Effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pvdQ gene on altering antibiotic susceptibility under swarming conditions

Objective: To investigate whether Pseudomonas aeruginosa pvdQ (PA2385) gene reveals altered antibiotic susceptibility under swarming conditions. Methods: The plasmid pME6032 with pvdQ gene was constructed and identified, then transformed into Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 by the elec-troporation, building pvdQ overexpression strain. Using the same method building pME6032-PA01 strain. Bacteria were inoculated in LB overnight, measuring the colony diameter of the swarming zone. Results: Strains of pvdQ overexpression was successfully constructed by real-time PCR. Comparison of two strains of the swarming motility of change in diameter: The result showed that PAO1 and pvdQ overexpression strains can both improve the antibiotics resistance. Swarmer cells of pvdQ overexpression strain exhibited a 2- to 4-fold increase in antibiotic resistance toward ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, meropenem and polymyxin B compared to PAO1 on BM2-swarming agar plates. Conclusion: pvdQ gene played an important role in elevating the antibiotics resistance, which through prarticipated in the swarmer cell differentiation.