What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to characterize the population genomics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of Proteus mirabilis.

May 31, 2026Open Access

Pangenome analysis of Proteus mirabilis reveals lineage-specific antimicrobial resistance profiles and discordant genotype-phenotype correlations

Key Points

This research aims to characterize the population genomics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of Proteus mirabilis.
Combined pangenome analysis and in silico AMR prediction with phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing across 1,027 P. mirabilis genomes derived from human urine.
Used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to identify genetic diversity and resistance traits in these genomes.
Conducted mobile genetic element (MGE) analysis on 22 clinical isolates with reference-level genomes.
Identified a mosaic pangenome structure, with lineage-specific AMR gene profiles evident in 25% of genomes harboring >6 antimicrobial subclasses.
ST135 lineage showed high multidrug resistance (MDR), with 95% of genomes containing ≥16 resistance genes.
Notable discordance in phenotypic outcomes for some antibiotics, indicating complex regulatory influences beyond just gene presence.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Urinary tract infections (UTIs) impose a large healthcare burden, with escalating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and treatment failure. Proteus mirabilis is an undercharacterized and challenging UTI pathogen due to intrinsic resistance and biofilm formation. To understand P. mirabilis population genomics, we combined pangenome analysis, in silico AMR prediction, and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) across 1,027 P. mirabilis genomes derived from human urine specimens. This revealed a mosaic pangenome driven by extensive accessory genome plasticity. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) identified 213 MLSTs, with only 7% having ≥10 genomes, highlighting strain diversity. AMR gene profiles were largely lineage-specific, with 25% of genomes harboring resistances for >6 antimicrobial subclasses. ST135 was identified as a highly MDR lineage, with 95% of genomes carrying ≥16 resistance genes. Mobile genetic element (MGE) analysis of 22 clinical isolates with complete, reference-level genomes revealed that Tn7 transposons, IS26-mediated genomic islands, and class 1 integrons act as vehicles for high AMR gene dissemination, including IS26-mediated gene stacking within a P. mirabilis Genomic Resistance Island 1 ( PmGRI1 ) in ST135 isolates. While the presence of genes like aph(3′)-la reliably predicted kanamycin resistance, discordance for antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and chloramphenicol revealed that AMR gene stacking, regulatory context, and intrinsic mechanisms, like efflux pumps, modulate phenotypic outcomes. In summary, our study provides a comprehensive and phenotypic resolution of P. mirabilis AMR, establishing that resistance architecture is lineage-structured, MGE-driven, and phenotypically non-deterministic. We emphasize the need to shift toward a standardized, genome-informed surveillance framework to translate into diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

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