Investigation of PelA Gene Expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Its Impact on Biofilm Formation

Mohammed Asim Ismael

doi:10.51699/cajmns.v6i4.2937

Mohammed Asim Ismael The Sunni Endowment, Diyala, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51699/cajmns.v6i4.2937

Keywords: PelA, Biofilm, Meropenem Antibiotic, RT-qPCR

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms a biofilm extracellular matrix comprising proteins, lipid vesicles, nucleic acids, and exopolysaccharides that render it pathogenic and resistant to antimicrobial treatment. A total of 24 P. aeruginosa isolates, both meropenem-sensitive and meropenem-resistant, were tested in this work, and all of them exhibited biofilm production. Interestingly, meropenem treatment served to repress the expression of the PelA gene, an essential part of biofilm formation, to a significant degree. The results implicate that meropenem, when administered at minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), is potentially reducing the virulence of P. aeruginosa, opening a window against bacterial resistance, in addition to lowering the requirement for high-dose antibiotic therapy and the risk of deleterious side effects.

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