Genetic characterization of a novel sequence type of multidrug-resistant Citrobacter freundii strain recovered from wastewater treatment plant

A multidrug-resistant Citrobacter freundii strain R17 was isolated from a wastewater treatment plant in China. Whole-genome sequencing of strain R17 revealed a new sequence type (ST412) chromosome (length 5,124,258 bp) and an Inc FII (Yp) group plasmid pCFR17_1 (length 206,820 bp). A total of 13 antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) that confer resistance to eight different antibiotic groups were encoded by strain R17 and 12 of them were carried by plasmid pCFR17_1. These data and analysis suggest that the environment-derived C. freundii strains may serve as potential sources of ARGs and highlight the need of further surveillance of this bacteria in the future.