Higgins Lab - Dynamics of antimicrobial resistance
We are using whole genome sequencing, short and long read sequencing platforms (Illumina MiSeq and Oxford Nanopore MinION platforms, respectively), and traditional molecular biology methods to investigate the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and the molecular epidemiology of hospital-associated pathogens (with a focus on ESKAPE organisms) as well as community associated pathogens such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We investigate and track bacterial isolates in multicenter national and international surveillance studies, to understand the transmission of bacteria and the movement of mobile genetic elements and resistance determinants between patients and hospital, as well in the wider environment, and in a One-Health approach. Novel antimicrobials and diagnostic tools, and therapeutic use of phage are also investigated. We are very active in DZIF HAARBI, working on various multicentre projects including AEGON, R-NET, and TIARA.
Funding
German Research Foundation / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung / German Center for Infection Research
Wannigama DL, Amarasiri M, Phattharapornjaroen P, Hurst C, Modchang C, Chadsuthi S, Anupong S, Miyanaga K, Cui L, Fernandez S, Huang AT, Ounjai P, Singer AC, Ragupathi NKD, Sano D, Furukawa T, Sei K , Leelahavanichkul A, Kanjanabuch T, Chatsuwan T, Higgins PG, Nanbo A, Kicic A, Siow R, Trowsdale S, Khatib A, Shibuya K, Abe S, Ishikawa H, Hongsing P, Pathogen Hunters Research Team. Increased Fecal Shedding in SARS-CoV-2 Variants BA.2.86 and JN.1 Compared to Other Omicron Variants. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2024. 2024 Mar 21:S1473-3099(24)00155-5.
Wunderlich A, Xanthopoulou K, Wille J, Wohlfahrt E, Gerson S, Kaase M, Seifert H, Higgins PG. Carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter pittii isolates mediated by metallo-β-lactamases. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2023. 78, 488-496.
Xanthopoulou K, Imirzalioglu C, Walker SV, Behnke M, Dinkelacker AG, Eisenbeis S, Gastmeier P, Gölz H, Käding N, Kern WV, Kola A, Kramme E, Lucassen K, Mischnik A, Peter S, Rohde AM, Rupp J, Tacconelli E, Tobys D, Vehreschild MJGT, Wille J, Seifert H, Higgins PG. Surveillance and genomic analysis of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae complex in Germany. Antibiotics. 2022. 11; 1289. doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11101286
Nemec N, Radolfová-Křížová L, Maixnerová M, Nemec M, Shestivska V, Španělová P, Kyselková MS, Wilharm G, Higgins PG. Acinetobacter amyesii sp. nov., widespread in the soil and water environment and animals. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2022 Oct;72(10). doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005642.
Biehl LM, Higgins PG*, Stemler J, Gilles M, Peter S, Dörfel D, Vogel W, Kern WV, Gölz H, Bertz H, Rohde H, Klupp E-M, Schafhausen P, Salmanton-García J, Stecher M, Wille J, Liss B, Zweigner J, Seifert H, Vehreschild MJGT. Impact of single room contact precautions on hospital-acquisition and transmission of vancomycin-resistant enterococci: a prospective multicentre cohort-study on haematological and oncological wards. Euro Surveill. 2022 Jan;27(2):2001876.
Lucaßen K, Xanthopoulou K, Wille J, Wille T, Wen Y, Hua X, Seifert H, Higgins PG. Characterisation of substitutions in the two component regulatory system AdeRS identified in multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. mSphere. 2021. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00709-21. 00709-21..
Nodari C, Fuchs SA, Xanthopoulou K, Cayo R, Seifert H, Gales AC, Dilthey A, Higgins PG. pmrCAB recombination events among colistin-susceptible and -resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates belonging to International Clone 7. mSphere. 2021. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00746-21.
Xanthopoulou K, Carattoli A, Wille J, Biehl L, Rohde H, Farowski F, Krut O, Vila L, Feudi C, Seifert H, Higgins PG. Antibiotic resistance and mobile genetic elements in extensively drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type 147 recovered from Germany. Antibiotics (Basel). 2020. Oct 5;9(10):E675.
Gerson S, Lucaßen K, Wille J, Nodari CS, Stefanik D, Nowak J, Wille T, Betts JW, Roca I, Vila J, Cisneros JM, Seifert H, Higgins PG. Diversity of amino acid substitutions in PmrCAB associated with colistin resistance in clinical Acinetobacter baumannii isolates. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020. 55: 105862.
Higgins PG, Prior P, Harmsen D, Seifert H. Development and evaluation of a core genome multilocus typing scheme for whole-genome sequence-based typing of Acinetobacter baumannii. PLoS One. 2017. 12:e0179228
