Polymyxin resistance, determined by mcr genes located on plasmid DNA, currently poses a high epidemiological threat. Non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS) are one of the key pathogens causing diarrheal diseases. Here, we report the isolation and whole genome sequencing of multidrug colistin-resistant/susceptible isolates of non-typhoid Salmonella enterica serovars carrying mcr genes. Non-typhoid strains of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica were isolated during microbiological monitoring of the environment, food, and diarrheal disease patients between 2018 and 2020 in Russia (n = 586). mcr-1 genes were detected using a previously developed qPCR assay, and whole genome sequencing of mcr positive isolates was performed by both short-read (Illumina) and long-read (Oxford Nanopore) approaches. Three colistin-resistant isolates, including two isolates of S. Enteritidis and one isolate of S. Bovismorbificans, carried the mcr-1.1 gene located on IncX4 and IncI2 conjugative plasmids, respectively. The phenotypically colistin-susceptible isolate of S. Typhimurium carried a mcr-9 gene on plasmid IncHI2. In conclusion, we present the first three cases of mcr gene-carrying NTS isolates detected in Russia with both outbreak and sporadic epidemiological backgrounds.

Xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8) hydrolyze the hemicellulose of plant cell walls. Xylanases are used in the food and paper industries and for bioconversion of lignocellulose to biofuel. In this work, the producer-strain with four copies of the xAor xylanase gene was organized in two tandem copies for optimal expression in Komagataella phaffii T07 yeast. The secreted 35 kDa xylanase was purified from culture medium by gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 and anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose 6HF. Tryptic peptides of the recombinant enzyme were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry where the amino acid sequence corresponded to Protein Accession # O94163 for Endo-1,4-beta-xylanase from Aspergillus oryzae RIB40. The recombinant xylanase was produced in a bioreactor where the secreted enzyme hydrolyzed oat xylane with an activity of 258240 IU/mL. High activity in the culture medium suggested xylanase could be used for industrial applications without being purified or concentrated. The pH optimum for xylanase xAor was 7.5, though the enzyme was active from pH 2.5 to pH 10. Xylanase was active at temperatures from 35 °C to 85 °C with a maximum at 60 °C. In conclusion, this protocol yields soluble, secreted xylanase suitable for industrial scale production.

Neutral protease pAsPs gene was obtained by sequence optimization of NpI protease from Aspergillus pseudotamarii. pAsPs was for the first time integrated in the genome of yeast strain Komagataella phaffii T07, and then produced in a 5 L bioreactor with an enzyme yield of 150,800 U/mL of culture liquid towards casein. The specific activity of the pAsPs was 7,657,000 U/mg toward casein, 2320 U/mg toward hemoglobin, and 25,344 U/mg toward azocasein per 1 mg of the protein. The enzyme was found to be inhibited by Cu²⁺. Optimal activity pH was shown in the range of pH 6.5–8.0, and optimal temperature—50–60 °C. The molecular mass of the recombinant protease pAsPs was shown to be 67.5 kDa. Mass-spectrometric analysis confirmed the identity of the amino acid sequence of the obtained pAsPs preparation with the predicted sequence, with 17% coverage and protein score 288. Thus, the novel neutral protease pAsPs is a promising candidate for large-scale use in manufacturing, including the food industry.