Results (cont.) Figure 3: Gel results checking for digested DNA fragments using the EcoR1 restriction enzyme. (A) Lane 1 shows blue colony obtained from Aci 9. Lane two shows digestion of white colony of Aci 9. Lanes 3 and 4 are Aci 16. Lanes 5-7 are Aci 45. (B) Lane 1 shows Aci 86. Lane 2 is Aci kb marker was used for both gels and were separated using 1% agarose gel. Discussion Supports findings of Levesque in 1995 that PCR mapping of integrons can be a useful tool to study multi-resistance Supports the findings of Liu in 2006 who found that antibiotic resistance can be disseminated through genetic material Showed genes found in the isolates were known to be present in other antibiotic resistant organisms Genes taken from patients in the same ward of the hospital had same gene, suggesting transfer from patient to patient Conclusion Aci 9 and 45 found to have dihydrofolate reductase type 1 found in E. coli Gene is an enzyme that helps in the breakdown of trimethoprim Aci 16 found to contain metallo- beta lactamase found in Pseudomonas aerigunosa Enzyme responsible for resistance to beta lactam antibiotics Concluded that the antibiotic resistant genes could have been transferred from other species Future Studies Study more isolates and take isolates from same wards of different hospitals in order to research if certain conditions cause infections from bacteria with the same antibiotic resistant genes Analyze isolates taken from different countries to research affects of geographical origin References Bennett, PM. "Plasmid encoded antibiotic resistance: acquisition and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria." British Journal of Pharmacology 153 (2008): S Bissonnette, Luc. "Characterization of In0 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Plasmid pVS1, an Ancestor of Integrons of Multiresistance Plasmids and Transposons of Gram-Negative Bacteria." Jounal of Bacteriology 174 (1992): Collis, Christina M. "Expression of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Integrated Cassettes of Integrons." Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 39 (1995): Dillon, B. "Multiplex PCR for Screening of Integrons in Bacterial Lysates." Journal of Microbiological Methods 62 (2005): Gombac, Francesca. "Molecular Characterization of Integrons in Epidemiologically Unrelated Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumanii From Italian Hospitals Reveals a Limited Diversity of Gene Cassette Arrays." Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (2002): Hanlon, G. W. "The Emergence of Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter Species: a Major Concern in the Hospital Setting." Letters in Applied Microbiology 41 (2005): Levesque, Celine. "PCR Mapping of Integrons Reveals Several Novel Combinations of Resistance Genes." Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 39.1 (1995): Liu, S. Y. "Integron-associated imipenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from a regional hospital in Taiwan." International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 27 (2006): Mazel, Didier. "Integrons: Agents of Bacterial Evolution." Nature Publishing Group 4 (2006): Ruiz, J. "Integron-Mediated Antibiotic Multiresistance in Acinetobacter baumanii Clinical Isolates from Spain." Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 9 (2003): Stokes, H. W. "A novel family of potentially mobile DNA elements encoding site speciific gene-integration functions: integrons." Molecular Microbiology 3 (1989): Tosini, Fabio. "Class 1 Integron-Borne Multiple-Antibiotic Resistance Carried by IncF1 and IncL/M Plasmids in Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhimurium." Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 42 (1998): Turton, Jane F. "Detection and Typing of Integrons in Epidemic Strains of Acinetobacter baumannii Found in the United Kingdom." Journal of Clinical Microbiology 43 (2005): AB