Current Research in Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 3, No. 1 (2015): 542-549 Research Article Open Access ISSN: 2320-2246 Detection of novel SHV Extended-Spectrum Beta- Lactamase gene mutation in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from patient in Eastern Sudan Hisham N Altayb 1 *, Nagwa M El Amin 2 , Maowia M. Mukhtar 1 , Mohamed A. Hassan 3 and Mohamed A M Siddig 4 1 Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan 2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan 3 Head Department of Biotechnology, Biotechnology Park, Africa city of Technology, Sudan 4 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Sudan * Corresponding author: Hisham N Altayb; e-mail: hishamaltayb@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Two cefotaxime-resistant of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were collected from Sudanese patients (from Sinnar, central of Sudan and Port Sudan, eastern of Sudan). Sinnar isolate had TEM and SHV-1 genes. Port Sudan isolate had a novel SHV variant with 4 amino acid substitution (Glutamic acid to Threonine (E-T) at position 268 and Arginine to lysine (R-K) at position 269, Asparagine to Lysine (N-K) at position 270 and Glutamine to Lysine (Q- K) at position 272), when compared to other SHV genes from database. We performed in silico prediction of the structural and functional effect of these mutations in mutant protein stability and 3D structure using PolyPhen v2, Chimera and Project HOPE. These mutations decrease protein stability as well as change in 3D structure of mutant protein, so we conclude this mutant SHV type beta-lactamse gene is a novel SHV variant detected in Sudan. Keywords: Klebsiella pneumoniae, ESBLs, SHV, in silico analysis tools, Sudan. 1.0 INTRODUCTION Following the introduction of the extended spectrum cephalosporins, such as ceftazidime, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone, resistance to these antibiotics arose rapidly among certain species of Enterobacteriaceae including Klebsiella pneumoniae. A mutant of SHV-1 named SHV-2 in a K. pneumoniae strain was the first reported SHV mutation came from Germany by Knothe and his colleagues in 1983 [1], which was capable of hydrolyzing oxyamino cephalosporins. Two years later, SHV-2 was transferable between bacteria [2]. Just a few years later came reports from French hospitals of problems attributed to Enterobacteriaceae carrying mutated TEM-derivatives which acted like SHV-2 [3, 4]. The ESBLs derived from TEM and SHV could differ from their progenitors by only one amino acid. This change was critical and had a profound effect on enzymatic activity, leading to hydrolysis of third-generation cephalosporins and aztreonam. In Sudan there is high prevalence of antibiotic resistance due to irrational use of antibiotics [5]. And most drugs can be obtained from pharmacies and drug stores without the requirement of a prescription [6]. That resulted in increasing of antibiotics resistance rate and production of ESBLs genes [7, 8]. So in an environment in which ESBLs are becoming an increasing threat in the clinics, tools for rapid identification of these rapidly evolving beta-lactamases genes are needed both to aid in clinical practice and for epidemiological studies. Received: 18 November 2014 Accepted: 09 December 2014 Online: 01 January 2015 http://crmb.aizeonpublishers.net/content/2015/1/crmb542-549.pdf 542