Antibiotics Resistance in Sul1 Gene of Escherichia coli: Physiological and Molecular Study

Azad Mohammed Taher Al-Brefkani; Murtadha Kanim Adea Aljebory; Abdul-Hassan Mahdi Salih; Olfet Jabbar Makki Alhassani; Hassan Abd Ali Namaa; Ali Abid Saadoon Al-Ghuzi

doi:10.31632/ijalsr.2025.v08i04.018

Azad Mohammed Taher Al-Brefkani Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health and Medical Technology-Shekhan, Duhok Polytechnic University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7862-5962
Murtadha Kanim Adea Aljebory College of Nursing, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa; Karbala, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1063-0331
Abdul-Hassan Mahdi Salih Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5830-0829
Olfet Jabbar Makki Alhassani Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2564-5319
Hassan Abd Ali Namaa Primary Health Care Sector in Karmet Bani Saeed, Thi-Qar, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9743-7397
Ali Abid Saadoon Al-Ghuzi Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6778-8803

DOI https://doi.org/10.31632/ijalsr.2025.v08i04.018

Abstract

Background: Antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli is a significant public health concern, particularly in regions with limited healthcare resources. The sul1 gene, commonly associated with mobile genetic elements, encodes sulfonamide resistance and is prevalent in multidrug-resistant E. coli strains linked to diarrheal diseases. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and molecular characteristics of the sul1 gene in E. coli strains isolated from patients with diarrhea and to investigate its association with multidrug resistance patterns. Methods: A total of 60 fecal samples were collected from diarrheal cases in a clinical setting. E. coli strains were isolated and identified through standard microbiological techniques, including selective media culture, Gram staining, colony morphology observation, and API 20E biochemical testing. Genomic DNA was extracted, and PCR amplification of the sul1 gene was performed. Amplified products were analyzed through agarose gel electrophoresis, sequenced, and aligned with reference sequences. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted to examine genetic relationships among isolates. Results: the sul1 gene was detected in a significant proportion of the E. coli isolates, with an 822 bp amplicon verified by sequencing and BLAST analysis. High sequence similarity (~99%) was observed between the local isolates and reference sequences. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close clustering of the isolates within the E. coli clade, indicating genetic homogeneity among local strains. Notable nucleotide substitutions were identified, though they did not result in amino acid changes, suggesting silent mutations. Conclusions: The high prevalence of the sul1 gene in E. coli isolates from diarrheal cases emphasizes the role of mobile genetic elements in spreading sulfonamide resistance. Recommendation: Regular genetic screening for resistance genes, rational antibiotic use, infection control, and research on alternative treatments for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections are needed.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, E. Coli, DNA Sequencing, Sul1 Gene

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdullah, A.A.A. and Al-Taee, H.A., (2024). Phenotypic characterization of uropathogenic Escherichia coli in patients of Nineveh province in Iraq. Malaysian Journal of Microbiology, 20. https://doi.org/10.21161/mjm.240051
Algarni, S., Ricke, S. C., Foley, S. L., & Han, J. (2022). The dynamics of the antimicrobial resistance mobilome of Salmonella enterica and related enteric bacteria. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.859854
Baharoglu, Z., Garriss, G., & Mazel, D. (2013). Multiple Pathways of Genome Plasticity Leading to Development of Antibiotic Resistance. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland), 2(2), 288–315. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics2020288
Baseri, Z., Dehghan, A., Yaghoubi, S., & Razavi, S. (2021). Prevalence of resistance genes and antibiotic resistance profile among Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates from hospitalized patients in Iran. New microbes and new infections, 44, 100943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nmni.2021.100943
Da Lage, J. L., Thomas, G. W., Bonneau, M., & Courtier-Orgogozo, V. (2019). Evolution of salivary glue genes in Drosophila species. BMC evolutionary biology, 19(1), 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-019-1364-9
Hemati, S., Halimi, S., Jabalameli, F., Emaneini, M., & Beigverdi, R. (2024). Phylogenetic group, antibiotic resistance, virulence gene, and genetic diversity of Escherichia coli causing bloodstream infections in Iran. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1426510
Jiang, H., Cheng, H., Liang, Y., Yu, S., Yu, T., Fang, J., & Zhu, C. (2019). Diverse mobile genetic elements and conjugal transferability of sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1, sul2, and sul3) in Escherichia coli isolates from Penaeus vannamei and pork from large markets in Zhejiang, China. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, 1787. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01787
Kumavath, R., Gupta, P., Tatta, E. R., Mohan, M. S., Salim, S. A., & Busi, S. (2025). Unraveling the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance transmission and defense strategies in bacteria. Frontiers in systems biology, 5, 1557413. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsysb.2025.1557413
Lamichhane, B., Mawad, A. M., Saleh, M., Kelley, W. G., Harrington, P. J., Lovestad, C. W., ... & Helmy, Y. A. (2024). Salmonellosis: an overview of epidemiology, pathogenesis, and innovative approaches to mitigate the antimicrobial resistant infections. Antibiotics, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13010076
Lobinska, G., Pilpel, Y., & Ram, Y. (2023). Phenotype switching of the mutation rate facilitates adaptive evolution. Genetics, 225(1), iyad111. https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyad111
Masood, E., Hassanin, F., Abou EL-Roos, N., & Sabeq, I. I. (2024). Multidrug-resistant E. coli and Salmonella Isolated from Raw and Ready-to-Eat Meat Products, Raising the potential of Future Foodborne Illness and Treatment Challenges. Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 56(3), 587-603. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejvs.2024.271738.1867
Moran, R. A., & Hall, R. M. (2019). pBuzz: A cryptic rolling-circle plasmid from a commensal Escherichia coli has two inversely oriented oriTs and is mobilised by a B/O plasmid. Plasmid, 101, 10–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plasmid.2018.11.001
Partridge, S. R., Kwong, S. M., Firth, N., & Jensen, S. O. (2018). Mobile Genetic Elements Associated with Antimicrobial Resistance. Clinical microbiology reviews, 31(4), e00088-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00088-17
Pato, M. L., & Brown, G. M. (1963). Mechanisms of resistance of Escherichia coli to sulfonamides. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 103(3), 443-448. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-9861(63)90435-1
Poey, M. E., Azpiroz, M. F., & Laviña, M. (2019). On sulfonamide resistance, sul genes, class 1 integrons and their horizontal transfer in Escherichia coli. Microbial Pathogenesis, 135, 103611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2019.103611
Royer, G., Darty, M. M., Clermont, O., Condamine, B., Laouenan, C., Decousser, J. W., Vallenet, D., Lefort, A., de Lastours, V., Denamur, E., & COLIBAFI and SEPTICOLI groups (2021). Phylogroup stability contrasts with high within sequence type complex dynamics of Escherichia coli bloodstream infection isolates over a 12-year period. Genome medicine, 13(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13073-021-00892-0
Van den Bogaard, A. E., London, N., Driessen, C. A. G. G., & Stobberingh, E. E. (2001). Antibiotic resistance of faecal Escherichia coli in poultry, poultry farmers and poultry slaughterers. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 47(6), 763-771. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/47.6.763
Zeadan, A. M., Saleem, A. J., & Abbas, S. M. (2022). Detection and analysis of resistance genes in Escherichia coli bacteria isolated from children in Baghdad. Advanced Gut & Microbiome Research, 2022(1), 1450019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1450019