Molecular detection of Tn7-like transposons and IntI2 integron integrase in multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Transposable elements are mobile DNA sequences that can move and change their location within the genome. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate class II integron and Tn7-like transposons and their relationship to multidrug resistance in commensal and pathogenic Klebsiella and Escherichia coli isolates. Materials and Methods: The disk-diffusion method was used to check the antibiotic susceptibility of 26 Klebsiella isolates and 76 E. coli isolates that had been isolated and preidentified using the VITEK 2 System from healthy stool, diarrhea, and urine in (urinary tract infection) specimens. The presence of the intI2 and Tn7-like transposase genes was then examined using specific primer pairs by polymerase chain reaction. Results: A total of 76% of the total isolates harbored Tn7, of which 14% of these isolates appeared to harbor intI2 in the Tn7 in three phylotypes. The other 62% of isolates had five patterns of Tn7. At the same time, the rest of the isolates (24%) were negative for the Tn7 and intI2 genes. Overall, the E. coli and Klebsiella isolates contain different Tn7-like transposons and are associated with pathogenic bacteria (P < 0.05) though some normal flora harbor the transposons. The presence of intI2 and Tn7-like transposons is associated with multidrug resistance in the studied species; intI2 in Tn7-like transposon (P < 0.029) and Tn7-like transposition genes only (P < 0.001). A significant association (P < 0.05) was detected between intI2 in the Tn7-like transposons and resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanate, piperacillin, cefotaxime, gentamicin, azithromycin, and nitrofurantoin. Conclusions: There is a correlation between multidrug resistance and the presence of Tn7-like transposition and intI2 genes.