Sample Collection:
Sputum samples from neonates and infants suffering from RDS associated pneumonia were collected from Fatima Memorial Hospital Lahore by qualified and experienced pulmonologists with the consent of parents and guardians of the infants. Samples were transported to microbiology lab in Government College University Lahore in insulated ice bags. Study was approved by Board of studies (BOS), Department of Zoology and Advance Studies and Research Board, Government College University, Lahore (REG-ACAD-ASRB/57/24/021) with the approval of Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization, Government College University, Lahore (ORIC, GCUL) vide number 9390/ORIC/24.
Isolation of Bacteria:
MacConkey agar was prepared and samples were streaked on agar plates and incubated for overnight at 37oC. Plates were checked after incubation period to confirm whether the bacteria are gram negative or gram positive [25].
Eosine Methylene blue agar (EMB Agar):
EMB was used as a differential as well as selective media for isolation of negative gram bacteria. EMB inhibits the growth of gram positive bacteria and gram negative bacteria show pinkish colonies. For confirmation of P.aeruginosa, EMB agar test was also performed, to confirm whether gram negative bacteria present or not, for this isolated colonies were streaked on EMB agr plates and incubated for overnight at 37oC [26] (Fig 1).
Gram’s and Endospore staining
To differentiate Gram negative and gram positive bacteria, Gran staining was done. Shape of bacterial colonies were identified under microscope (Fig 2).
Qualitative Assay:
For confirmation of P. aeruginosa in samples, preparation of King B agar media was done, bacterial colonies were streaked on the media and incubated for 24 hours at 37oC. After incubation period, colonies were checked under trans-illuminator to check the production of fluorescein and pyocyanin [27, 29] (Fig 3).
Isolation of Pure culture:
For isolation of pure colonies of P.aeruginosa cetrimide agar media was prepared and sterilized. After sterilization, media was poured into plates and let the media to get settle down. After solidification of media, bacterial colonies were picked up with sterilized inoculating loop and streaked on the cetrimide agar pates. After streaking, plates were inverted and incubated for 48 hours at 37oC. After incubation period, Plates were checked to confirm whether the bacterial colonies grow on cetrimide agar or not [30] (Fig 4).
Preparation of inoculums and glycerol stock of bacterial strains:
Nutrient broth media was prepared and sterilized. After sterilization, brith was poure into falcon tubes and bacterial colony was inoculated into nutrient broth. Nutrient broth culture was incubated for overnight at 37℃.
For glycerol stock preparation, 200µl glycerol was added into Eppendorf and sterilized, after sterilization 800µl of bacterial strain was inoculated into sterilized glycerol and glycerol stock of bacterial strains were prepared and stored at 20oC [26].
Pathogenicity Test:
For isolation of pathogenic strains of P.aeruginosa, Blood agar test which is also known as pathogenicity test was performed. For this test, Nutrient agar media was prepared and sterilized in autoclave. After sterilization, as the media become normal cool at room temperature non-coagulated blood was added into nutrient agar media to make blood agar media. After mixing of blood into nutrient agar, media was poured into plates and let the plates to get solid. After solidification, pure colonies of P.aeruginosa were picked up with inoculating loop and streaked on blood agar plates. After streaking, Plates were incubated and type of hemolysis were checked after 24 hours [31] (Fig 5)
Molecular characterization of virulence genes P.aeruginosa:
Molecular characterization of virulence genes was done by isolationg genomic DNA from bacterial strains.
DNA Extraction (Phenol: Choloroform extraction)
Bacterial genomic DNA was extracted by the phenol-chloroform method. Lysogeny broth medium was inoculated with separate areas of bacteria grown on agar and cultured with shaking overnight at 37 °C. Centrifuge 10 ml of culture medium at 10,000 rpm (12,000 × g) for 20 min to pellet the brain. Remove the supernatant and resuspend the pellet in 400 μL of TEN buffer. Centrifuge the suspension at 12,000 × g for 10 min. Remove the supernatant, suspend the pellet in SET buffer (200 μL) and add 120 μL of lysozyme (20 mg/ml). Incubate the reaction mixture at 37°C for half an hour. Then add 200 μL of TEN buffer and 10 μL of 25% SDS solution. As, the mixture became normally cool 5M solution of NaCl (20 ul) was added in the mixture and then equal quantity 1:1 of phenol: chloroform was added into the mixture and centrifuge at 12,000 x g for 20 min to form a separate aqueous layer on top of the matte degraded protein. Aqueous layer was then transferred into the new pre- labeled Eppendorf, and then chloroform of equal volume was added into the Eppendorf. Centrifuge at 12,000 × g for 15 min to separate the aqueous phase from the chloroform. Place the top layer back into a new tube and soak overnight with two volumes of chilled ethanol. After that, Eppendorf was centrifuged at the speed of 12000rpm for 10 minutes, after centrifugation, supernatant was thrown away and with 70% ethanol was used to wash the pellet. After washing with ethanol, Eppendorf was air dried to avoid any contamination. DNA was adhere along the walls of Eppendorf.Store the DNA pellet in 50 µl of deionized water or TE buffer at ≤20°C until further use. [29, 32, 33].
Amplification of specific genes in P. aeruginosa:
Amplification was performed in a 25-μl volume containing DNA sample (50 ng), Taq buffer (1X), DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), magnesium chloride (2 mM), each primer (10 pM/μl) (Table 1), nucleotides (dATP, dCTP, dGTP, dTTP) (200 μM, Thermo Scientific), and Taq polymerase (1 U/μl, FIR. Amplification was performed in a thermal cycler for 30 cycles, including predenaturation, denaturation, and annealing represented in fig 1. Primers listed in table 1 were used to amplify the QS genes lasI, lasR, rhlI and rhlR. A DNA Ladder of 1 kb plus 100 bp was used for comparison of DNA bands. For gel electrophoresis 1 gram agarose (1% agarose gel electrophoresis) was dissolved in the 2 % 50X TAE buffer and mixed well followed by heating in a microwave oven for 1 mint to boil the solution which was then poured into the casting tray. After solidifying, a fixed comb was used to make wells into which the amplified PCR product was loaded along with dye and the DNA ladder used to determine fragment sizes. The agarose gel was run at 90 volts for 30-40 minutes. After electrophoresis, the DNA in the gel was visualized under a UV trans-illuminator for observation of the amplified product. The bands of DNA were cut and gene clean was used to extract the DNA [34, 35].
Sequencing of PCR Products
The PCR products from the clinical bacterial strains were sent for sequencing to the first BASE Laboratories, Malaysia for detailed analysis.