Fig. 1

Characteristics of Ec1 and Bc1 strains isolated from ETA samples of two VAP patients. (A) MIC values for the Ec1 and Bc1 strains against various antibiotics are represented by solid circles. Aminoglycosides: kanamycin (KAN), amikacin (AMK), gentamicin (GEN); β_lactams: ampicillin (AMP), imipenem (IPM), cefazolin (CZO), ceftazidime (CAZ); Polypeptides: polymyxin B (poly B), polymyxin E (poly E); Chloramphenicols: chloromycetin (CM); Fluoroquinolones: levofloxacin (LEVO); Phosphonate: fosfomycin (FOS); Macrolides: erythrocin (ERY), azithromycin (AZM); quinolone: moxifloxacin (MXF); Tetracyclines: tetracycline (TET). (B) ARG profiles of Ec1 and Bc1 strains and their resistance to the antibiotic classes (orange present, azure absent). (C) Binary heatmap showing the presence (orange) or absence (azure) of virulence genes in Ec1 and Bc1 strains. (D) Survival curves of G. mellonella larvae infected with K12, Ec1, Bc and Bc1 strains for 96 h. The blue, green, orange, and purple curves represent the survival rates of larvae infected with K12, Ec1, Bc and Bc1, respectively. (E) Growth curves of K12 (blue), Ec1 (green), Bc (orange), and Bc1 (purple) strains, with eight replicates per strain (n = 8). (F) Growth rate differences among K12, Ec1, Bc and Bc1 strains, calculated using the R package (Grofit) from the growth curve data. (G) Box plot illustrating the lag time (h) during growth for K12, Ec1, Bc, and Bc1 strains. (H) Box plot illustrating the maximum optical density (OD600) reached during growth for K12, Ec1, Bc, and Bc1 strains. (I) Box plot displaying biofilm formation (OD570) of K12, Ec1, Bc and Bc1 strains, with eight replicates per strain (n = 8). Statistics by the unpaired two-tailed Student’s t test. Values shown are the mean ± SD. *** p < 0.001. ns: no significance. K12: standard E. coli K12 MG1655, Ec1: translocated E. coli, Bc: standard B. cenocepacia, Bc1: translocated B. cenocepacia