Identification of a Novel Metallo-β-Lactamase, VAM-1, in a Foodborne Vibrio alginolyticus Isolate from China

Abstract

A multidrug-resistant Vibrio alginolyticus isolate recovered from a shrimp sample with reduced carbapenem susceptibility produced a novel metallo-β-lactamase (MBL), VAM-1. That carbapenemase shared 67% to 70% amino acid identity with several VMB family subclass B1 MBLs, which were recently reported among some marine bacteria including Vibrio , Glaciecola , and Thalassomonas . The bla VAM-1 gene was located in a novel conjugative plasmid, namely, pC1579, and multiple copies of bla VAM-1 via an unusual mechanism of gene amplification were detected in pC1579.