Detection of Some Virulence Factors, Antibiotics Resistant and esp Gene Expression in Enterococcus faecalis bacteria

Farah Mohammed  Karim; Rana Mujahid Alshwaikh

doi:10.30526/38.4.3756

Authors

Farah Mohammed Karim Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad , Iraq. https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3138-0544
Rana Mujahid Alshwaikh Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad , Iraq. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6017-2005

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30526/38.4.3756

Keywords:

Enterococcus faecalis, Virulence factor, antibiotics, Gene expression

Abstract

This study aimed to identify virulence factors in Enterococcus faecalis and investigate the
expression of the esp gene responsible for biofilm formation. Seventy isolates of E. faecalis
were collected from various clinical specimens, including urine, stool, wound swabs, and
uterine secretions, from several hospitals and laboratories in Baghdad, such as the Central
Child Teaching Hospital, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, and the National Center for
Educational Laboratories, during the period from 1 July 2022 to 1 September 2022. All
isolates were confirmed as E. faecalis through microscopic examination, biochemical tests,
and the VITEK 2 system. The virulence factors investigated were haemolysin, gelatinase, and
biofilm formation. The results showed that 53.12% of isolates exhibited β-haemolysis,
90.62% were capable of forming biofilms, and 65.62% produced the enzyme gelatinase.
Antibiotic susceptibility testing using the VITEK 2 system revealed that all isolates were
sensitive to linezolid, teicoplanin, vancomycin, and tigecycline, while they showed 100%
resistance to erythromycin. Sensitivity to other antibiotics varied among isolates. Expression
of the esp gene, associated with biofilm formation, was analysed using real-time PCR based
on the SYBR Green method, with 16S rRNA as a housekeeping control gene. When the
isolates were treated with erythromycin at concentrations of 0.8 mg/L and 1.6 mg/L, no
significant increase in esp gene expression was observed. In conclusion, E. faecalis isolates
from various clinical sources in Baghdad exhibited several virulence factors, including
haemolysin, gelatinase, and strong biofilm-forming ability. The isolates showed complete
resistance to erythromycin while remaining sensitive to several other antibiotics, and
treatment with erythromycin did not enhance esp gene expression.

Author Biographies

Farah Mohammed Karim, Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad , Iraq.

Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad , Iraq.
Rana Mujahid Alshwaikh, Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad , Iraq.

Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad , Iraq.

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