The master’s thesis in the Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Karbala discussed the role of heparin binding protein and virulence genes in bacteria producing broad-spectrum beta-lactamase enzymes. The thesis submitted by the researcher (Rasoul Mohsen Hashim Hassan) included the title “The role of heparin binding protein and virulence genes in bacteria producing broad-spectrum beta-lactamase enzymes among patients with urinary tract infection”
The discussion committee consisted of:
Prof. Dr. Susan Muhammad Jabbar, Chairman
Prof. Dr. Zainab Adel Ghani Jabak, Member
Prof. Dr. Haider Ali Muhammad Al-Qarawi, Member
Prof. Dr. Mai Muhammad Ali Muhammad, Supervisor
Prof. Dr. Abeer Zaher Naji Al-Musharef
The study aimed to detect heparin binding protein by ELISA test in patients and healthy groups and isolate and identify beta-lactamase producing bacteria from urine samples of adult patients with symptoms of urinary tract infection by culture, biochemical tests, Vitek system and molecular detection of virulence genes of beta-lactamase producing bacteria by polymerase chain reaction techniques.
The study also found that the most isolated pathogens in the urinary tract were Escherichia coli (70.9%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.5%). E. coli isolates showed high resistance rate especially to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ceftazidime and ampicillin, patients with E. coli isolates had significantly higher levels of heparin binding protein compared to those with other bacterial isolates and about 94.9% of E. coli isolates were multidrug resistant while 5.1% were highly drug resistant and 12.8% were highly drug resistant.
The patient group recorded significantly higher levels of heparin binding protein compared to the healthy group suggesting that it may be a potential biomarker for urinary tract infection.
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