Molecular Insights into the Genetic Variability of Enterococcus faecalis via 16S rRNA Sequencing | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Medical Microbiology | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 11 October 2025 | ||
| Document Type: New and original researches in the field of Microbiology. | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejmm.2025.428614.1902 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Omar H. Hamad* ; Iman T. Abdullah | ||
| Department of Biology College of Science, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Enterococci have several determinants which are encoded on horizontal transfer of pathogenicity traits between strains and even across species, thereby increasing the virulence of strains that may previously have been less pathogenic. Objective: This study focused on the molecular characterization of local Enterococcus faecalis isolates through sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, followed by comparison with global strains. Methodology: A total of 18 16s RNA gene were successfully amplified by conventional PCR, sequenced and deposited in GenBank under accession numbers (PV918901.1 - PV918918.1). Results: BLAST alignment confirmed the identity of the isolates and revealed a high degree of similarity with reference sequences. Sequence analysis also showed the presence of both transition and transversion mutations across different sites of the 16S rRNA gene. A recurrent cytosine-to-adenine substitution at position 309 was particularly noteworthy, as it matched mutations previously documented worldwide. Additional nucleotide changes at sites 421, 457, 484, 546, 688, 689, 691, and 702 further reflected the genetic heterogeneity of the isolates. Conclusion: Overall, these results emphasize the evolutionary diversity of Enterococcus and underline the significance of molecular tools in precise identification and epidemiological monitoring. The generated data provide insights into bacterial adaptation, pathogenicity, and resistance mechanisms in both clinical and environmental contexts. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Enterococcus; 16S rRNA; gene; sequencing; mutation | ||
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