Identification and genetic characterization of megabase-scale plasmids of Enterobacteriaceae
Abstract
Humans and animals are ubiquitously colonized by Enterobacteriaceae , including both commensals and clinically significant pathogens. Here, we report 21 complete Enterobacteriaceae megaplasmid genomes of up to 1.58 Mbp in length spanning two major clades that are highly divergent from previously described plasmids. Of these, three were reconstructed from isolates of Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri ; others were potentially hosted by species of Citrobacter and Enterobacter . Related megabase-scale plasmids were detected in at least 400 infant and adult gut, and other microbiomes. Diverse Enterobacteriaceae hosts, conjugation machinery, and DNA modification patterns suggest that these elements are self-transmissible, with a broad host range. The plasmids encode multi-drug efflux systems and potential secreted effectors. Up to 208 tRNAs are encoded and include sequence variants that may counter tRNA-centric defense mechanisms. Overall, the vast plasmid coding capacity may broaden host range, increase competitiveness, control invasion by other elements, and counter programmed cell death.
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BibTeX
@article{guitor2026identification,
title = {{Identification and genetic characterization of megabase-scale plasmids of Enterobacteriaceae}},
author = {Allison K. Guitor and Shuai Wang and Owen T. Tuck and Brian Firek and Nadja Mostacci and April Jauhal and Lin-Xing Chen and Agata H. Dziegiel and Stephen Baker and Vu Thuy Duong and Alison E. Mather and Jukka Corander and Anu Kantele and Liat Shenhav and Markus Hilty and Michael J. Morowitz and Rohan Sachdeva and Jillian F. Banfield},
journal = {Nature Communications},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-78742-z},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78742-z},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Identification and genetic characterization of megabase-scale plasmids of Enterobacteriaceae
AU - Allison K. Guitor
AU - Shuai Wang
AU - Owen T. Tuck
AU - Brian Firek
AU - Nadja Mostacci
AU - April Jauhal
AU - Lin-Xing Chen
AU - Agata H. Dziegiel
AU - Stephen Baker
AU - Vu Thuy Duong
AU - Alison E. Mather
AU - Jukka Corander
AU - Anu Kantele
AU - Liat Shenhav
AU - Markus Hilty
AU - Michael J. Morowitz
AU - Rohan Sachdeva
AU - Jillian F. Banfield
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Nature Communications
DO - 10.1038/s41467-026-78742-z
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78742-z
AB - Humans and animals are ubiquitously colonized by Enterobacteriaceae , including both commensals and clinically significant pathogens. Here, we report 21 complete Enterobacteriaceae megaplasmid genomes of up to 1.58 Mbp in length spanning two major clades that are highly divergent from previously described plasmids. Of these, three were reconstructed from isolates of Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri ; others were potentially hosted by species of Citrobacter and Enterobacter . Related megabase-scale plasmids were detected in at least 400 infant and adult gut, and other microbiomes. Diverse Enterobacteriaceae hosts, conjugation machinery, and DNA modification patterns suggest that these elements are self-transmissible, with a broad host range. The plasmids encode multi-drug efflux systems and potential secreted effectors. Up to 208 tRNAs are encoded and include sequence variants that may counter tRNA-centric defense mechanisms. Overall, the vast plasmid coding capacity may broaden host range, increase competitiveness, control invasion by other elements, and counter programmed cell death.
SN - 2041-1723
ER -