Determination of the antibiotic resistant capabilities of two putative beta lactamase genes, Bla534 and Bla63, in Elizabethkingia meningoseptica

Abstract

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is a bacterium prevalent in nature. The Elizabethkingia genus has two other discovered species: E. anopheles, and E. miricola. This genus of bacteria has been known to contribute to meningitis in humans. Little is known about the genome of this genus, and in this experiment start testing two supposed beta- lactamase genes in E. meningoseptica, Bla534 and Bla63, to see if they contribute to antibiotic resistance. The two genes are in various stages of getting prepared to test the bacteria for antibiotic resistance. We used PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA ligation and transformation to insert the two specific E. meningoseptica genes into E. coli.