The Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Postgraduate Studies, University of Baghdad, discussed the master’s thesis entitled “Analysis of the Expression Levels of Biofilm-Associated Genes (the mrk Operon) in Clinical Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates Following Exposure to the Anti-Biofilm Peptide SAAP-148” by student Zaina Ghazi Mohammed, under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr. Abdul Amir Mohammed Gharib.
The study aimed to measure the expression levels of the MrK-A, MrK-B, and MrK-H genes in multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates following exposure to the anti-biofilm peptide SAAP-148, both before and after treatment, in order to evaluate the peptide’s effect on regulating the expression of genes associated with biofilm formation.
The results showed that 128 samples were positive for bacterial culture. Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates accounted for 28.3% of all identified bacterial isolates, while the remaining isolates consisted of other bacterial species, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and others.
The study concluded that exposure to sub-inhibitory concentrations of the anti-biofilm peptide may influence the regulation of gene expression of biofilm-associated genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae, highlighting its potential role in modulating bacterial virulence and biofilm formation.
