RAPD-PCR and Phylogenetic Tree Analysis of Pantoea ananatis Isolated from Burn

The study involved 112 clinical samples collected from burn patients with infections at Al-Sadder Educational Medical Hospital and Al-Hakeem General Hospital. The specimens were obtained from skin during the study period from May 2023 to March 31, 2024. The results showed positive bacterial growth in 79 samples, while 33 samples were classified as negative. This study looked to find Pantoea ananatis through the application of the Utilization of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) methodologies in the investigation of genetic diversity. Of the 112 samples examined, 12 (10.71%) tested positive for Pantoea based on morphological characteristics, microscopic examination, and biochemical assays. The biochemical test indicated oxidase negativity, catalase positivity, and positivity for methyl red, indole, and urease. The phylogenetic tree derived from RAPD-PCR products was analyzed using 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. The total number of fragments (bands) from two primers is 67. OPX-18 primer shows superior performance concerning the number of fragments (36), primer efficiency (53.73%), and discrimination power (54.54). RAPD typing is regarded as helpful in scenarios involving many isolates due to its cost-effectiveness and simplicity. It is employed across a diverse array of applications within various biological disciplines.