Amplification of Methicillin Resistant Gene (mecA) gene from the MRSA strains

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the vital causes for the hospital infections worldwide. High-level resistance to methicillin is caused by the mecA gene, which encodes an alternative penicillin-binding protein, PBP 2a. The mecA gene is a gene found in bacterial cells which allows a bacterium to be resistant to antibiotics such as methicillin, penicillin and other penicillin-like antibiotics. The main objective of the present study was isolation, purification, and characterization of Staphylococcus aureus from the clinical bandages and swabs at the hospitals. Genomic DNA was extracted from the identified isolate, and analyzed using biochemical characterization. The MRSA was studied and confirmed at the molecular level by amplifying the gene mecA which in turn is responsible for antibiotic resistance. The selected colonies were sub cultured and confirmed of the trains on MSA assay. The isolated strains were morphologically characterized by Gram’s Staining and were confirmed to be Gram positive and Cocci shape. The cultures which are Staphylococcus turned yellow in colour on MSA agar plate which further confirmed the strains as Staphylococcus. All the 10 isolates were confirmed as Staphylococcus strains. The mecA gene was amplified and the susceptibility and resistivity towards the antibiotics studies were confirmed by the antibiotic susceptibility disc diffusion method.