Investigation of genes responsible for antibiotics resistance in yeast Zygosaccharomyces rouxii

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

College of Science, Department of Biology, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.

Abstract

Objective
The aim of the present study was to identify the genetic location of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance in the yeasts Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Candida tropicalis. These yeasts were isolated from mandarin tree leaves collected in Mosul. The study focused on determining whether resistance genes were located on plasmid DNA or chromosomal DNA.
Materials and methods
Yeast isolates of Z. rouxii and C. tropicalis were examined for the presence of plasmid DNA. Two methods were used to locate resistance genes. The first method involved plasmid curing using ethidium bromide at a concentration of 150 µg mL⁻¹. This treatment was applied to both yeast species to remove plasmid DNA. After curing, the sensitivity of yeast colonies to different antibiotics and heavy metals was tested. Gel electrophoresis was used to confirm the loss or retention of plasmid DNA. The second method involved conjugation experiments to study the transfer of plasmid DNA between yeast isolates. In this method, Z. rouxii was used as the donor strain and cured C. tropicalis was used as the recipient strain.
Results
Plasmid curing was successful in both yeast species. Because many cured colonies became sensitive to the tested antibiotics and heavy metals. In Z. rouxii, the curing percentage ranged from 12% to 94%, except for cephalexin monohydrate and zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄), where resistance was not lost. In C. tropicalis, loss of resistance ranged from 17% to 80% for antibiotics and from 15% to 85% for heavy metals, except for ketoconazole and ZnSO₄. These results suggest that resistance to these agents is encoded on chromosomal DNA. Gel electrophoresis supported these findings. Conjugation experiments showed successful plasmid transfer from Z. rouxii to cured C. tropicalis, with a conjugation frequency of 0.84 × 10⁻⁸.
Conclusions
The study demonstrated that resistance genes in Z. rouxii and C. tropicalis can be located on either plasmid or chromosomal DNA. The transferred plasmid from Z. rouxii was found to carry resistance genes for nystatin. It can confirm the role of plasmid DNA in antibiotic resistance

Keywords

References

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Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 18, Issue 2
February 2026
Pages 267-282

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