The Genotyping of Iraqi Uropathogenic Escherichia coli with Adhesion Genes FimH and PapGII by Multiplex PCR

Abstract

Escherichia coli is the most common causative agent of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Important virulence factors are the FimH and PapGII adhesion genes. The current work sought to ascertain the prevalence of the fimH and papGII genes, to delineate fimbrial adhesin gene (FAG) patterns and genetic diversity of these isolates by the utilization of the FimH gene. Out of 223 positive urine samples was performed the UPEC strains were confirmed through the standard microbiological and biochemical tests, the antimicrobial susceptibility test and molecular screening of the adhesion genes (fimH, papGII) were done by Multiplex PCR. Current study showed Fifty-Three E. coli isolates scored highest resistance to ampicillin (94.3%), amoxicillin-clavulanate (92.5%), cefotaxim (90.6%), Piperacillin-tazobactam (79.2%), Piperacillin (73.6%), Ceftriaxone (75.5%), and ceftazidime (92.5%). Resistance patterns showed that 22 (41.5%), 29(54.7%) and 2 (3.8%) of the isolates multi drug resistant MDR, extensively drug resistant (XDR) and multi drug sensitive (MDS), respectively. Results by multiplex PCR showed that all 20 isolates 100% have the fimH gene, followed by papGII gene 55% (11/20) isolates. The conducted sequencing reactions indicated the accurate identity of the investigated samples, which were found to be attributed to Escherichia coli. The alignment of nucleic acid sequences of the five isolates with the reference sequences revealed the presence of fifteen nucleic acid variants. The tree suggested that the samples under investigation were located in four separate and neighboring phylogenetic locations within a single, different phylogenetic tree. The acquired data strongly support the hypothesis that adhesion genes FimH and PapGII are associated with virulence factors of E.coli.