SHORT COMMUNICATION
Molecular Detection of Metallo-β-Lactamase and
Putative Virulence Genes in Environmental
Isolates of Pseudomonas Species
Isoken H. Igbinosa, Etinosa O. Igbinosa, Anthony I. Okoh
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Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG),
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare
Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700 South Africa
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2014;23(6):2327-2331
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of metallo-β-lactamase (Imp-1, Vim-1, Vim-2)
-resistant genes and putative virulence genes (ExoS, Apr, LasB, PhzM) in some environmental isolates of
Pseudomonas species recovered from freshwater, wastewater, cultivated soil, plant root, and plant rhizosphere
samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to evaluate the presence and established metallo-β-
lactamase and virulence genes using specific primer sets. About 6.7% of the Pseudomonas isolates from
wastewater treatment plant were found to harbour the cytotoxin gene, while 20%, 20.6%, and 6.7% of the isolates
were positive for alkaline protease, phenazine and Vim-2 genes, respectively. For the Pseudomonas
species isolated from plant rhizosphere, 14.3% were positive for phenazine gene, while 10.7% were positive
for Vim-2 gene. Dissemination of the target genes were in the following pattern: all isolates that harboured
ExoS, Apr, and Vim-2 genes from wastewater sample were found to be Pseudomonas putida, while phenazine
gene was found in 75% of Pseudomonas putida isolates and 25% of other Pseudomonas species. All plant rhizosphere
isolates harbouring phenazine and Vim-2 genes were observed to be Pseudomonas putida species.
The incidence of Vim-2 and virulence genes in some environmental isolates of Pseudomonas species suggest
that these isolates are reservoirs of metallo-β-lactamase-resistant genes and are potential pathogens that may
be of serious public health significance.