Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42067937›Full record

ArticleBMC medical genomics2026

Global distribution of mcr-carrying bacteria: an analysis of genomic data.

Komla Mawunyo Dossouvi, Fábio Parra Sellera, Ephraim Ehidiamen Ibadin, Tchilabalo Bouyo, David Kanzin, Bissoume Sambe Ba, Sika Dossim, Amr El Kelish, Makhtar Camara

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical genomics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Komla Mawunyo DossouviDepartment of Microbiology and Genomics, Global Health Research Institute of Lomé, Lomé, Togo. dossouvikomlamawunyo@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0967-5314
Fábio Parra SelleraDepartment of Internal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ephraim Ehidiamen IbadinMedical Microbiology Division, Medical Laboratory Services, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Nigeria.
Tchilabalo BouyoLaboratoire des Sciences Biomédicales Alimentaires et de Santé Environnementale, Ecole Supérieure des Techniques Biologiques et Alimentaires, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo.
David KanzinDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 79902, USA.
Bissoume Sambe BaAMR/IPC/OH consultant, Dakar, Senegal.
Sika DossimFaculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Kara, Kara, Togo.
Amr El KelishBiology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia.
Makhtar CamaraBacteriology-Virology Laboratory, National University Hospital Aristide Le Dantec, Dakar, Senegal.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMobilized colistin resistance (mcr) gene has emerged as a major driver of colistin resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the distribution of mcr-variants and mcr-carrying genomes deposited in the NCBI database by sample collection periods and across continents, countries, genera, species, and ecosystems.

methodsIn this database mining study, the keyword "mcr" was used to identify all mcr-carrying genomes deposited in the NCBI Pathogen Detection database until June 07, 2025, 12h15 GMT. A purely descriptive approach was used in this study, and percentages were calculated by dividing the number of an event by the total number of events (percentage = n/Nx100).

resultsOf the 2422739 whole genomes registered in the NCBI database, 18785 (0.78%) carried complete mcr variant sequences. Seventy-seven mcr subvariants were detected, including mostly mcr-1.1 (9431/18785; 50%), and mcr-9.1 (5971/18785; 32%). Mcr-9.1 was the most frequently detected subvariant in several genera, including Serratia spp. (17/17; 100%), Cronobacter spp. (155/160; 97%), and Pluralibacter spp. (19/20; 95%), whereas mcr-1.1 was the most commonly detected subvariant in Escherichia and Shigella spp. (8235/9678; 85%). Regarding geographical distribution, mcr-1.1 was the most observed subvariant in Asia (6759/9033; 75%) and Europe (1886/4680; 40%), whereas mcr-9.1 was the most identified in America (2982/4017; 74%) and Oceania (546/771; 71%). In Africa, mcr-10.1 (52/160; 33%), and mcr-1.1 (50/160; 31%) were the most frequent subvariants. Mcr-carrying genomes deposited in the NCBI database were distributed across ecosystems, including humans (n = 8185), animals (n = 4521), the environment (n = 468), and food (n = 48). The sample collection years for mcr-carrying bacteria ranged from 1953 to 2025, and the distribution of mcr-carrying genomes was as follows: 1953-1990 (n = 49), 1991-1999 (n = 47), 2000-2009 (n = 704), 2010-2019 (n = 12810), and 2020-2025 (n = 4297). Another key finding was that 705 of the 18785 mcr-carrying genomes deposited in the NCBI database (3.8%) harbored multiple mcr genes, including 693 and 12 genomes co-carrying two and three mcr genes, respectively.

conclusionMcr-carrying bacteria represent a significant One Health concern because of their major role in colistin resistance and potential for global dissemination. Key actions, such as global surveillance, One Health monitoring, and appropriate stewardship, should be taken to preserve the efficacy of colistin for decades.

Indexed as

BacteriaColistinDrug Resistance, BacterialGenome, BacterialGenomicsAnti-Bacterial AgentsDatabases, GeneticAnti-Bacterial AgentsColistinAntimicrobial resistanceColistin resistanceOne HealthPolymyxinsSystematic analysisWhole-genome sequencing

Identifiers

PMID42067937
PMCPMC13289123

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.