Two copies of bla (NDM-1) gene are present in NDM-1 producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from Serbia

Abstract

New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates are of special interest since P. aeruginosa is a major cause of nosocomial infections, the treatment of which could now be jeopardized, especially in developing countries. Six additional NDM-1 positive P. aeruginosa clinical isolates belonging to two different genotypes were shown to be plasmid-free. PFGE-hybridization experiments revealed the chromosomal location of the bla (NDM-1) gene. Restriction analysis and hybridization revealed that two copies of the bla (NDM-1) gene are present in the genomes of all tested isolates, as in previously characterized P. aeruginosa MMA83. Moreover, it was shown that increasing imipenem concentration did not have the effect on copy number of the bla (NDM-1) gene in the genome of P. aeruginosa MMA83.