<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p><italic>Escherichia coli</italic> is one of the most frequent causes of urinary tract infections. Efflux system overexpression is reported to contribute to <italic>E. coli</italic> resistance to several antibiotics. Our aim in this study was to investigate the relation between antibiotic resistance and the expression of the efflux pump genes <italic>acr</italic>A and <italic>mdf</italic>A in <italic>E. coli</italic> by real-time reverse transcription-PCR. We tested the <italic>in vitro</italic> susceptibilities to 12 antibiotics in 28 clinical isolates of <italic>E. coli</italic> obtained from urine samples. We also determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations of levofloxacin to these samples. We then revealed significant correlations between the overexpression of both <italic>mdf</italic>A and <italic>acr</italic>A and MICs of levofloxacin. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the increased expression of efflux pump genes such as <italic>mdf</italic>A and <italic>acr</italic>A can lead to levofloxacin resistance in <italic>E. coli</italic>. These findings contribute to further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of efflux pump systems and how they contribute to antibiotic resistance.</p>
</abstract>

Escherichia coli is one of the most frequent causes of urinary tract infections. Efflux system overexpression is reported to contribute to E. coli resistance to several antibiotics. Our aim in this study was to investigate the relation between antibiotic resistance and the expression of the efflux pump genes acrA and mdfA in E. coli by real-time reverse transcription-PCR. We tested the in vitro susceptibilities to 12 antibiotics in 28 clinical isolates of E. coli obtained from urine samples. We also determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations of levofloxacin to these samples. We then revealed significant correlations between the overexpression of both mdfA and acrA and MICs of levofloxacin. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the increased expression of efflux pump genes such as mdfA and acrA can lead to levofloxacin resistance in E. coli. These findings contribute to further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of efflux pump systems and how they contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Expression of the Fluoroquinolones Efflux Pump Genes <italic>acr</italic>A and <italic>mdf</italic>A in Urinary <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> Isolates

Polish Journal of Microbiology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Expression of the Fluoroquinolones Efflux Pump Genes A and A in Urinary  Isolates

Escherichia coli is one of the most frequent causes of urinary tract infections. Efflux system overexpression is reported to contribute to E. coli resistance...

Expression of the Fluoroquinolones Efflux Pump Genes acrA and mdfA in Urinary Escherichia coli Isolates

Published Online: Mar 30, 2017

Page range: 25 - 30

Received: Feb 19, 2016

Accepted: Jun 02, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5604/pjm-2017-025

Keywords
A and A genes, efflux pump, levofloxacin, overexpression

© 2017 SARAH M. ABDELHAMID et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Expression of the Fluoroquinolones Efflux Pump Genes acrA and mdfA in Urinary Escherichia coli Isolates

Published Online: Mar 30, 2017

Page range: 25 - 30

Received: Feb 19, 2016

Accepted: Jun 02, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5604/pjm-2017-025

KeywordsA and A genes, efflux pump, levofloxacin, overexpression

© 2017 SARAH M. ABDELHAMID et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
A and A genes, efflux pump, levofloxacin, overexpression