A number of 26 phages lytic for 26 isolates of V. cholerae O1, biotype El Tor, Serotype Inaba are isolated from sewage water. The phage isolates showed host range of 35-65% against V. cholerae O1 by spot lysis methods. The morphological properties of plaques formed on the top agarose are studied and showed that most virulent phages had larger diameter (in millimeter) with regular or irregular margin cut and clear plaque comparing with smaller diameter and turbid plaque for those less virulent phages. A total of 8 phages are selected for formulation the phage cocktail in order to extend the host-range of phages in cocktail collectively. The %inhibition assay for every single phage of the 8 phages selected for formulation of phage cocktail ranged from 0-75, whereas that of the 8 phages cocktail was 100%inhibition against all V. cholerae O1 isolates. The formulation of the 8 phages in a cocktail proved to an effective approach to achieve the broad host-range activity towards V. cholerae O1 isolates and made it possible to go forwards the animal model for further studies on phage therapy for animal model of cholera.

Background and Objectives: Urinary tract infections are one of the most commonly associated human infectious diseases caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli. Escherichia coli is described as having a large number of virulence genes that enable drug resistance, which is a cause for great concern. Monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility is critical to determining the scope of the problem and selecting appropriate antimicrobial drugs. The current study aimed to identify the distribution of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) based on genetic profiles and to determine resistance patterns among isolates. Materials and Methods: This study employed biological correlations to study the patterns of antibiotic resistance and the distribution of phylogenetic groups of 118 isolates of E. coli and the relationship between them, which were isolated from three hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq. Results: The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that phylogroup F was the most common group among E. coli isolates (37.3%), followed by phylogroups C (20.3%), B2 (15.3%), E (14.4%), UP (4.2%), A and D (3.4%), and B1 (1.7%). The majority of antibiotic resistance patterns were related to penicillin groups (80.5%) and the least to the sulfonamide groups (67.0%). 51.7%, 42.4%, and 1.7% of isolates were Extensive Drug Resistance (XDR), Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR), and Pan Drug Resistance (PDR), respectively. Antibiotic resistance was most commonly detected in group F (35.6%). Conclusion: Our observations revealed that the dominant phylogroup F had the highest prevalence of multi-drug resistance and extensive drug resistance among E. coli isolates. The newly identified phylogroups C, E, and F account for about 72.0% of the E. coli isolates. Such investigations should be conducted in other localities as well, in order to gain a better understand- ing of the pattern of antibiotic resistance patterns and the frequency of distinct phylogenetic groups.

One hundred and fifty samples were collected from urine and blood, with a male to female ratio 1.45:1, culture positivity seen in the urinary tract infection was the most frequent (77%), followed by blood infection (18%). A total of 86 (57.33%) bacterial isolates were obtained. The study focused on 9 clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens (15.2%), differentiated into Prodigiosin producer (11.6%) and non-Prodigiosin producer (3.6%). Almost all isolates (6/9) showed visible growth at 37°C. All S. marcescens strains of different sources were hemolytic, whereas the formation of a pellicle was noticed among 7 isolates (77.77%) from 9 isolates. The biofilm formation performed was assessed through the crystal violet assay noticed that out of the 9 S. marcescens isolates 5 (55.5%) were non-adherent, 4 (44.4%) were weakly adherent, No isolate showed strongly adherent. The tube method for assay biofilm formation showed good correlation with the Tissue culture plate (TCP) method assay for biofilm forming isolates and total 2 (22.2%) isolate were picked up as strong and 5 (55.5%) were moderat biofilm producers. The tube test correlates well with the TCP test for biofilm producing isolates but it was difficult to discriminate between weak and biofilm negative isolates due to the variability in observed results by different observers. All 9 isolates were sensitive to the IPM and AZM (100%). The biofilm MICs were found to be much higher than the planktonic MICs. The medium with antibiotic used not inhibited the prodigiosin production at the MIC for planktonic cells. Therefore prodigiosin production in media with antibiotics used not marker of the growth and activity of bacterial cells. Biofilms are considerably less susceptible to antibiotics than their planktonic counterparts; biofilm production may vary largely among different strains of the same species isolated from different sites.

Introduction and Aim: Escherichia coli strains are derived from several phylogenetic groups and have an array of virulence factors such as fimbrial adhesins, which are expressed by the Dr/Afa gene clusters and contribute to overcoming diverse defense mechanisms, resist drugs, and causing disease. The study sought to ascertain the prevalence of the Dr/Afa genes and resistance patterns among E. coli isolated from patients suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections. Materials and Methods:In this prospective cross-sectional study, a maximum of 500 mid-stream urine samples were collected from UTI patients identified at medical centers in Baghdad, Iraq. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests and polymerase chain reaction were used to determine the resistance pattern and gene distribution among isolates, respectively, as well as biochemical tests to diagnose isolates. Results:Research data revealed that recurrent urinary tract infections were associated with the pathogen E. coli (43.88%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.82%). The results demonstrated significant antibiotic resistance patterns among isolates associated with recurrent UTIs and the most common antibiotic resistance was observed with penicillin (81.4%), followed by 81 (68.6%) sulfonamides and 63 (53.4%) fluoroquinolones. Molecular studies of the Dr/Afa operon using polymerase chain reaction, revealed several genotypes for genes within the operon. Among isolates studied the prevalence of the gene draA gene was 62 (52.5%), draB 41 (34.7%), draC 66 (55.9%), draD 65 (55.1%), draE 64 (54.2%), and draP 95 (80.5%). Furthermore, XDR and MDR-resistant phenotypes were significantly prevalent in isolates harboring hetero Dr/Afa fimbriae. Conclusion:The results of this study indicate an inverse correlation between the presence of antibiotic resistance patterns and the prevalence of Dr/Afa genes wherein, the isolates with fewer fimbrial adhesion genes were found to be highly resistant. This study implies the Dr/Afa genes involvement in developing UTIs, suggesting that they might be associated with antibiotic resistance and recurrent UTIs.

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii has arisen as disturbing nosocomial pathogens between Iraqi hospitals inpatients.The aim of current study was to determine if the increase of A.baumannii incidence in patients on blaOXA-51 gene in A. baumannii that carry QS gene showed pathogenicity of clinical isolates and to determine the efficiency of ERIC-PCR fingerprinting method for genotyping of A. baumannii. Methods: Sixteen isolates diagnosed as A. baumannii and genetically confirmed by blaOXA-51 as a marker gene from different clinical sources in Baghdad hospitals.The virulence of the A. baumannii does not require, carrying full set of QS ( LasRand RhlI, LasI, RhlR) genes.Results: The positive QS genes results were distributed from high to low expression, lasI 75%(45/60),70%(42/60)for RhIR,50%(30/60) for rhII, and 13.3%(8/60)for LasR. Using fingerprinting ERIC-PCR analysis, 57isolates of A. baumannii were clustered into 2 groups while the remaining 3 were single isolates. The genetic linking of A. baumannii isolated from different hospitals inpatients was high, indicating horizontal gene transfers within hospitalized patients. Conclusion: Our findings indicated accurate and fast diagnosis method to detect virulent A. baumannii isolates harboring differing sets of QS by using blaOXA-51 gene and ERIC-PCR for genetic variations, respectively, possible to be helpful with epidemic infections.