title: Molecular assessment of virulence determinants, hospital associated marker (IS16gene) and prevalence of antibiotic resistance in soil borne Enterococcus species.
abstract: Enterococci, no more regarded as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) organism, are emerging as an important source of nosocomial infections worldwide. The main contributors in pathogenesis of enterococci are the presence of various virulent factors and antibiotic resistance genes. We aimed to examine the prevalence, dissemination, antibiotic resistance and virulent factors associated with enterococci from bulk soil (BS). A total of 372 enterococci were isolated from 500 soil samples. PCR was used to identify the isolates up to species level and for carriage of 16 virulence genes including hospital associated marker (i.e. IS16). E. faecium (77%), E. faecalis (10%), E. hirae (4%) and E. casseliflavus (1%) were the major species isolated. The efaAfs was the most dominant gene (100%), followed by gelE (78.9%), sprE (76.3%) and esp (13%) in E. faecalis isolates. The E. faecium carried largely efaAfm (86.8%) and acm (50.3%) genes. Presence of entP (10%), entA (8.3%) and entB (6.9%) genes was detected mostly in E. faecium, while enlA (18%) and ef1097 (2.6%) was only detected in E. faecalis isolates. 50% E. faecalis and 2% E. faecium isolates harbored IS16, while five E. faecalis harbored both IS16 and espTIM genes providing strong evidence about the presence of espTIM gene on 64 Kb pathogenicity island. BOX and RAPD PCR analysis revealed high degree of genetic variation within the species. Degree of resistance against 12 major antibiotics showed chloramphenicol as the most effective and meropenom as the least effective antibiotic. Presence of multiple antibiotic resistant, virulent and hospital associated enterococci in bulk soil represents a potential source for further dissemination to humans and animals and poses potential impact on public health.
authors.affiliation: H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan. Electronic address: abid.ali@iccs.edu.
authors.forename: Syed Abid
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan. Electronic address: hassaanbinasif85@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bin-Asif
authors.affiliation: H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan. Electronic address: ali.biochemist@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Khwaja Ali
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.affiliation: H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan. Electronic address: maryam.abdulrehman@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Marium
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.affiliation: H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan. Electronic address: atiya786@super.net.pk.
authors.forename: Atiya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbasi
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006761:Hospitals; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010154:Pakistan; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C473793:Acm protein, Enterococcus faecium; D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012987:Soil; D037521:Virulence Factors; C116707:enterococcal surface protein, esp
keywords: Enterococcus; Environmental health; RAPD PCR; Soil; Virulence factors