investigation Resistance and virulence of E. coli in local pathogenic samples

Authors

  • noor nouri hassan University of Fallujah, College of science Applied, Department of Pathological Analysis
  • Laheeb Rajab Hamad University of Fallujah, College of science Applied, Department of Pathological Analysis

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36320/ajb/v18.i2.23521

Keywords:

E. Coli, OmpT, blaTEM, Pap genes

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Escherichia coli is a common opportunistic pathogen responsible for a wide range of infections. The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains poses a major challenge to treatment.Objective: This study aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns, motility, ESBL production, and distribution of virulence and resistance genes (blaTEM, Pap, and ompT) among E. coli isolates from different clinical sources.Methodology: A total of 39 E. coli isolates were recovered from urine, blood, wound, and stool samples. Identification was performed using the Vitek 2 system, Gram staining, and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using standard methods. ESBL production was detected by the double-disk synergy test (DDST), motility was assessed using semi-solid medium, and gene detection was carried out by conventional PCR.Results: Most isolates were obtained from urine (66.67%). High resistance was observed to amoxicillin-clavulanate (97.44%) and ceftoxime (82.05%), whereas low resistance was seen to meropenem (7.6%). ESBL production was confirmed in 79.49% of isolates. The ompT gene was the most prevalent, followed by blaTEM and Pap.Conclusion: The high frequency of MDR and ESBL-producing E. coli underscores the urgent need for continuous surveillance, rational antibiotic use, and molecular monitoring to control resistance spread. 

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • noor nouri hassan, University of Fallujah, College of science Applied, Department of Pathological Analysis

    Master’s student in Pathological Analysis at the College of Applied Sciences, University of Fallujah

  • Laheeb Rajab Hamad , University of Fallujah, College of science Applied, Department of Pathological Analysis

    Lecturer in Microbiology, Department of Pathological Analysis, College of Applied Sciences, Al Fallujah University, Fallujah, Iraq.

References

1. Dicks LMT, Geldenhuys J, Mikkelsen LS, Brandsborg E, Marcotte H. Our gut microbiota: a long walk to homeostasis. Benef Microbes. 2018;9:3-20. https://doi.org/10.3920/BM2017.0066

2. Liu B, Furevi A, Perepelov AV, Guo X, Cao H, Wang Q, Widmalm G. Structure and genetics of Escherichia coli O antigens. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2020;44(6):655-683. doi: 10.1093/femsre/fuz028

3. Levinson W. Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. 14th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2016. p. 821.

4. Cavas LC, Kirkiz G. Characterization of siderophores from Escherichia coli strains isolated from clinical infections through genome mining tools: an antiSMASH study. AMB Express.2022;12(1):74 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-022-01421

5. Gagaletsios LA, Kikidou E, Galbenis C, Bitar I, Papagiannitsis CC. Exploring virulence characteristics of clinical Escherichia coli isolates from Greece. Microorganisms. 2025;13(7):1488. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13071488

6. Valvano MA. Remodelling of the Gram-negative bacterial Kdo2-lipid A and its functional implications. Microbiology. 2022;168(4):1159. DOI:10.1099/mic.0.001159

7. Basak S, Singh P, Rajurkar M. Multidrug resistant and extensively drug resistant bacteria: a study. J Pathog. 2016;2016:1-5.https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/4065603

8. Randall CP, Mariner KR, Chopra I, O’Neill AJ. The target of daptomycin is absent from Escherichia coli and other gram-negative pathogens. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2013;57(1):637-639.https://doi.org/10.1128/aac02005-12

9. Blair JM, Richmond GE, Piddock LJ. Multidrug efflux pumps in Gram-negative bacteria and their role in antibiotic resistance. Future Microbiol. 2014;9(10):1165-1177. https://doi.org/10.2217/fmb.14.66

10. Jo I, Hong S, Lee M, Song S, Kim JS, Mitra AK, Ha NC. Stoichiometry and mechanistic implications of the MacAB-TolC tripartite efflux pump. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2017;494(3-4):668-673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.10.102

11. Arbab S, Ullah H, Wang W, Zhang J. Antimicrobial drug resistance against Escherichia coli and its harmful effect on animal health. Vet Med Sci. 2022;8(4):1780–1786. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.825

12. Gautam R, Chapagain ML, Acharya A, Rayamajhi N, Shrestha S, Ansari S, Upadhaya G, Nepal HP. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Escherichia coli from various clinical sources. J Chitwan Med Coll. 2013;3(3):14–17.

