Iranian Journal of Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Molecular characterization of human rhinovirus strains detected in pediatric acute respiratory tract infections.","authors":"V R Parvathy, Pryanka Thakur, Vikram Thakur, Vikrant Sharma, Ishani Bora, Radha Kanta Ratho, Suresh Kumar Angurana, Mini P Singh","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.21031","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.21031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide, accounting for approximately 18% of deaths in those <5 years of age. Viruses cause 50-90% of pediatric ARTI cases. Human rhinovirus (HRV) is increasingly associated with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). This study aimed to detect HRV in pediatric ARTI cases and characterize circulating genotypes.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Nasopharyngeal swabs from 154 children (≤5 years) presenting with ARTI were screened for HRV using real-time PCR. Thirteen samples with a cycle threshold ≤30 were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using 41 global reference sequences representing different geographical regions and HRV types.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>HRV was detected in 34.41% (53/154) of the samples. In children aged >1 month to 1 year, HRV positivity was significantly associated with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) compared with influenza-like illness (ILI). Phylogenetic analysis revealed a predominance of HRV-C strains (n = 7), followed by HRV-A (n = 5) and HRV-B (n = 1).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>HRV was detected in a significant proportion of pediatric ARTI cases, with HRV-C as the predominant strain. Infants aged >1 month to 1 year showed a higher association with severe illness, underscoring the need for closer clinical monitoring in this age group.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 1","pages":"122-130"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13156835/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147868389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of fosfomycin susceptibility using CLSI vs EUCAST criteria among multi drug resistant uropathogens in a tertiary care Hospital.","authors":"Arun Sachu, Alice David","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20908","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20908","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are most frequently caused by uropathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>, which accounts for approximately 80% of the cases. Other causative agents include <i>Klebsiella</i> spp., <i>Proteus</i> spp., <i>Enterobacter</i> spp., <i>Enterococcus</i> spp., and <i>Staphylococcus saprophyticus</i>. The main objectives of the study were to estimate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of fosfomycin against multidrug-resistant uropathogens (MDR) isolated from patients with suspected UTI using CLSI and EUCAST criteria and to describe the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of uropathogens isolated during the study.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This was a descriptive study in which a total of 900 urine samples were collected from patients presenting with physician-assessed signs and symptoms suggestive of a UTI. Only samples exhibiting significant bacteriuria that were also multidrug-resistant (MDR) were included. Although fosfomycin disk diffusion criteria, according to CLSI and EUCAST, are only validated for <i>E. coli</i>, susceptibility among other Gram-negative bacteria was also interpreted using the same criteria. This represents a major limitation of the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the study, 251 samples grew multi drug resistant organisms. Only 57% of the Gram-negative isolates were sensitive according to EUCAST guidelines, while 87.6% of all isolates were sensitive by CLSI criteria. Among the 161 carbapenem-resistant isolates, 135 (83.9%) were fosfomycin-susceptible and 18 (11.2%) were resistant according to CLSI. In contrast, by EUCAST criteria, only 40 (24.9%) isolates were fosfomycin-susceptible, and the remaining 121 (75.1%) were resistant.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study showed that using fosfomycin disc diffusion criteria of <i>E. coli</i> for other organisms is not ideal; therefore, performing an alternative form of susceptibility testing for non-<i>E. coli</i> isolates is recommended. Continuous monitoring of fosfomycin susceptibility is warranted to detect any emerging resistance and to guide its clinical application.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 1","pages":"67-73"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13156830/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147868366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The antimicrobial effects of cord blood-derived platelet gel on nosocomial pathogens.","authors":"Akbar Hashemi Tayer, Gholamreza Shokoohi","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20933","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20933","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Umbilical cord blood-derived platelet gel (CBPG) is rich in growth factors (GFs) and antimicrobial peptides. This study evaluated its in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity against dominant nosocomial pathogens.