Pregnant Iraqi women's exposure to certain efflux pump genes of highly pathogenic uropathogenic Escherichia coli was studied molecularly.

Abstract

One hundred midstream urine samples were collected from pregnant women aged less than 20 to over 36 years suffering symptoms referred to as urinary tract infections (UTIs) from a private laboratory in Baghdad city. 90 of the urine samples gave a positive culture, and 10 gave a hostile culture. According to microscopic examination, cultural characteristics and biochemical tests, Escherichia coli was identified as the most causative agent 53(58.9%) that causing UTIs among all bacterial isolates, which confirmed the diagnosis by Vital Index of Traditional Environmental Knowledge (VITEK 2) systems and at final genetically by diagnostic gene( UidA ) gene. Genetic study including extraction of chromosomal DNA from 25 E.coli isolates which have multidrug resistance (MDR) against different antibiotics classes, then identification by UidA gene and detection of acrA,acrB genes that encoding for efflux pump proteins to all 25 E.coli isolates by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification technique with specific primer for each gene. The results showed the UidA gene identification found in all E.coli isolates, and the result of detection efflux pump genes showed that acrA and acrB genes were present together in all E.coli isolates. The results of DNA sequence analysis of E3 bacterial isolate showed that the diagnostic genes UidA and, acrA, acrB gene were 99% belonging to E. coli as found in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Keywords: Pregnant women, Urinary tract infection, E. coli,