Complete genome analysis of multi drug resistant Klebsiella aerogenes for detection of antibiotic resistance genes in bacterial isolates prevalent in agricultural soils

Due to the prolonged use of antibiotics in agriculture, antibiotic resistance has become a major concern. Hence, the present study involved evaluation of the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in the bacterial isolates prevalent in agricultural soils of Haryana, India. Bacteria were isolated from agricultural soils collected from different districts of the state, and all the isolates were subjected to antibiotic resistance screening tests against four commonly used antibiotics viz . penicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin and erythromycin. On the basis of high resistance activity, six bacterial isolates were selected for molecular studies, and the isolate exhibiting maximum resistance was selected for whole genome sequencing (WGS). Based upon WGS analysis, resistance genes were identified in the selected isolate, out of which six genes were selected for wet lab analysis. These six genes when subjected to amplification studies in the other five identified bacteria, revealed their presence in some of these isolates as well. Apart from the 28 identified genes, “bla TEM ” gene, was also identified using amplification studies in Klebsiella aerogenes . To the best of our knowledge bla TEM has not yet been reported in Klebsiella aerogenes . The presence of several multi-drug-resistance (MDR) genes has been confirmed in the bacterial microflora inhabiting the collected soils.