Evaluation of E492 Microcin Gene Presence in <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> Collected from Patients Registered to Educational Hospitals of Isfahan

Abstract

Background: Microcin E492 is a low molecular weight channel-forming microbial toxin that is produced by some Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. This peptide is active in some strains of Enterobacteriaceae family, and it has different applications in medicine. Objectives: The present descriptive analytical study was carried out to determine the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae with gene encoding Microcin E492 in clinical specimens isolated from patients registered in two hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: In this interventional-descriptive study, 45 clinical specimens including 20 urine clinical specimens, 10 respiratory tract clinical specimens and 15 burn wounds specimens were selected from Al-Zahra and Imam Musa Kazem hospitals in Isfahan during the year 2013. Total DNA was extracted from clinical specimens and hot start PCR was optimized using specific primers for the amplification of the complete sequence of E492 gene. Fidelity of PCR products was confirmed by direct sequencing. Homology analysis was performed by application of BLAST serve. The data were analyzed with Chromasv2.1.1 software. Results: In forty-five collected clinical specimens (20 urine clinical specimens, 10 respiratory tractclinical specimens and 15 burn wounds specimens), 20 samples (44.4%) were screened with Klebsiella pneumoniae contamination. PCR analysis was showed presence of E492 gene in 40% (8 samples) of contaminated clinical specimens. Conclusions: About 40% of the clinical specimens collected from Isfahan hospitals contaminated with Klebsiella pneumoniae had microcin E492 gene. These types of microcins are low molecular weight antibiotic peptides produced by Enterobacteriaceae with a wide range of antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. This property can be useful for antibacterial trials. Existence of microcin gene in Enterobacteriaceae can develop them into a dominant microbial flora in human body internal environment.