Testing the Ability of Plasmid DNA Content in Bacteria Isolated from Wound and Burn Infections for Mobilization and Transfer Through Conjugation

Abstract

Bacterial isolates from burn and wound infections were obtained from Mosul city hospitals. These isolates were identified depending on the basis of their morphological, cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. The results showed that they belonged to klebsiella spp. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogenes. Conjugation between these bacteria and the laboratory E.coli (JM83) strain were carried out. Two crosses succeeded. They were, JM83 strain acting as a recipient with each of S.aureus (donar) and P.aeruginosa (donar) with exconjugant frequency of 0.091× 10-8 and 0.017× 10-7 respectively. In addition, cross between cured E.coli isolate as recipient with the bacteria that fail to conjugate with JM83 strain were performed and only one cross succeeded which is between cured E.coli and Ent-aerogenes with conjugation frequency 0.014× 10-7. In all these crosses the plasmid DNA encoding resistance to some antibiotics and heavy metals were transferred from donar to recipient bacteria through conjugation. Conjugation process was induced by ultraviolet light in those trials that fail to occur. Plasmid DNA concentrations in transconjugant and recipient bacterial cells support the occurrence of conjugation.