The present study deals with membrane-bound efflux pumps, MexAB-OprM and MexXY and their respective regulatory genes mexR, nalC, nalD and mexZ in multidrug resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Following antibiotic sensitivity testing and detection of various beta-lactamases, hyperexpression of efflux pump genes, mexB and mexY in the isolates was investigated using semi-quantitative and real-time reverse transcription-PCR. Amplicons from regulatory genes were sequenced and subjected to mutational and phylogenetic analysis. Twenty-nine clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa were obtained from a total of 144 MDR gram-negative bacteria collected from Kerala State, South India. All strains were found to be resistant to ampicillin and nalidixic acid with 13.8, 44.8 and 31% testing positive for extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, metallo-beta-lactamases and AmpC producers respectively. Increased mexB and mexY transcription was detected respectively in 10.3 and 20.7% of the isolates in comparison with P. aeruginosa reference strain, PAO (MTCC). Co-expression of MexY was also observed in MexB overproducers. Various synonymous/and non-synonymous mutations in regulatory gene sequences of efflux pump operons were detected. In the strain designate Pa16, mexR was found to harbour four novel point mutations with one transversion and three transitions which included a substitution of an ochre codon with that for serine. The gene also displayed a novel mutation involving insertion of a cysteine at the 444th base position, followed by an opal codon. The genetic divergence and homogeneity of the concatenated (mexR, nalC and nalD) regulatory gene sequences of mexAB-oprM operon was apparent in the phylogram generated with similar sequences retrieved from public database.

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A comprehensive taxonomic revision of the genus Pogostemon in Southern Western Ghats was carried out based on field observation and extensive herbarium studies. Twenty-one species and one variety are recognized, among of which seven species and one variety are endemic to Western Ghats especially Nilgiris. Based on the observations made, a Checklist of the genus Pogostemon with a brief description for identification, season of flowering, endemism, ecology and distribution of each species in the Southern Western Ghats is formed.

The present study focused on MexCD-OprJ efflux pump and its regulatory gene nfxB in multidrug resistant (MDR) clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected from Kerala, South India. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-PCR technique was employed to detect hyperexpression of the efflux pump gene, mexD. Amplicons from nfxB gene of isolates hyperexpressing the efflux pump were sequenced for mutational and phylogenetic analysis. Among 29 isolates of MDR P. aeruginosa, increased mexD transcription was detected in 10.3% of the isolates when compared with P. aeruginosa reference strain, PAO (MTCC-3541). Various synonymous and non-synonymous mutations in nfxB regulatory gene sequences were detected. Notably, mutations detected in the strains designate Pa6 and Pa7 have been found to be novel and are hitherto unreported in GenBank data base. The genetic divergence and homogeneity of the nfxB regulatory gene sequences of mexCD-oprJ operon were clearly apparent in the phylogram generated employing similar sequences retrieved from the public database.