13. Mahmood SM, Ibrahim SK.Genotyping and beta-lactamase production of Escherichia coli isolated from different sources. Ibn Al-Haitham J Pure Appl Sci.2025;38(2). https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7013-4040

14. Motility Test Medium Protocol. American Society for Microbiology. Patricia Shields, Laura Cathcart; 2011.

15. Adwan G, Adwan K, Bourinee H. Molecular characterization of some new Escherichia coli strains theoretically responsible for both intestinal and extraintestinal infections. Int J Med Res Health Sci. 2016;5(6):158-163.

16. Lalzampuia H, Dutta TK, Warjji I, Chandra R. Detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (blaCTX-M-1 and blaTEM) in Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from poultry in North Eastern India. Vet World. 2014;7(11):1026-1031. doi:10.14202/vetworld.2014.1026-1031.

17. Almakrami M, Salmen M, Aldashel YA, et al. Prevalence of multidrug-, extensively drug-, and pandrug-resistant bacteria in clinical isolates from King Khaled Hospital, Najran, Saudi Arabia. Discover Medicine. 2024;1(1):108.7. https//doi.org//10.1007/s44337- 024-00094-8

18. Vimala PB, et al. Clinical presentation and antibiotic resistance trends of Escherichia coli in clinical samples. J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2025;30(3):183–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2025.02.003

19. Getie M, Tafere W, Tsega A, Gebreyesus T, Belay G, Abate A, et al. Antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacteria from clinical specimens at Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: A retrospective study. PLoS One. 2025;20(12):e0337332.

20. Gupta N, Jain A, Sen R, Mishra S, Gupta M. A Study on Isolation of E. coli Bacteria from Different Human Clinical Specimens. Int J Health Sci Res. 2022 Jun;12(6):255–263. https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20220633

21. Kamruzzaman M, Nobel FA, Islam S, Haider A, Uddin MN, Islam MJ. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of pathogens isolated from clinical specimens at a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh, 2020–2023. The Microbe. 2025;6:100244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microb. 2025.100244

22. Mishra M, Sujatha R, Afaq N. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Escherichia coli isolated from various clinical samples at a tertiary care hospital in Kanpur. Rama Univ J Med Sci. 2022;8(4):10–12. ISSN: 2395-0757.

23. Al-Hasani HMH, Al-Rubaye DS, Abdelhameed A. Prevalence of Extended-Spectrum ß-Lactamases (ESBLs) and AmpC ß-Lactamases in Clinical Isolates of Multiple Drug-Resistant Escherichia coli. Iraqi J Sci. 2024;65(7):3701-3715. https://arcia.org/0000-0002-0204-7633

24. Mohammed AJ, Al-Amara SS, Al-Hejjaj MY. Molecular characterization of blaTEM and blaCTX-M ESBLs genes producing Escherichia coli isolates from urinary tract infections in Al-Basrah province, Iraq. SEEJPH. 2021;17:1-8.

25. Baral SK, Dangol G, Manandhar KD, Poudel P. Characterization of virulence factors in multidrug resistant Escherichia coli isolated from intestinal and extra-intestinal clinical samples. J Manmohan Mem Inst Health Sci. 2024;9(2):13–18.https://orcid.org//0000-0001-7244-6501

26. El-Baz R, Said HS, Abdelmegeed ES, Barwa R. Characterization of virulence determinants and phylogenetic background of multiple and extensively drug resistant Escherichia coli isolated from different clinical sources in Egypt. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2022;106(3):1279–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-021-11740-x

27. Oh JY, Do KH, Jeong JH, Kwak S, Choe S, An D, et al. Whole genome sequencing analysis of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli from human and companion animals in Korea. J Vet Sci. 2024;26(1). doi: 10.4142/jvs.24225

28. Mohammadzadeh A, Naghizadeh H, Mosadegh A, Astani A, Pouresmaeil O, Mardaneh J. Identification and evaluation of pathogenic genes (traT, hly, aer, pap, and fimH) and antibiotic resistance genes (blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX) in Escherichia coli in patients referred to Gonabad Hospitals, Iran. Rep Biochem Mol Biol. 2023;12(3):465. doi: 10.61186/rbmb.12.3.465

29. Helmy AA, Abdel Ghafar MT, Okda HI, Abo-Elenein AM. Study of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infection patients in Tanta University Hospitals. J Investig Med. 2023;71(6):664–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/10815589231172497

Downloads

Published

2026-08-01

How to Cite

nouri hassan, noor, & Rajab Hamad , L. . (2026). investigation Resistance and virulence of E. coli in local pathogenic samples. Al-Kufa University Journal for Biology, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.36320/ajb/v18.i2.23521

Share