1Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
*Corresponding Author: Mohammed F. Al-Marjani, Prof. of Microbiology in College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq; E-mail: dr.marjani@uomustansiriyah.edu.iq
Online published on 2 February, 2019.
Toxin Antitoxin (TA) systems have recently received much attention as one of the most promising antimicrobial targets. This study was designed to evaluate the presence of type II toxin antitoxin system and bioflm formation among imipenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Baghdad. A total of 39(22.94%) Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were collected from patients. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed and the bioflm formation was assayed by micro titer plate, then PCR was performed for detection of Toxin Antitoxin-Type II, Bioflm and Quorum sensing genes. The results show that the imipenem resistance was seen in 23(58.97%) of K.pneumoniae isolates. Then, the isolates showed levels of resistance percentage to antibiotic, with a highest resistance rate reached to (100%) for ampicillin and recorded lowest resistance rate to ciprofoxacin and levofoxacin reached to (10.26%) and (7.69%), respectively. Among these isolates, 22(56.41%) were bioflm producers. All 39 K.pneumoniae isolates showed different results for ompA and bap genes when were found by 9(23.08%) isolates for ompA, while, all isolates didn't have bap gene. Further, TA system genes were found by 15(38.46%), 15(38. 46%), three (7.69%) and fve (12.82%) for mazEF, ccdAB, relBEand mqsR. On the contrary, all isolates didn't have QS system genes as lasIRandrhlIR genes.
Klebsiella pneumoniae, imipenem resistance, persister cells, plasmid
