Gene Expression Evaluation of mexT and mexF Genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa under Antibiotic Stress

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in those with immunodeficiencies and those who have cystic fibrosis and antibiotic resistance. Objectives: To investigate the role of genes responsible for pump efflux of antibiotics (mexF and mexT) and their relation to...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Roaa Abd Al-Rahman Abdulla, Rasmiya Abd Aburesha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Medical Journal of Babylon
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4103/MJBL.MJBL_776_23
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Summary:Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in those with immunodeficiencies and those who have cystic fibrosis and antibiotic resistance. Objectives: To investigate the role of genes responsible for pump efflux of antibiotics (mexF and mexT) and their relation to antibiotic resistance. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 clinical swabs were collected from different hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq. The identification of bacterial isolates was confirmed using the VITEK2 compact system and 16s rRNA. Drug susceptibility tests were performed by the VITEK2 compact system. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the detection of efflux pump (mexT and mexF) genes for the isolates. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was used to detect gene expression and the effect of ceftazidime and amikacin antibiotics on the mexT gene for five isolates. Results: The results of culture and biochemical tests showed that 50 isolates were P. aeruginosa. They were resistant to cefotaxime (71.43%), ceftazidime (71.43%), cefepime (71.43%), meropenem (65.71%), imipenem (62.86%), amikacin (62.86%), gentamicin (62.86%), norfloxacin (60%), and ciprofloxacin (51.43%). The result of conventional PCR showed that mexT 20 (57.1%) was positive, whereas mexF 18 (51.4%) and the results of RT-PCR indicated that all isolates exhibited downregulation of the mexT gene. Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between mexT and mexF genes and antibiotic resistance.
ISSN:1812-156X
2312-6760