The effect of some amino acids and natural materials on inhibiting the swarming motility of Proteus mirabilis

G. A. Mohammad; M. A. Ebrahem; S. K. Basher

doi:10.15421/0225029

G. A. Mohammad University of Mosul
M. A. Ebrahem University of Mosul
S. K. Basher University of Mosul

Keywords: alanine, aspartic acid, cystine, corn silks, parsley, orange peel, mallow.

Abstract

Proteus mirabilis is a Gram negative bacteri um , which exhibit s swarming motility, and is characterized by rapid and coord i nated surface migration. Therefore it is considered a significant pathogen , a leading cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CaUTI). In this research, the isolation and identification of Proteus mirabilis was accomplished from different clinical cases (22) urine, (7) blood, and (1) sample each for an ear discharge and a burn case. All of the samples were cultured primarily on both nutrient agar and MacConkey’s agar. After that, ordinary tests (cultural and cellular characteristics as well as biochemical tests) were carried out to diagnos e this bacterium . I n addition , molecular identification depending on the 16srRNA gene was also followed using the PCR technique after extraction of the DNA. Attempts to inhibit the swarming motility were made using six amino acids including (ala n ine, valine, aspartic acid , cystine, histidine, and tryptophan) cho sen randomly, as well as aqueous extraction of some natural materials , including corn silk ( Zea mays ), parsley ( Petroselinum crispum ), dried orange peel and ma l low ( Malva parviflora ), which were selected based on traditional remedies commonly prescribed to the general population by herbalists for the treatment of urinary tract infections. The phenotypic identification of Proteus mirabilis exhibited catalase pos i tive, oxidase negative, positive for urase production and this bacterium was able to ferment the lactose and glucose in Kligler medium. In addition, the molecular diagnosis represented by data from 16srRNA sequen c ing , which was analyzed by the N a tional Center for Biotechnology Information through Local Alignment Search Tool , helped to identify five strains of Proteus mirabilis from all samples, two of which were recorded in NCBI with accession number s (OR976487 and OR976486. The result s of the study of the impact of the amino acids on swarming motility of P. mirabilis demonstrate that the strains S3 and S4 exh i bited complete inhibition with all tested amino acids. Strain Ghmosu-1 was affected by all amino acids except valine, which had a minimal effect. Strain Ghsumo-2 showed complete inhibition with valine, alanine, aspartic acid, and cysteine, while histidine and tryptophan had no effect. Finally, strain L was the least affected, as its motility was not entirely inhibited but only slightly weakened by certain amino acids. For natural materials, the strongest substances that primarily inhibited the swarming were orange peels and mallow. P arsley came in the second rank because it i nhibited the movement in two strains only. H owever, the c orn s ilk material did not show any inhibitory effect on the swarming movement for any of the three strains. The natural co m pounds tested did not align with herbalist recommendations for treating urinary tract infections. Therefore, reliance on these co m pounds is discouraged, and physicians should remain the primary authority for prescribing appropriate medications.

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