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this experimental study, CB samples were taken from 12 healthy pregnant women post-cesarean at Motahari Hospital, Jahrom. Platelet -rich plasma (PRP) was isolated using a two-step centrifugation protocol (soft-spin: 200×g, 10 min; hard spin:1000×g, 15 min, 22°C) and activated with calcium and human thrombin to form PG. Antimicrobial effect of PG was determined against <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, Methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA), <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, <i>Candida albicans</i>, <i>Aspergillus</i> spp., and <i>Penicillium</i> spp. using broth microdilution and time-kill assays per CLSI guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PG exhibited strong bacteriostatic activity against MRSA and <i>K. pneumoniae</i> (MIC 2.2-2.8 × 10⁸ platelets/mL; 1.7-1.8 log₁₀ reduction at 24 h, p < 0.001), while PRP was moderately active and PPP was ineffective. No significant activity was observed against <i>P. aeruginosa</i> or <i>A. baumannii</i> (p= 0.2). PG showed sustained fungistatic effects (MIC: 1.9-4.2× 10⁸ platelets/mL up to 72 h).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CBPG exhibits potent bacteriostatic and fungistatic effects, particularly against MDR Gram-positive bacteria, offering a novel autologous antimicrobial.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 1","pages":"74-81"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13156838/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147868352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comparative analysis of CRISPR systems, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance genes in carbapenem-sensitive and carbapenem-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>.","authors":"Samira Saedi, Javad Nezhadi, Hadi Feizi, Mohammad Yousef Memar, Vahid Arefi, Hiva Kadkhoda","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20901","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20901","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong><i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. This study compares the CRISPR systems, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance genes in carbapenem-sensitive (CSKP) and carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) clinical isolates.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Carbapenemase-producing isolates were identified by mCIM/eCIM. PCR and RT-qPCR detected key genes, including cas3, involved in CRISPR-Cas function. In silico analyses included STRING for protein interactions, CRISPRCasdb for CRISPR subtype distribution, and Phyre2/AlphaFold for cas3 structure prediction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the isolates, 35.2% were resistant to carbapenems. Among CRKP strains, high prevalence of <i>bla-NDM-1</i> (82%) and <i>bla-OXA-48</i> (64%) was observed. The cas3 expression was significantly upregulated in resistant isolates (P = 0.002). CRISPR subtype I-E was identified in 16% of CRKP and 36% of CSKP isolates. Structural-functional analysis supported the integrity of Cas3 and revealed interactions with regulatory and iron acquisition proteins. Statistically significant differences in virulence and resistance gene profiles were found between CRKP and CSKP groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights key differences between CRKP and CSKP isolates, particularly in CRISPR-Cas systems, resistance, and virulence. The findings suggest that cas3 plays a critical role in genomic adaptation and resistance mechanisms in <i>K. pneumoniae</i>, offering insights for future therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 1","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13156803/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147868339","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Incidence, microbial profile and antimicrobial resistance trends of CLABSI in adult ICUs: a longitudinal prospective study.","authors":"Gargee Anand, Asim Sarfraz, Bhaskar Thakuria, Prathyusha Kokkayil, Binod Kumar Pati","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20905","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20905","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) remain a major cause of healthcare-associated mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs, especially in resource-poor settings where surveillance data are scarce. This study aimed to determine CLABSI incidence, risk factors, causative organisms, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns across adult intensive care units (ICUs).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A prospective longitudinal study was conducted amongst 200 adult ICU patients with central line (CL) in-situ for >2 calendar days. CLABSI surveillance followed definitions by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Healthcare Safety Network. Microbiological identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall CLABSI incidence was 19.25/1,000 catheter days. CLABSI patients demonstrated significantly extended hospitalization (20.22 vs 9.09 days, p<0.001) and CL duration (16.17 vs 7.85 days, p<0.001). Femoral lines had the highest infection rate (42.85%). The median time from CL insertion to the onset of CLABSI was 7.5 days. Gram-negative organisms predominated (75%), with <i>Acinetobacter</i> species being most frequent (36.1%), followed by <i>Candida</i> species (22.23%). Comorbidities such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, and drug abuse showed no significant association with CLABSI. