Cardak, MineAltug, Gulsen2025-01-272025-01-2720141018-46191610-2304https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12428/21104The aim of this study was to determine the isolation and heavy metal resistance of Enterobacteriaceae members in sea water samples obtained from stations located at the Black Sea exit and Marmara Sea entry of the Strait of Istanbul. A series of 126 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae were identified using API 20E in sea water samples monthly obtained from the surface and various depths between February 2006 - March 2007. The isolates were subjected to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests using micro dilution technique in order to determine the resistance to the salts of copper, nickel, cadmium, mercury and zinc. Plasmid isolation and plasmid elimination tests were conducted to determine whether the resistance of the isolates depends on plasmids, using a Miniprep Kit. The highest heavy metal resistance was shown, respectively, by E. coli, Enterobacter spp., Serratia spp., Citrobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Pantoea spp., Salmonella spp., and Proteus spp. Isolates that were defined as resistant to heavy metals were stocked as candidate species for adapted cultures devoted to the natural elimination of heavy metals from the environment. Furthermore, the transfer of heavy metal resistance to other source bacteria in the environment via plasmids with ratios from 39 to 52 % was also exhibited for the first time in this study; the results are discussed considering the effects of environmental factors.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessEnterobacteriaceaeheavy metal resistanceIstanbul Straitplasmidbiological remediationArticle2310A26202626Q4WOS:000349805300014