• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2018

The rapid increase in number and diversity of Extended Spectrum ${\beta}$-Lactamases (ESBLs) producing Enterobacteriaceae in natural aquatic environment is a major health concern worldwide. This study investigates abundance and distribution of ESBL producing multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae and molecular characterization of ESBL genes among isolates from highly polluted stretch of river Yamuna, India. Water samples were collected from ten different sites distributed across Delhi stretch of river Yamuna, during 2014-15. A total of 506 non duplicate Enterobacteriaceae isolates were obtained. Phenotypic detection of ESBL production and antibiotic sensitivity for 15 different antibiotics were performed according to CLSI guidelines (Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute, 2015). A subset of ESBL positive Enterobacteriaceae isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene and screened for ESBL genes, such as $bla_{CTX-M}$, $bla_{TEM}$ and $bla_{OXA}$. Out of 506 non-duplicate bacterial isolates obtained, 175 (34.58%) were positive for ESBL production. Susceptibility pattern for fifteen antibiotics used in this study revealed higher resistance to cefazolin, rifampicin and ampicillin. A high proportion (76.57%) of ESBL positive isolates showed multidrug resistance phenotype, with MAR index of 0.39 at Buddha Vihar and Old Delhi Railway bridge sampling site. Identification and PCR based characterization of ESBL genes revealed the prevalence of $bla_{CTX-M}$ and $bla_{TEM}$ genes to be 88.33% and 61.66%, respectively. Co-occurrence of $bla_{CTX-M}$ and $bla_{TEM}$ genes was detected in 58.33% of the resistant bacteria. The $bla_{OXA}$ gene was not detected in any isolates. This study highlights deteriorating condition of urban aquatic environment due to rising level of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae with multidrug resistance phenotype.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.269-277
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• 2019

In the present study, we have studied the bioremediating capability of bacterial strain against six heavy metals. The strain was isolated from river Yamuna, New Delhi which is a very rich repository of bioremediating flora and fauna. The strain was found to be Gram positive as indicated by Gram staining. The strain was characterized using 16s rRNA gene sequencing and the BlastN result showed its close resemblance with the Cellulosimicrobium sp. As each treatment has its own toxicity eliciting expression of different factors, we observed varied growth characteristics of the bacterial isolate and its protein content in response to different heavy metals. The assessment of its bioremediation capability showed that the strain Cellulosimicrobium sp. has potential to consume or sequester the six heavy metals in this study in the following order iron > lead > zinc > cooper > nickel > cadmium. Thus, the strain Cellulosimicrobium sp. isolated in the present study can be a good model system to understand the molecular mechanism behind its bioremediating capabilities under multiple stress conditions.