Development of new PCR protocols to detect genetic diversity in the metronidazole metabolism genes in susceptible and refractory clinical samples of Giardia duodenalis

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Investigating the genetic variation in thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and nitroreductase (NR) genes in both treatment-resistant and sensitive Giardia duodenalis isolates can provide valuable information in identifying potential markers of resistance to metronidazole. The rapid increase in metronidazole treatment failures suggests the presence of genetic resistance mechanisms. By analyzing these genes, researchers can gain insights into the efficacy of metronidazole against G. duodenalis and potentially develop alternative treatment strategies. In this regard, four G. duodenalis isolates (two clinically sensitive and two clinically resistant to metronidazole) were collected from various hospitals of Shiraz, southwestern Iran. Methods Parasitological methods including sucrose flotation and microscopy were employed for the primary confirmation of G. duodenalis cysts in stool samples. Microscopy-positive samples were approved by SSU-PCR amplification of the parasite DNA. All four positive G. duodenalis specimens at SSU-PCR were afterward analyzed utilizing designed primers based on important metronidazole metabolism genes including TrxR, NR1, and NR2. Results Unlike TrxR gene, the results of NR1 and NR2 genes showed that there are non-synonymous variations between sequences of treatment-sensitive and resistant samples compared to reference sequences. Furthermore, the outcomes of molecular docking revealed that there is an interaction between the protein sequence and spatial shape of treatment-resistant samples and metronidazole in the position of serine amino acid based on the NR1 gene. Conclusion This issue can be one of the possible factors involved in the resistance of Giardia parasites to metronidazole. To reach more accurate results, a large sample size along with simulation and advanced molecular dynamics investigations are needed.