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Comparative infectivity, virulence and molecular epidemiology of MDR and XDR Acinetobacter baumannii isolates emerging from war-related injuries in Ukraine

Boral, Jale LU orcid ; Tellapragada, Chaitanya ; Thofte, Oskar LU orcid ; Öhnström, Valdemar LU ; Magda, Michal LU orcid ; Matuschek, Erika ; Nazarchuk, Oleksandr ; Giske, Christian LU ; Blom, Anna M LU orcid and Riesbeck, Kristian LU orcid (2025) In Journal of Infection 91(2).
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii remains a global concern with its ability to adhere, disperse and sustain in areas involving suboptimal infection control measures, particularly in war areas. In this study we aimed to evaluate the susceptibility profiles, molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of A. baumannii isolates from conflict zones in Ukraine.

METHODS: A. baumannii wound isolates (n=46) were tested to comparatively assess antimicrobial resistance, molecular epidemiology, pathogenesis and infectivity. Briefly, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole genome sequencing, biofilm and capsule formation, as well as serum survival and bacterial viability in G. mellonella and a mouse infection model were... (More)

BACKGROUND: Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii remains a global concern with its ability to adhere, disperse and sustain in areas involving suboptimal infection control measures, particularly in war areas. In this study we aimed to evaluate the susceptibility profiles, molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of A. baumannii isolates from conflict zones in Ukraine.

METHODS: A. baumannii wound isolates (n=46) were tested to comparatively assess antimicrobial resistance, molecular epidemiology, pathogenesis and infectivity. Briefly, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole genome sequencing, biofilm and capsule formation, as well as serum survival and bacterial viability in G. mellonella and a mouse infection model were performed.

RESULTS: Dominating sequence types were ST2, ST19, ST78 and ST400 while 65.21% of isolates were from international clones. All isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR), and 7 isolates were extensively drug resistant (XDR). ST19 isolates had higher encapsulation, lower serum survival and missing T6SS, omp33-36 and biofilm production associated genes. However, bacteria expressed higher virulence and lethality during early infection compared to later stages in vivo.

CONCLUSION: We report the first results characterizing the pathogenesis and infectivity of the emerging A. baumannii ST19. High MDR and XDR rates alongside clonally related isolates are concerning and highlight the importance of infection prevention and control measures in conflict zones.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Acinetobacter baumannii/pathogenicity, Acinetobacter Infections/microbiology, Ukraine/epidemiology, Animals, Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial, Mice, Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence, Biofilms/growth & development, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology, Humans, Wound Infection/microbiology, Whole Genome Sequencing, Moths/microbiology, Disease Models, Animal, Female
in
Journal of Infection
volume
91
issue
2
article number
106561
publisher
W.B. Saunders
external identifiers
  • pmid:40716615
  • scopus:105012358511
ISSN
1532-2742
DOI
10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106561
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
id
eb7151f2-9474-43f1-aee5-374750084ec5
date added to LUP
2025-09-18 11:57:34
date last changed
2025-10-17 07:52:04
@article{eb7151f2-9474-43f1-aee5-374750084ec5,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii remains a global concern with its ability to adhere, disperse and sustain in areas involving suboptimal infection control measures, particularly in war areas. In this study we aimed to evaluate the susceptibility profiles, molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of A. baumannii isolates from conflict zones in Ukraine.</p><p>METHODS: A. baumannii wound isolates (n=46) were tested to comparatively assess antimicrobial resistance, molecular epidemiology, pathogenesis and infectivity. Briefly, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole genome sequencing, biofilm and capsule formation, as well as serum survival and bacterial viability in G. mellonella and a mouse infection model were performed.</p><p>RESULTS: Dominating sequence types were ST2, ST19, ST78 and ST400 while 65.21% of isolates were from international clones. All isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR), and 7 isolates were extensively drug resistant (XDR). ST19 isolates had higher encapsulation, lower serum survival and missing T6SS, omp33-36 and biofilm production associated genes. However, bacteria expressed higher virulence and lethality during early infection compared to later stages in vivo.</p><p>CONCLUSION: We report the first results characterizing the pathogenesis and infectivity of the emerging A. baumannii ST19. High MDR and XDR rates alongside clonally related isolates are concerning and highlight the importance of infection prevention and control measures in conflict zones.</p>}},
  author       = {{Boral, Jale and Tellapragada, Chaitanya and Thofte, Oskar and Öhnström, Valdemar and Magda, Michal and Matuschek, Erika and Nazarchuk, Oleksandr and Giske, Christian and Blom, Anna M and Riesbeck, Kristian}},
  issn         = {{1532-2742}},
  keywords     = {{Acinetobacter baumannii/pathogenicity; Acinetobacter Infections/microbiology; Ukraine/epidemiology; Animals; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Mice; Molecular Epidemiology; Virulence; Biofilms/growth & development; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology; Humans; Wound Infection/microbiology; Whole Genome Sequencing; Moths/microbiology; Disease Models, Animal; Female}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  publisher    = {{W.B. Saunders}},
  series       = {{Journal of Infection}},
  title        = {{Comparative infectivity, virulence and molecular epidemiology of MDR and XDR Acinetobacter baumannii isolates emerging from war-related injuries in Ukraine}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106561}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106561}},
  volume       = {{91}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}