Authors:
Adrienn Hanczvikkel Doctoral School on Material Sciences and Technologies, Óbuda University, Budapest, Hungary

Search for other papers by Adrienn Hanczvikkel in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Miklós Füzi Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Search for other papers by Miklós Füzi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Erika Ungvári Division of Bacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology and Typing, National Public Health Institute, Budapest, Hungary

Search for other papers by Erika Ungvári in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Ákos Tóth Division of Bacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology and Typing, National Public Health Institute, Budapest, Hungary

Search for other papers by Ákos Tóth in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

Silver is used extensively in both hospitals and outpatient clinics as a disinfectant coating agent on various devices. Resistance to silver was recently reported as an emerging problem in Enterobacteriaceae. Multidrug-resistant high-risk clones of Klebsiella pneumoniae are common causes of serious healthcare-associated infections worldwide posing a serious threat to patients. In this study, we investigated the capacity of both high-risk (CG14/15 and CG258) and minor clone strains of K. pneumoniae to develop resistance to silver. Resistance was induced in vitro in silver-susceptible but otherwise multidrug-resistant clinical isolates. Genetic alterations in the silver-resistant derivative strains with regard to the silver-susceptible isolates were investigated by whole-genome sequencing. The transferability of high-level resistance to silver was also tested. We demonstrated that the high-level resistance to silver can quickly evolve as a consequence of a single-point mutation either in the cusS gene of the chromosomally encoded CusCFBARS efflux system and/or in the silS gene of the plasmid-encoded Copper Homeostasis and Silver Resistance Island (CHASRI) coding also for a metallic efflux. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the strains increased from 4 mg/L (23.5 μM) AgNO3 to >8,500 mg/L (>50,000 μM) AgNO3 during induction. Harboring the CHASRI proved an important selective asset for K. pneumoniae when exposed to silver. Successful conjugation experiments using Escherichia coli K12 J5-3Rif as recipient showed that high-level silver resistance can transmit between strains of high-risk clones of K. pneumoniae (ST15 and ST11) and isolates from additional species of Enterobacteriaceae. The lack of fitness cost associated with the carriage of the CHASRI in a silver-free environment and the presence of the RelEB toxin–antitoxin system on the conjugative plasmids could advance the dissemination of silver resistance. Our results show that multidrug-resistant high-risk clones of K. pneumoniae are capable of evolving and transmitting high-level resistance to silver. This observation should warrant a more judicious use of silver coated-devices to prevent the extensive dissemination of silver resistance.

  • Collapse
  • Expand

Senior editors

Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Dóra Szabó (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Managing Editor: Dr. Béla Kocsis (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Co-editor: Dr. Andrea Horváth (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Editorial Board

  • Prof. Éva ÁDÁM (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Sebastian AMYES (Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.)
  • Dr. Katalin BURIÁN (Institute of Clinical Microbiology University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.)
  • Dr. Orsolya DOBAY (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Ildikó Rita DUNAY (Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany)
  • Prof. Levente EMŐDY(Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Anna ERDEI (Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Éva Mária FENYŐ (Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden)
  • Prof. László FODOR (Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. József KÓNYA (Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  • Prof. Yvette MÁNDI (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Károly MÁRIALIGETI (Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. János MINÁROVITS (Department of Oral Biology and Experimental Dental Research, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Béla NAGY (Centre for Agricultural Research, Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. István NÁSZ (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Kristóf NÉKÁM (Hospital of the Hospitaller Brothers in Buda, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Dr. Eszter OSTORHÁZI (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Rozália PUSZTAI (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Peter L. RÁDY (Department of Dermatology, University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA)
  • Prof. Éva RAJNAVÖLGYI (Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  • Prof. Ferenc ROZGONYI (Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Joseph G. SINKOVICS (The Cancer Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa, Florida, USA)
  • Prof. Júlia SZEKERES (Department of Medical Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Mária TAKÁCS (National Reference Laboratory for Viral Zoonoses, National Public Health Center, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Edit URBÁN (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)

 

Editorial Office:
Akadémiai Kiadó Zrt.
Budafoki út 187-187, A/3, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary

Editorial Correspondence:
Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica
Institute of Medical Microbiology
Semmelweis University
P.O. Box 370
H-1445 Budapest, Hungary
Phone: + 36 1 459 1500 ext. 56101
Fax: (36 1) 210 2959
E-mail: amih@med.semmelweis-univ.hu

 Indexing and Abstracting Services:

  • Biological Abstracts
  • BIOSIS Previews
  • CAB Abstracts
  • CABELLS Journalytics
  • Chemical Abstracts
  • Global Health
  • Index Medicus
  • Index Veterinarius
  • Medline
  • Referativnyi Zhurnal
  • SCOPUS
  • Science Citation Index Expanded

2023  
Web of Science  
Journal Impact Factor 1.3
Rank by Impact Factor Q4 (Immunology)
Journal Citation Indicator 0.31
Scopus  
CiteScore 2.3
CiteScore rank Q3 (Infectious Diseases)
SNIP 0.389
Scimago  
SJR index 0.308
SJR Q rank Q3

Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica
Publication Model Hybrid
Submission Fee none
Article Processing Charge 1100 EUR/article (only for OA publications)
Regional discounts on country of the funding agency World Bank Lower-middle-income economies: 50%
World Bank Low-income economies: 100%
Further Discounts Editorial Board / Advisory Board members: 50%
Corresponding authors, affiliated to an EISZ member institution subscribing to the journal package of Akadémiai Kiadó: 100%
Subscription fee 2025 Online subsscription: 772 EUR / 848 USD
Print + online subscription: 860 EUR / 944 USD
Subscription Information Online subscribers are entitled access to all back issues published by Akadémiai Kiadó for each title for the duration of the subscription, as well as Online First content for the subscribed content.
Purchase per Title Individual articles are sold on the displayed price.

Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica
Language English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation
1954
Volumes
per Year
1
Issues
per Year
4
Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
Founder's
Address
H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address
H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher
Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 1217-8950 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2640 (Online)

Monthly Content Usage

Abstract Views Full Text Views PDF Downloads
Apr 2024 62 0 0
May 2024 59 0 0
Jun 2024 50 1 3
Jul 2024 28 0 0
Aug 2024 50 0 0
Sep 2024 44 1 2
Oct 2024 29 0 0