Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium that holds significant clinical and epidemiological significance. It serves as the principal etiological cause of opportunistic infections in individuals with impaired immune systems. Integrons are known to have a notable impact on Gram-negative bacteria, particularly in the context of P. aeruginosa, a bacterium recognized for its ability to develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Aim. To systematically characterize and detect integron genes (intI, intII, intIII) with antibiotic-resistant and biofilm-forming capabilities in isolated P. aeruginosa. Methods. A total of 209 samples were collected from Al Yarmouk Teaching Hospital in Baghdad City, Iraq to isolate P. aeruginosa. The process of bacterial identification was carried out phenotypically and by biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility was measured using the Vitek2 system. Biofilm quantification was done by the microtiter method. The PCR approach was employed to assess the presence of class 1, 2, and 3 integrons. Results. P. aeruginosa was identified in 83 isolates by using a combination of morphological and biochemical examinations where all isolates showed the ability to grow a selective medium on cetrimide agar for P. aeruginosa. The results also showed significant variances (p < 0.05) among the percentage of a number of samples and isolated P. aeruginosa. The burn and wound infection scored the highest percentages (25% and 19%) based on the positivity of P. aeruginosa, whereas burn and ear sites scored the highest percentage (58% and 50%). Also, the isolates show the ability to form biofilm at a percentage of 68.7% with resistance to a high number of antibiotics. The multidrug-resistant and sensitive P. aeruginosa isolates scored high percentages (49.4% and 34.9%) whereas potentially pan drug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant isolates scored low percentages (2.4% and 13.3%). PCR results showed that integron I scored the highest percentage (100%) compared to integron 2 found in 3 (10%) isolates, and no intI3 gene was detected in any of the P. aeruginosa isolates. Conclusions. Overall, the findings of the present investigation indicate that integrons and biofilm development are recognized as significant factors contributing to antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa. The prevalence of class 1 integrons is shown to be significantly high in all bacterial isolates, with a complete occurrence rate of 100%. This high incidence of class 1 integrons is associated with the development of resistance to crucial antibiotics, including β-lactams, aminoglycosides, and cephalosporins.
Introduction: The stringent response is a bacterial adaptation mechanism triggered by stress conditions, including nutrient limitation. This response helps bacteria survive under harsh conditions, such as those encountered during infection. A key feature of the stringent response is the synthesis of the alarmone (p)ppGpp, which influences various bacterial phenotypes. In several bacterial species, stringent response activation significantly affects biofilm formation and maintenance. Methods: Clinical specimens were collected from multiple hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq. Staphylococcus aureus was identified using conventional biochemical tests. The PCR technique was applied to detect mecA, icaA, and icaD genes, while the Vitek 2 compac
... Show MoreIn present study 74 specimens of urine were collected from patients suffering from urinary tract infections.Fifty (67.56%) isolates were identified as Escherichia coli. 78% of isolates were identified as extendedspectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) producer. Antibiotic susceptibility t est was done and ceftazidime wasselected to complete this study by implying stress at sub-MIC on isolate harbor high number of resistancegenes (N11) and compared with sensitive isolate (S). Only four β-lactamase coding genes were detected;blaTEM, blaPER, blaVIM and blaCTX-M-2 and N11 had blaTEM, blaPER, and blaVIM. It was found that the resistantisolate did not form biofilm when compared with the sensitive one, which formed moderate biofilm. Inaddition, ceftazidi
... Show MoreBackground: The beneficial gut bacterium E. coli can cause blood poisoning, diarrhoea, and other gastrointestinal and systemic disorders. Objective: This study amid to examines the antibiofilm activity of Laurus nobilis leaves extract on E. coli isolates and compares pre- and post-treatment gene expression of fimA and papC genes. Subjects and Methods: Ten isolates of E. coli were obtained from the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute, University of Baghdad, which was previously collected from Baghdad city hospitals and diagnosed by chemical tests, the diagnosis was confirmed using VITEK-2 System. The preparation of the aqueous and methanolic Laurus nobilis leaves extracts was done by using the maceration method and Soxhlet appara
... Show MoreThe study included the collection of samples of raw cow milk to isolate Leuconostoc bacteria, samples were sub cultured on De-Man Rogosa Sharpe-Vancomycin medium, the pure colonies were selected and subjected to the cultural and microscopically tests, according to that 25 cocci bacterial isolates were obtained, then isolates were subjected to biochemical tests. Result of tests showed that 12 isolates belong to the genus Leuconostoc out of 25 cocci bacterial isolates, Vitek2 system was used as a supplementary step. Results of final identification showed that 3 sub species were obtained included Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. cremoris 9 out of 12 isolates, while it was 2 isolates of Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides and one isol
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