Elucidating chromosomal ARGs in environmental Aeromonas spp. from hospital effluent impacted waterbodies: antagonistic potential by plant-based antimicrobials.

BACKGROUND

This study assesses the prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) in multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria from hospital effluent-contaminated water bodies and to explore phytoconstituents from Ocimum species as alternative control agents against resistant strains. MATERIALS AND

RESULTS

Water samples were collected from four different sites across two water bodies receiving hospital wastewater. Bacterial isolates exhibiting MDR were obtained and taxonomically identified as Aeromonas spp. via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Chromosomally encoded ARGs were predicted using the ResFinder database. To investigate alternative antimicrobial strategies, leaf extracts of Ocimum tenuiflorum and Ocimum gratissimum were prepared. The potential mechanism of action of the extracts were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), which revealed morphological damage to bacterial cell structures. Molecular docking evaluated the binding affinities of bioactive constituents from Ocimum extracts against resistance-associated proteins, identifying potential inhibitors that may suppress resistance mechanisms. The in-silico study was validated through amplification of ARGs from bacterial genomic DNA followed by cloning of the ARGs and sequencing revealed conserved motifs associated with resistance phenotypes.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the occurrence of MDR Aeromonas spp. with insights into the environmental dissemination of resistance genes and identifies potential plant-derivatives capable of targeting resistance mechanisms.