Detection of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Clinical Isolates of Proteus Species in Egypt

Proteus mirabilis is a gram-negative pathogen that caused significant opportunistic infections. In this study we aimed to determine a hundred Proteus mirabilis isolates antimicrobial resistant profile, followed by detection of some virulence determinants and antimicrobial resistance genes in Proteus mirabilis isolates using polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, identifying antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence determinants in two selected pan-drug resistant isolate using whole genome sequencing.A cross- sectional study was conducted on 100 clinical Proteus mirabilis isolates recovered from pus, blood culture, sputum, and urine. All collected from hospitalized patients in a tertiary hospital in Egypt. All isolates were subjected to growth characterization and microscopic examination by Gram staining technique. Antibiotic sensitivity was tested. Two ESBL genes were examined to be present (CTX-M-1 and TEM). Also, some carbapenemase genes as (OXA-48, KPC, IMP, and VIM) were tested using polymerase chain reaction. Virulence determinants responsible swarming, protease and biofilm formation was detected by polymerase chain reasction amplification of UreC, flaA, zapA, mrpA genes. Two selected Proteus mirabilis isolates were chosen for whole genome sequencing using MinION nanopore sequencing. Antimicrobial resistant genes and virulence determinants were identified using ResFinder, CADR AMR database, Abricate tool and VF analyzer were used respectively. Multiple sequence alignment was performed using MAFFT and FastTree, respectively.