Correlation between Quorum Sensing Genes (lasI and lasR) and Antibiotics Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Wound Infections

Abstract

Background:    Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a common etiological agent of wound infection; it has been shown to increase the rate of mortality and morbidity in patients. It can potentially become multidrug-resistant (MDR) due to its ability to acquire different antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
Objective:    To investigate the impact of Las Systems (lasI and lasR) on antibiotic resistance patterns in P. aeruginosa. 
Methods:    Out of 117 clinical wound samples, 30 P. aeruginosa isolates were identified, and the antibiotic susceptibility and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination were evaluated. The conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used for the detection of quorum-sensing genes using specific primer sequences after DNA extraction. 
Results:    Out of the 30 P. aeruginosa isolates, 43% were identified as extensively drug-resistant (XDR), while 17% were classified as MDR. The highest level of antibiotic resistance was observed against Levofloxacin (60%), and the lowest level was against Colistin (23%). The occurrence of quorum-sensing genes among the isolates was as follows: lasI (96.67%), lasR (76.67%).
Conclusion:    No statistically significant correlation was observed between the presence of these genes and MDR or XDR phenotypes. 
Keywords:    Pseudomonas aeruginosa, quorum-sensing, las genes, lasI, lasR
Citation:    Kadhim ZA, Hassan JS, Abdul Wahhab RAS, Hussein MAK. Correlation between quorum sensing genes (lasI and lasR) and antibiotics resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from wound infections. Iraqi JMS. 2025; 23(2): 356-364. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.23.2.18