain 4HC1 was isolated from polyethylene submerged in the water column near a beach in Øygarden, Norway. We analysed the whole genome sequence of strain 4HC1 in order to understand the genetic basis of the observed phenotypic antibiotic resistance.

METHODS

Whole-genome sequencing of B. toyonensis strain 4HC1 was performed on Illumina MiSeq platform using 2 × 300 bp chemistry. The genome sequence was assembled using SPAdes v.3.13.0 and was annotated using the NCBI Prokaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline (PGAP).

RESULTS

The draft genome of strain 4HC1 is 6 156 259 bp (133 contigs) in size with a GC content of 34.95%. The genome comprises 6089 protein-coding genes, 86 tRNAs and 24 rRNAs. Strain 4HC1 is resistant to cefotaxime, trimethoprim and ampicillin and carries various antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), including several β-lactamases, aminoglycoside 6-adenylyltransferase, a TetM family tetracycline resistance gene, two different tetracycline efflux pumps, and a bleomycin resistance gene. Several virulence genes including genes involved in immune evasion, iron acquisition and toxins were also detected in strain 4HC1.

CONCLUSION

The draft genome sequence of B. toyonensis strain 4HC1 released here shows the presence of various ARGs and virulence genes in a multidrug-resistant strain isolated from marine plastic.