Discovering the beta-lactamase Resistance Genes of Elizabethkingia miricola

Abstract

  In this experiment, researchers used polymerase chain reactions, ligation reactions, electroshock treatment, and nitrocefin qualitative colorimetric assays to determine if a targeted gene from Elizabethkingiamiricola codes for beta-lactamase resistance. We found that all preliminary results proved successful experimentation. The final set of results from the nitrocefin qualitative colorimetric assay showed that the gene we targeted and used codes for beta-lactamase resistance. This is an important step in discovering the specific gene sequences that code for beta-lactamase resistance in Elizabethkingiamiricola.

   In 2003, Dr. Y. Li et al. published a journal article detailing their discovery of Elizabethkingiamiricola. In 2011, Hayek et al. recorded a case involving Elizabethkingiameningosepticum causing meningitis in a 68 year old woman. This leads scientists to believe that because ElizabethkingiamiricolaandElizabethkingiameningosepticumare a part of the same genus, Elizabethkingiamiricola could have antibiotic resistance similar to Elizabethkingiameningosepticum.

   Researchers have performed an experiment testing the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria Elizabethkingiamiricolausing beta-lactamase and other reagents. Teaching assistants also helped grow the bacteria and extracting its DNA outside of class time.Other researchers have had success with a procedure which tests beta-lactamase resistance (Marchou, 1987). Similar procedures were used to test beta-lactamase resistance of a gene cloned from Elizabethkingiamiricola.