Genome-wide association study of Mycoplasma anserisalpingitidis strains for antibiotic susceptibility

TL;DR

This study identifies genetic factors linked to antibiotic resistance in Mycoplasma anserisalpingitidis, a bacterium affecting waterfowl.

Contribution

The study reveals novel genetic associations and potential horizontal gene transfer events contributing to antimicrobial resistance in M. anserisalpingitidis.

Findings

Significant associations between k-mers and five antimicrobial agents were identified.

Genes related to efflux pumps, topoisomerases, and epigenetic regulation were linked to resistance.

Putative prophage-like sequences suggest horizontal gene transfer in resistance acquisition.

Abstract

Mycoplasma anserisalpingitidis is a facultative pathogenic bacterium affecting waterfowl, predominantly geese and sporadically ducks. Understanding the molecular basis of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms is crucial in the preservation of antibiotic efficiency. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic background of antibiotic susceptibility profiles of 110 M. anserisalpingitidis strains against nine antimicrobial agents. Significant associations between k-mers and five (tylvalosin, tilmicosin, enrofloxacin, lincomycin, spectinomycin) of the nine antimicrobial agents were identified by pyseer. Significant associations were found in multiple coding sequences that encode various members of efflux pumps, epigenetic regulation and topoisomerases among many other groups of functions. Certain k-mers associated with genes found putative prophage-like sequences suggest potential horizontal gene transfer events that could facilitate the acquisition of novel resistance mechanisms. Based on our findings, the genetic background of antimicrobial resistance of M. anserisalpingitidis is composed of multiple factors. Our results not only correlated with the majority of known antibiotic resistance mechanisms (e.g. drug target modification, efflux pumps, methyltransferases) but also showed potentially novel genes that could play a significant role in antimicrobial resistance. The results may serve to expedite the diagnosis of M. anserisalpingitidis antibiotic susceptibility profiles and support the fight against the spreading of resistance.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-39804-w.

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