Using of Modern Genetic Methods to Detect Air-Borne Bacterial Genes Through Desert Storms in Iraq

Abstract

Abstract Antibiotic resistance of pathogens is a serious issue that affects health. The airborne particle molecules such as (PM2.5, PM10) that spread by dust storms can increase the antibiotic resistance in bacterial community. In this study air samples of the dust storms were collected and the air-borne bacteria were cultured on specific growth media by portable air sampler device (SAS). Sixty plates were used through the atmospheric storms dust which included three periods of 24/5/2022,13/6/2022 and 3/7/2022. Antibiotic resistance of bacterial isolates was detected by VITEK2. Bacterial whole DNA was extracted and the genes against the most resisted antibiotics were detected by specific pre-designed primers and by using gel electrophoresis method. The results showed homogenous high concentrations of both PM2.5 and PM10 were included in storm samples just like that in Saudi Arabia. The greatest numbers of bacterial growth in collecting plates through the storm included 45 of 60 (75%) E. coli, 36 of 60 (60%) of Staphylococcus epidermis and 15 of 60 (25%) of Sphingomonas paucimobilis isolates of total bacterial growth as diagnosed by morphological characteristics and VITEK2 system. The antibiotic sensitivity test (AST) which was done by VITIK2 showed multidrug resistant for Staphylococcus epidermis, E. coli and Sphingomonas paucimobilis strains, mainly against erythromycin and tertacycline. The results of genetic studies for the antibiotic resistance illustrated the presence of gene fragments of both ermA gene and tetK gene within the bacterial nucleic acid, which are considered as potent antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs genes). In conclusion, the resistance of air-borne bacteria towards used antibiotics were elevated strongly in relation with the expression of ARGs associated with the huge amounts of PM particles in dust storms that occurred in Iraq, which is very harmful for human and other living forms on earth.