The Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Postgraduate Studies at the University of Baghdad discussed the master’s thesis of student Zina Raad Hussein, titled:
“Molecular Evaluation of the Effect of Phenylalanine-Arginine β-Naphthylamide on the Expression of Efflux Pump Genes (AcrAB-TolC) in Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae,” under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr. Abdul Amir Mohammed Gharib.
The study aimed to investigate the inhibition of efflux pumps using chemical compounds known as efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs), with Phenylalanine-Arginine β-Naphthylamide (PaβN) being a leading inhibitor in this class. It is considered the first known inhibitor of the RND (Resistance-Nodulation-Division) efflux pump system and acts as a competitive inhibitor by preventing substrate binding to the efflux mechanism.
The study concluded that there is a notable prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in various clinical samples, particularly in cases of urinary tract infections and blood samples, with a high rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae infections reported among newborns.
The study also showed that Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibits widespread resistance to many families of antibiotics, especially the penicillin family (such as ampicillin), while it was more sensitive to the amphenicol family (such as chloramphenicol).
Additionally, it was found that most isolates were capable of forming biofilms and that all Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates demonstrated positive efflux pump activity even at high concentrations.
The study recommended using a combination of antibiotics and PaβN to target other genetic families beyond AcrAB-TolC. It also emphasized the need for further studies on the potential effect of PaβN on biofilm formation and quorum sensing genes.
Moreover, the study recommended exploring different combinations of antibiotics with PaβN to enhance efficacy and expanding the study of the synergistic effect of PaβN and CIP (ciprofloxacin) at the molecular level on gyrA and gyrB genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae or other multidrug-resistant bacteria.
