Detection of The Psla And Pela Genes in Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolated from Respiratory Infections
Keywords:
pslA, pelA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Respiratory InfectionsAbstract
Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading opportunistic pathogen that have the ability to produce biofilms using secreted extracellular polymeric substances are typically controlled by the pslA and pelA genes. The current study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of pslA and pelA genes in MDR P. aeruginosa isolated from respiratory infections, and to assess its correlation with antibiotic resistance profile.
Methods: Cross-sectional study carried in Hilla Teaching Hospital, Babylon Province-Iraq during the period from July 2024 to January 2025. Methods: 87 patients who presented with clinically suspected respiratory tract infections. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines as follows: ceftazidime, imipenem, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gentamicin and amikacin. Molecular Detection of pslA and pelA GenesMultidrug-resistant isolates were selected to be used for the molecular detectionof the pslA genes by conventional PCR.
Results: Ciprofloxacin (85.0%) and levofloxacin (82.5%) had the highest resistance rates, followed by ceftazidime (77.5%), meropenem (75.0%), and imipenem (70.0%); however, amikacin had the lowest resistance rate at 45%. In molecular analysis, the pslA gene was identified in 95.0% of MDR isolates and pelA gene was found in 87.5%. The presence of pslA and pelA genes is significantly associated with resistance to β-lactams, carbapenems and fluoroquinolones (p < 0.05; however, aminoglycosides showed no significant correlation.
Conclusion: The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Respiratory Isolates of Multidrug Resistant Bacteria (MDR) exhibited high frequency of pslA and pelA genes which imply that biofilm formation took a major part in bacterial persistence and MDR. The major correlation with biofilm-associated genes and antimicrobial resistance indicates the emergence of pathogenic clones which are well adapted and higher virulent.
References
Abdulhaq, N., Nawaz, Z., Zahoor, M. A., & Siddique, A. B. (2019). Association of biofilm formation with multi drug resistance in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. EXCLI Journal, 19, 201–208. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2019-2049
Al-Sheikhly, M. A. R. H., Musleh, L. N., & Al-Mathkhury, H. J. F. (2019). Assessment of pelA-carried Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in respect to biofilm formation. Iraqi Journal of Science, 60(6), 1123–1131. https://doi.org/10.24996/ijs.2019.60.6.1
Botelho, J., Grosso, F., & Peixe, L. (2019). Antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa—Mechanisms, epidemiology and evolution. Drug Resistance Updates, 44, 100640. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drup.2019.07.002
Chung, J., Eisha, S., Park, S., Morris, A. J., & Martin, I. (2023). How Three Self-Secreted Biofilm Exopolysaccharides of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Psl, Pel, and Alginate, Can Each Be Exploited for Antibiotic Adjuvant Effects in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Infection. International journal of molecular sciences, 24(10), 8709. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108709
Elfadadny, A., Ragab, R. F., AlHarbi, M., Badshah, F., Ibáñez-Arancibia, E., Farag, A., Hendawy, A. O., De Los Ríos-Escalante, P. R., Aboubakr, M., Zakai, S. A., & Nageeb, W. M. (2024). Antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: navigating clinical impacts, current resistance trends, and innovations in breaking therapies. Frontiers in microbiology, 15, 1374466. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1374466
Farhan, R. E., Solyman, S. M., Hanora, A. M., & Azab, M. M. (2023). Molecular detection of different virulence factors genes harbor pslA, pelA, exoS, toxA and algD among biofilm-forming clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cellular and Molecular Biology, 69(5), 32–39. https://doi.org/10.14715/cmb/2023.69.5.6
Hall, C. W., & Mah, T. F. (2017). Molecular mechanisms of biofilm-based antibiotic resistance and tolerance in pathogenic bacteria. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 41(3), 276–301. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsre/fux010
Horcajada, J. P., Montero, M., Oliver, A., Sorlí, L., Luque, S., Gómez-Zorrilla, S., & Benito, N. (2019). Epidemiology and treatment of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 32(4), e00031-19. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00031-19
Karampatakis, T., Antachopoulos, C., & Roilides, E. (2023). Antimicrobial susceptibility trends of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Current perspectives. Antibiotics, 12(3), 510. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12030510
Koulenti, D., Xu, E., Song, A., & Tsigou, E. (2020). Emerging treatment options for infections caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Clinical Medicine Insights: Therapeutics, 12, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/1179559X20962600
Masoumi, N., & Keshavarzi, F. (2024). The pattern of antibiotic resistance and distribution of the biofilm-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PelD, PslB) isolated from infectious hospital departments. SAGE Open Medical Case Reports, 12, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121241298826
Maunders, E., & Welch, M. (2017). Matrix exopolysaccharides; the sticky side of biofilm formation. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 364(13), fnx120. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnx120
Mohammed, S. S., Shubar, S. N. A., Naser, S. A. A., & Al-fahham, A. A. (2024). Epidemiology, virulence factors and antibiotic therapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. International Journal of Health & Medical Research, 3(8), 600–604. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijhmr.2024.v3i08n11
Motevasel, M., Haghkhah, M., & Azimzadeh, N. (2024). Phylogenetic Aspects of Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Formation of P. aeruginosa Isolated from Clinical Samples. The Canadian journal of infectious diseases & medical microbiology = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses et de la microbiologie medicale, 2024, 6213873. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/6213873
Murakami, K., Ono, T., Viducic, D., Somiya, Y., Kariyama, R., Hori, K., Amoh, T., Hirota, K., Kumon, H., Parsek, M. R., & Miyake, Y. (2017). Role of psl genes in antibiotic tolerance of adherent Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 61(7), e02587-16. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.02587-16
Omran, A. H., Hosain, Z. A. A., & Ibrahim, H. T. (2026). Effect of chloroxylenol on gene expression of pslA and pelA in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Iraqi Journal of Science, 67(2), 846–854. https://doi.org/10.24996/ijs.2026.67.2.20
Pang, Z., Raudonis, R., Glick, B. R., Lin, T. J., & Cheng, Z. (2019). Antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Mechanisms and alternative therapeutic strategies. Biotechnology Advances, 37(1), 177–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2018.11.013
Thi, M. T. T., Wibowo, D., & Rehm, B. H. A. (2020). Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(22), 8671. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21228671
