Role of gyrase A/B double mutations along with Qnr genes in development of higher ciprofloxacin resistance among pathogenic Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Contribution of quinolone resistant (QR) genes, efflux pumps (AcrB) over-expression and outer membrane proteins (OMPs) loss/reduction, gyrA/B mutation towards development of quinolone resistance of pathogenic E.coli and Klebsiella sp was explored. Phenotypic characterization of 715 bacteria, isolated from Indian patients during 2011-2017 was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay. Minimum inhibitory concentration of ciprofloxacin was determined by broth microdilution assay. Presence of QR, gyrA/B genes was examined by PCR; acrB upregulation by quantitative PCR and porin profile by SDS-PAGE. Catalytic pockets of modelled proteins were characterized and their interaction with ciprofloxacin was analyzed using AutoDock. Isolates were phenotypically categorized into QR1-QR4 groups according to their resistance against single-four quinolones. Percent prevalence of QR-genes among isolates increased gradually with resistance against increasing number of quinolone antibiotics. Gradual increase in % partial reduction/complete loss of porins was observed from QR1 to QR4 groups with highest fold of Omp reduction. Similar trend was also observed in % prevalanace of upregulated acrB genes among these phenotypic groups with highest fold of upregulation observed among QR2 group. Isolates with GyrA-Ser83Leu + Asp87Asn and GyrB-Asn440Thr + Ser463Ala mutants harbouring Qnr genes mostly demonstrated highest MICs. This is also evident from greater hydrolytic efficiency (ΔG◦ value) of double mutants than their wild types. Dislocation of drug binding site among mutated-GyrA might explain their lower affinity towards quinolones -thus lowering their drug susceptibility. These findings underscore GyrA/B double mutants' role in higher QR among pathogenic E.coli and Klebsiella species, which might guide future antimicrobial therapy.