Molecular investigation of the mqsA and mqsR genes in the multidrug-resistant bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae | ||||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 05 July 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.395086.2909 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Sahar Hussein Rashid  ; Ali Jaffar Saleem
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| Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Diyala, Iraq | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: This study investigated the prevalence of the mqsA and mqsR toxin-antitoxin system genes in clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae from Baqubah, Iraq, and assessed their association with biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Methods: Fifty K. pneumoniae isolates were identified from 570 clinical samples collected from various sources. Results: Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that all isolates were multidrug-resistant, with 33% exhibiting extensive drug resistance. Biofilm formation was detected in all isolates, with the majority showing strong or moderate production. PCR analysis showed that the mqsA and mqsR genes were present in 62.5% and 41.8% of selected isolates, respectively, and 25% harbored both genes. Conclusion: The presence of these genes correlated with increased biofilm production and higher antibiotic resistance. These findings suggest that the mqsA and mqsR genes may contribute to the persistence and pathogenicity of multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae in clinical settings. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Klebsiella pneumoniae; toxin-antitoxin system; multidrug resistance | ||||
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