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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Acinetobacter variabilis represents a diverse species with novel regions associated with antibiotic resistance and surface polysaccharides
Microbial Genomics, Vol.12, pp.1-16
2026
Abstract
Acinetobacter variabilis is an opportunistic pathogen found in both clinical and environmental settings with the potential to harbour and disseminate clinically significant antibiotic resistance genes. Here, we sequenced the complete genome of NGHQLD-N1, an A. variabilis isolate recovered from a blood sample of a patient at Nambour General Hospital located on the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland, Australia. The assembly was used as a reference to assess the diversity in available A. variabilis genome sequences and investigate the genomic context of surface polysaccharide biosynthesis genes and antibiotic resistance determinants in relation to the priority pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii. Phylogenetic analysis revealed substantial diversity in the species, with a distinct NGH- QLD- N1 subclade containing multiple strains with important resistance determinants. We identified a novel transposon related to the Tn6022 family, designated Tn6929, that interrupted comM and identified multiple structural variants in A. variabilis genomes. Notably, some variants carried blaNDM and aphA6 in ISAba14- bounded regions, suggesting acquisition from diverse bacterial hosts. We also identified several integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) variants integrated into the chromosomal thyA gene, which differed in backbone structure and resistance gene content from our previously described A. baumannii ICE. The capsule and outer core loci for surface carbohydrate structures also had similar arrangements to those found in A. baumannii. This study provides a new understanding of the diversity of mobile genetic elements and ICEs carrying resistance genes, and surface polysaccharides associated with virulence, across the Acinetobacter genus.
Details
- Title
- Acinetobacter variabilis represents a diverse species with novel regions associated with antibiotic resistance and surface polysaccharides
- Authors
- Lucy L Patterson - University of Technology SydneyEva Hatje - Queensland University of TechnologyMohammad Katouli - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringJohanna J Kenyon - Griffith UniversityMehrad Hamidian (Corresponding Author) - University of Technology Sydney
- Publication details
- Microbial Genomics, Vol.12, pp.1-16
- Publisher
- The Microbiology Society
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1099/mgen.0.001643
- ISSN
- 2057-5858
- Copyright note
- © 2026 The Authors. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. This article was made open access via a Publish and Read agreement between the Microbiology Society and the corresponding author’s institution.
- Grant note
- University of Technology Sydney Research Office (Award 2700243)
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991209781102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Genetics & Heredity
- Microbiology