Quorum Sensing Mediated Pathogenicity, Virulence Genes and Class 1 Integron in Carbapenem-Resistant Clinical Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolates

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <p>Carbapenems are the most effective agents for treating carbapenem-resistant clinical <italic>P. aeruginosa</italic> (CRPsA) infections. During an infection, a quorum-sensing (QS) system and its regulating virulence genes have a great role. The aim of the study was to detect the presence of a las and rhl QS system and related virulence genes and a class 1 (Cls1) integron. A total of 52 CRPsA isolates obtained from Kastamonu, Turkey was analyzed. A conventional culture method, an <italic>oprL</italic> gene-based molecular assay for <italic>P. aeruginosa</italic> isolates, and an automated VITEK-2 compact system were applied for the isolation and identification of CRPsA isolates. The <italic>oprL</italic> gene was detected in all of the isolates tested. At least one of the las or rhl system genes was detected in 98.07% of the isolates, and the percentage of las system genes (98.07%) were higher than that of rhl system genes (90.38%). <italic>algD, lasB, toxA</italic> and <italic>aprA</italic> genes were detected in between 46.15% and 88.46% of the isolates, and co-existence of four genes were detected in 40.38% of the isolates. Cls1 integron and slime production using Congo Red Agar (CRA) were present in 51.92% and 67.30%, respectively, of the isolates. There was a significant positive correlation (<italic>p</italic> &lt;.10) between the las system and the rhl system and a strongly positive correlation (<italic>p</italic>&lt;.01 or <italic>p</italic> &lt;.05) between the rhl system-four virulence genes and slime production-and among some virulence genes. In conclusion, the CRPsA isolates tested in the study are highly virulent and QS systems have a significant role in pathogenesis.</p>