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was extensive; all isolates were resistant to most antibiotic classes, including penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems. In contrast, colistin retained 100% susceptibility. CLABSI was associated with significantly higher mortality (69.4% vs. 47%; p = 0.014) and a lower rate of discharge/transfer to a healthy setting (p = 0.0112) compared to non-CLABSI patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study demonstrates high CLABSI incidence and alarming levels of AMR, underscoring the urgent need for strengthening infection prevention practices and antimicrobial stewardship in ICUs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 1","pages":"41-47"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13156819/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147868368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular characterization of cytomegalovirus based on glycoprotein B and N among solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients in Jordan.","authors":"Rabaa Y Alathamneh, Manal Omar, Maher Obeidat, Lo'ai Alanagreh, Abdelrahim Alqudah, Muhannad I Massadeh","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20937","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20937","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a prevalent member of the herpesvirus family, poses significant risks to immunocompromised patients, particularly those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or solid organ transplantation (SOT). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and genotype distribution of CMV among transplant recipients in Jordan.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A retrospective observational study conducted at the Jordan Royal Medical Service's Virology Department from January to October 2024, included all patients who underwent HSCT or SOT. Blood samples collected in EDTA tubes were analyzed for CMV detection and genotyping. Real-time PCR facilitated CMV amplification, while multiplex nested PCR identified gB and gN genotypes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 80 transplant recipients with positive CMV DNA, 15 (18.8%) were from SOT kidney transplants (KT), and 65 (81.2%) were HSCT recipients. Genotype analysis of 44 samples revealed that 21 had the gN genotype and 27 had the gB genotype. Mixed genotypes gB and gN were present in 15 samples. The mixed genotype gN1+gN2 (42.86%) was most common in KT recipients, while gB2 (31%) was prevalent among HSCT recipients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CMV is a common opportunistic virus that often leads to severe, life-threatening illness and is associated with an increased risk of transplant rejection. Our study demonstrated that the most prevalent genotypes in Jordanian HSCT and SCT recipients with CMV infection were gB2 and gN1+gN2, respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 1","pages":"112-121"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13156822/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147868403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of echovirus 7 in effluent sewage treatment plant Ahvaz city, Iran.","authors":"Golnaz Mokhtari Irani, Azarakhsh Azaran, Roya Pirmoradi, Alireza Tabibzadeh, Mohamad Rashno, Manoochehr Makvandi","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20938","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20938","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>The enteroviruses may lead to conditions such as aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, acute flaccid myelitis, epidemic pleurodynia (Bornholm disease), hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, and myopericarditis among pediatric populations. The present study was undertaken to identify the presence of enteroviruses within sewage treatment systems.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>24 composite effluent sewage samples (500 ml each) were collected, centrifuged (1000 rpm for 30 minutes), and the first supernatant was saved. The precipitate was resuspended in 10 ml of supernatant, treated with 10% chloroform, and centrifuged again (1000 rpm for 5 minutes) to collect a second supernatant. The first and second supernatants were combined, treated with 2.2% sodium chloride and 7% polyethylene glycol 6000, and the mixture was agitated at 4°C overnight before being centrifuged for two hours at 2000 g. After discarding the supernatant, the pellet was resuspended at a 1:100 dilution. Each sample was then inoculated into RD and HeLa cells for virus isolation, followed by detection via RT-PCR. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine the genotypes of the isolated enteroviruses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Enterovirus was detected in 10 of 24 (41.7%) sewage effluent samples. Phylogenetic analysis of five randomly chosen positive samples identified echovirus 7.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The removal of enteroviruses during the sewage treatment process is of paramount importance, necessitating heightened attention to this critical phase of wastewater management.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 1","pages":"131-137"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13156821/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147868431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Presence and copy number variations of <i>H. pylori</i>, pks⁺ bacteria, <i>E. faecalis</i>, and <i>B. bifidum</i> in colorectal cancer: an integrated study using FFPE tissue samples.","authors":"Farzaneh Korani, Nayeb Ali Rezvani, Noorkhoda Sadeghifard, Behrooz Sadeghi Kalani, Reza Pakzad, Parisa Asadollahi","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20907","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i1.20907","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading malignancy with multifactorial etiology, including genetic, environmental, and microbial factors. Bacteria such as <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, pks⁺ bacteria, <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, and <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> have been linked to CRC, though their roles remain controversial. Some may promote inflammation and genotoxicity, while others may confer protective effects. This study assessed the presence and relative abundance of these bacteria in colorectal FFPE tissue samples.