Heavy metal resistance and virulence profile in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from Brazilian soils

Author(s)

Pitondo-Silva, Andre ; Goncalves, Guilherme Bartolomeu ; Stehling, Eliana Guedes

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: APMIS; v. 124, n. 8, p. 681-688, AUG 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen, which can have several virulence factors that confer on it the ability to cause severe, acute and chronic infections. Thus, the simultaneous occurrence of resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals associated with the presence of virulence genes is a potential threat to human health and environmental balance. This study aimed to investigate the resistance profile to heavy metals and the correlation of this phenotype of resistance to antimicrobials and to investigate the pathogenic potential of 46 P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from the soil of five Brazilian regions. The bacteria were evaluating for antimicrobial and heavy metal resistance, as well as the presence of plasmids and virulence genes. The isolates showed resistance to four different antibiotics and the majority (n = 44) had resistance to aztreonam or ticarcillin, furthermore, 32 isolates showed concomitant resistance to both of these antibiotics. A high prevalence of virulence genes was found, which highlights the pathogenic potential of the studied environmental isolates. Moreover, a high frequency of heavy metal resistance genes was also detected, however, the phenotypic results indicated that other genes and/or mechanisms should be related to heavy metal resistance. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/19401-5 - Research of genes involved in the resistance to carbapenems and monobactams in environmental isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Grantee: Eliana Guedes Stehling
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants