Genomic characterization of novel human-associated CTX-M-15-producing Serratia nevei ST625 lineage infecting a vulnerable loggerhead sea turtle.

BACKGROUND

Serratia nevei is a newly classified and opportunistic bacterial species belonging to the Serratia marcescens complex (SMC). Genomic data from this species is highly relevant for public health and epidemiological tracking.

OBJECTIVE

To report the first identification and genomic characterization of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (CTX-M-15)-producing S. nevei sequence type (ST) ST625 lineage infecting a vulnerable loggerhead sea turtle.

METHODS

Strain BP02 was recovered from the coelomic cavity of a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) admitted to a rehabilitation center in southeastern Brazil. MALDI-TOF MS was initially used for species identification and was further confirmed by whole-genome sequencing on the Illumina HiSeq platform, followed by ANI, dDDH, multilocus sequence typing, resistome, plasmidome, virulome, and SNP-based phylogenomic analyses.

RESULTS

Strain BP02 exhibited a multidrug-resistant profile, including resistance to third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins. Genomic analyses identified BP02 as S. nevei ST625 carrying blaCTX-M-15 within the ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-15-wbuC-ΔTn2 genetic environment, in addition to multiple AMR determinants and the IncC plasmid replicon. Phylogenomic analysis demonstrated close relatedness between BP02 and human clinical ST625 strains, previously reported in São Paulo, Brazil, including a urine-derived strain isolated in 2019, differing by only 27 SNPs. Notably, all publicly available ST625 genomes were associated with human clinical sources and displayed multidrug resistance genotypes.

CONCLUSION

This study expands the current knowledge regarding the ecology and genomic features of S. nevei, demonstrating the emergence of a human multidrug-resistant clone in marine wildlife. Our findings reinforce the importance of monitoring clinically relevant SMC members across distinct ecological niches within a One Health perspective.