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Phenotypic and molecular characterization of clinically isolated antibiotics-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), E. coli (ESBL) and Acinetobacter 1379 bacterial strains

  • Clinical Microbiology - Research Paper
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Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing nosocomial infections pose a significant global health concern. This study focused on examining the lipid profiles of both non-resistant and clinically resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA 1418), E. coli (ESBL 1384), and Acinetobacter 1379. The main aim was to investigate the relationship between lipid profiles, hydrophobicity, and antibiotic resistance so as to identify the pathogenic potential and resistance factors of strains isolated from patients with sepsis and urinary tract infections (UTIs). The research included various tests, such as antimicrobial susceptibility assays following CLSI guidelines, biochemical tests, biofilm assays, and hydrophobicity assays. Additionally, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and GC-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) analysis were used for lipid profiling and composition. The clinically isolated resistant strains (MRSA-1418, ESBL-1384, and Acinetobacter 1379) demonstrated resistance phenotypes of 81.80%, 27.6%, and 63.6%, respectively, with a multiple antibiotic resistance index of 0.81, 0.27, and 0.63. Notably, the MRSA-1418 strain, which exhibited resistance, showed significantly higher levels of hemolysin, cell surface hydrophobicity, biofilm index, and a self-aggregative phenotype compared to the non-resistant strains. Gene expression analysis using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Indicated elevated expression levels of intercellular adhesion biofilm-related genes (icaA, icaC, and icaD) in MRSA-1418 (pgaA, pgaC, and pgaB) and Acinetobacter 1379 after 24 h compared to non-resistant strains. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for structural investigation. These findings provide valuable insights into the role of biofilms in antibiotic resistance and suggest potential target pathways for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

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Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors duly acknowledge the financial support from the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, and Haryana, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Antimicrobial Peptides, Biofunctional Probiotics and Peptidomics Laboratory, Dairy Microbiology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India

    Daraksha Iram & Shilpa Vij

  2. Biofunctional Peptidomics and Metabolic Syndrome Laboratory, Animal Biochemistry Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India

    Manish Singh Sansi & Sunita Meena

  3. Anaerobic Microbial Fermentation Laboratory, Dairy Microbiology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India

    Anil Kumar Puniya

  4. Dairy Chemistry Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India

    Kamal Gandhi

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  1. Daraksha Iram
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  2. Manish Singh Sansi
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  4. Kamal Gandhi
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  5. Sunita Meena
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  6. Shilpa Vij
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Contributions

DI: methodology, data creation, conceptualization and data validation. MSS: data validation, writing. SM: writing methodology. AKP: discussion and writing, review & editing. SV: conceptualization, supervision, editing, project administration.

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Correspondence to Shilpa Vij.

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This study was approved by the Institute Biosafety Committee (IBSC) (No. 11–2021/IRC D-61).

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Iram, D., Sansi, M.S., Puniya, A.K. et al. Phenotypic and molecular characterization of clinically isolated antibiotics-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), E. coli (ESBL) and Acinetobacter 1379 bacterial strains. Braz J Microbiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-024-01347-5

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