Speaker
Description
Filarial Lymphedema wounds are highly susceptible to secondary bacterial infections, which delay healing and make chronic wounds difficult to manage. S. sciuri, an opportunistic pathogen, has been implicated in the wounds of Filarial lymphedema patients, which remain poorly characterized at the molecular level. Investigating its virulence traits and resistance mechanisms is essential to inform treatment strategies for lymphatic filariases (LF) patients. The aim of this study is to characterize S. sciuri isolated from filarial lymphedema wounds. This study is conducted among 28 LF patients in the Ahanta West District. Herein, S. sciuri was isolated from filarial lymphedema wounds. We performed genome sequencing using the Illumina Miseq platform. Bioinformatics tools were used to identify antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. The analysis showed three main antibiotic resistance genes. The mecA gene encodes PBP2a, which makes the bacteria resistant to β-lactam antibiotics. The fosD gene inactivates fosfomycin and causes resistance, and the salA gene, which is responsible for lincosamides resistance. The presence of these genes is very disturbing as they do not show resistance to one antibiotic but rather point to multi drug resistance, which makes treatment options very limited. In addition to antibiotic resistance genes, virulent genes were also present that help the bacteria survive and persist in the wound. The cap8b is involved in capsule polysaccharide biosynthesis for immune evasion. The clpC gene aids the bacteria to survive under stress, and the isdE gene helps it take iron from the host, which is essential for its growth. The study shows that S. sciuri plays a bigger role in chronic wounds than expected. Understanding its genetic makeup can help in treatment and improve wound care in lymphedema patients.
Presenting author
Gyasi Kweku Foh
kwekugyasi66@gmail.com
Poster presentation