MCR-5-Producing Colistin-Resistant Cupriavidus gilardii Strain from Well Water in Batna, Algeria

This paper presents the first description of the gene in a colistin-resistant Cupriavidus gilardii isolate from well water that supplies a maternity hospital in Algeria. The whole-genome sequence of this strain showed the presence of putative β-lactamase, , and multidrug efflux pump-encoding genes, which could explain the observed multidrug resistance phenotype. Our findings are of great interest, as we highlight a potential contamination route for the spread of genes. Colistin resistance mediated by genes in Gram-negative bacteria has gained significant attention worldwide. This is due to the ability of these genes to be horizontally transferred between different bacterial genera and species. Aquatic environments have been suggested to play an important role in the emergence and spread of this resistance mechanism. Here, we describe the first report of an -positive Cupriavidus gilardii aquatic isolate through its isolation from well water in Algeria. The significance of our study is in shedding the light on an important environmental reservoir of genes.