title: Molecular Detection of Genomic Islands Associated With Class 1 and 2 Integron in Haemophilus influenzae Isolated in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High levels of multidrug resistance are usually associated with mobile genetic elements that encode specific resistance genes. Integrons are important genetic elements involved in spreading antibiotic multi-resistance. In special cases, large exogenous segments in bacterial genomes form genomic islands, and one of the functions of these genomic islands is antibiotic resistance. Due to geographical heterogeneity in antibiotic resistance pattern, it is mandatory to determine resistance patterns that are region-specific rather than generalized.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to detect class 1 and 2 integrons in clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antibiogram tests were carried out for twenty clinical isolates collected from different patients admitted to the Milad hospital. The PCR reactions were performed using universal primers specified for Int1 and Int2 genes attributed to class 1 and 2 integrons. Also amplification of integrase genes related to genomic islands was investigated by designing specific primers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the twenty isolates, all (100%) were resistant to clindamycin, chloramphenicol and tetracycline, 95% to amoxicillin, 50% to ceftriaxone, 45% to ciprofloxacin and 5% to azithromycin. Also, all isolates (100%) were sensitive to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Class 1 and 2 integrons were not detected in any of the isolates; however the integrase gene attributed to genomic islands was identified in twelve isolates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antibiotic resistance gene cassettes may be carried on integron or other genetic elements. The purpose of this study was to detect integron or genomic islands involved in antibiotic resistance profile of the isolates of H. influenzae collected in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boroumand
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Irani
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Research Center and Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Davar
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Siadat
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Unite, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Saied
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bouzari
keywords: Drug Resistance, Multiple; Gene Cassettes; Genomic Islands; Haemophilus influenza; Integrons