Study on the genes of ciprofloxacin-resistance in Neissria gonorrhoeae epidemic strains in linfen region

Abstract

Objective To investigate the occurrence of ciprofloxacin(cip)-resistance among Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains in Linfen region in 2006 and determine the frequency and patterns of mutations in gyrA gene in the ciprofloxacin resistance isolates. Methods A total of 33 gonococcal isolates were collected in Linfen region for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In vitro, susceptibility tests of ciprofloxacin were performed in 33 isolates, gyrA gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)assay and the PCR products were directly sequenced in order to see if there were mutations in gyrA gene. Results The 33 clinical isolates demonstrated 100% resistance to ciprofloxacin. The gyrA gene containing quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR)were amplified by PCR in all clinical isolates. The mutations had amino acid substitutions of Ser to Phe at codon 91(33 strains),and Asp to Gly,Asn,Ala at codon 95 of gyrA respectively. The most common gyrA alteration at codon 95, Asp-95 to Gly was found in 19 strains (63.3 %). Conclusions The resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to ciprofloxacin in Linfen region are serious. The results from this study suggested that mutations in gyrA gene play an important role in the development of fluoroquinolone resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Key words: Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; Ciprofloxacin ; Drug resistance ; GyrA mutation ;