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Copyright (c) 2024 Nezar Boreak, Ahlam Abdu Mohammed Mowkly, Amnah Sharwani, Shroog Ali Almasoudi, Ahmed Huraysi, Ibrahim Ali Sulily , Ghadi Ghamdhan Jali, Mohammed Abed Basihi, Osama Alfaifi, Elham Ali Tohari, Rehaf Madkhali
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The undersigned hereby assign all rights, included but not limited to copyright, for this manuscript to CMB Association upon its submission for consideration to publication on Cellular and Molecular Biology. The rights assigned include, but are not limited to, the sole and exclusive rights to license, sell, subsequently assign, derive, distribute, display and reproduce this manuscript, in whole or in part, in any format, electronic or otherwise, including those in existence at the time this agreement was signed. The authors hereby warrant that they have not granted or assigned, and shall not grant or assign, the aforementioned rights to any other person, firm, organization, or other entity. All rights are automatically restored to authors if this manuscript is not accepted for publication.Genomic insights into Enterococcus faecalis implicated in endodontic infections: resistance, virulence, and genetic variability
Corresponding Author(s) : Nezar Boreak
Cellular and Molecular Biology,
Vol. 71 No. 1: Issue 1
Abstract
Endodontic infections, often involving multispecies bacterial communities, present significant challenges in treatment due to their complex pathogenic mechanisms and resistance to conventional therapies. Enterococcus faecalis is a facultative anaerobic gram-positive bacterium that has been frequently recovered from secondary or persistent endodontic infections. This study investigates the population structure, resistome, mobilome, and virulome of E. faecalis isolated from oral cavity sources, focusing on 22 genomes sequenced from saliva and root canal samples. The genome sequence analysis revealed a diversity of 14 sequence types (STs), highlighting genetic variability within oral E. faecalis populations. Virulence profiling identified 39 genes involved in adherence, biofilm formation, toxin production, stress response, and immune evasion. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, including lsa(A), efrA, and tetM, were prevalent across all genomes, indicating potential multidrug resistance. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as insertion sequences, transposons, prophages, and plasmids, were also identified, facilitating genetic exchange within and between species. Network analyses identified central virulence genes (e.g., asa1, gelE) and AMR genes (e.g., ANT (6)-Ia, dfrE) crucial for pathogenicity and resistance, highlighting their pivotal roles in E. faecalis infections. This study provides comprehensive insights into the genomic characteristics, AMR genes, virulence factors, and genetic mobile elements associated with E. faecalis isolates from the oral cavity, offering implications for dental health and potential strategies for infection control and treatment.
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