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This case-control study included three groups of FFPE tissue samples: tumor tissues from CRC patients (Tumor, n=50), normal tissues adjacent to tumors (Adjacent, n=50), and normal tissues from non-CRC individuals (Normal, n=30). Sections were prepared with a microtome, and bacterial gene copy numbers were quantified using species-specific primers and quantitative real-time PCR, normalized to human GAPDH. Associations with age, sex, and neoplastic type were analyzed (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong><i>B. bifidum</i> was significantly higher in Adjacent tissues compared to Tumor and Normal (p < 0.0001). <i>H. pylori</i> detection increased progressively from Normal to Adjacent to Tumor tissues (p = 0.002). pks⁺ bacteria were detected only in individuals ≥60 years (p = 0.014). <i>E. faecalis</i> load was higher in Tumor tissues of females and older adults, though overall presence did not differ significantly among groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Enrichment of <i>B. bifidum</i> and increased <i>H. pylori</i> detection near tumors suggest the tumor microenvironment favors bacterial persistence. Age- and sex-related patterns in pks⁺ and <i>E. faecalis</i> highlight host influences on microbial distribution in CRC, supporting further mechanistic studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 1","pages":"55-66"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13156823/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147868371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The etiology of acute infectious febrile illnesses at a tertiary care hospital: an experience from a hilly region of Uttarakhand.","authors":"Yogita Rawat, Shekhar Pal, Arti Negi, Uneza Husain, Rahul Nath, Nidhi Negi","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v17i6.20364","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v17i6.20364","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>The differential diagnosis of acute febrile illness (AFI) is influenced by the regional distribution of prevalent diseases. Hence, in our hospital-based data analysis, we evaluated the AFI cases presented to our center to raise awareness among clinicians and microbiologists regarding the percentage positivity of the prevailing diseases in the context of AFI based on serology, in and around the city of Dehradun.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 38,869 suspected AFI patients were enrolled in the study, and their specimens were analysed for infectious etiologies, including dengue, malaria, enteric fever, and scrub typhus by antigen-antibody based detection methods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data analysis conducted from September 2021 to December 2022 among patients with AFI revealed that enteric fever, dengue, scrub typhus, and malaria accounted for 12.65%, 7.37%, 1.44%, and 0.18% of cases, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Since enteric fever followed by dengue was found to be contributing the maximum, mass education regarding safe drinking water, hygiene, sanitation, and strengthening of vector control measures is the need of the hour.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"17 6","pages":"961-965"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12777638/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145933279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sulfonamide resistance, virulence traits, and in-silico target interactions among clinical isolates in Setif, Algeria (2021-2023).","authors":"Anfal Kara, Imane Krache, Naouel Boussoualim, Roufaida Bourouche, Naouel Hamani, Malek Nour Kheloufi, Yacine Benguerba","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v17i6.20370","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v17i6.20370","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a growing global health concern, particularly in developing regions. Sulfonamides, once widely used, now face increasing resistance. This study assessed the prevalence, resistance profiles, and virulences traites of sulfonamide-resistant strains in Sétif, Algeria (2021-2023).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 215 clinical isolates were collected from patients aged 1 day to 96 years (mean 42.7). Most were community-acquired (77.2%), with urinary tract infections predominating (49.3% in women, 32.1% in men). Identification and susceptibility testing followed standard microbiological and Kirby-Bauer methods. Virulence factors (biofilm, hemolysin, protease, lecithinase, and lipase) were examined. Molecular docking compared sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim binding to their enzymatic targets.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong><i>Escherichia coli</i> was the most frequent isolate (47.9%), followed by <i>Enterobacter</i> spp. (11.6%). Biofilm formation was common (88.8%), with complete production in <i>Klebsiella</i>, <i>Citrobacter</i>, <i>Providencia</i>, and <i>Acinetobacter</i>. Hemolysis patterns were α (30.7%), β (27.9%), and none (41.4%). Enzymatic activity included protease (48.8%), lecithinase (22.8%), and lipase (9.8%). High resistance was observed to penicillins (87.9%), cephalosporins (63.7%), and fluoroquinolones (56.3%). Resistance was lower to imipenem (33.0%) and amikacin (14.4%). Docking showed weaker sulfamethoxazole binding to DHPS than trimethoprim to DHFR.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The high prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, especially <i>E. coli</i>, combined with biofilm and enzyme production, underscores the urgent need for careful antibiotic stewardship in this region.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"17 6","pages":"1010-1022"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12777792/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145933290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}