Abstract
Proteus mirabilis, an important uropathogen that can cause complicated urinary tract infections (UTI), has emerged as a therapeutic problem following mutations that compromise the use of antimicrobial drugs. Due to the serious effects associated with uropathogenic P. mirabilis and the problems related to the use of antibiotics, it is necessary to develop alternative strategies for its control. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of Ibicella lutea extract, a South American indigenous plant, on growth, virulence and biofilm production of uropathogenic P. mirabilis. This study was based on the extract generation and the assessment of its effect on bacterial features related to virulence. These assays involved determination of antibacterial activity, swarming motility, Western blot to assess expression of fimbriae and flagella, biofilms formation, haemagglutination, haemolysis, and electron microscopy. I. lutea extract had an effect on bacterial growth rate and bacterial morphology. It also affected P. mirabilis swarming differentiation, hemagglutination and biofilm formation on glass and polystyrene. These findings suggest that I. lutea may have a role as an agent for the control of P. mirabilis UTI.
Highlights
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infections affecting humans and represent a serious health problem for millions of people each year
Several potential P. mirabilis virulence factors related to urinary tract infections (UTI) have been described, including fimbrial-mediated adherence to the uroepithelium, swarming motility mediated by flagella, outer-membrane protein expression related to iron uptake, cell invasiveness, urease and hemolysin production, and iron acquisition [3]
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of I. lutea chloroform extract obtained from the aerial parts of the plant to interfere with growth, virulence and biofilm formation of uropathogenic P. mirabilis
Summary
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infections affecting humans and represent a serious health problem for millions of people each year. P. mirabilis does not commonly cause UTI in the normal host, it can cause severe UTI in patients with urinary catheters or in people with structural abnormalities of the urinary tract [1] It shows a predilection for the upper urinary tract where it can cause severe histological damage and it is frequently associated with bladder and kidney stone formation [2]. Methodology: This study was based on the extract generation and the assessment of its effect on bacterial features related to virulence These assays involved determination of antibacterial activity, swarming motility, Western blot to assess expression of fimbriae and flagella, biofilms formation, haemagglutination, haemolysis, and electron microscopy. Results and Conclusions: I. lutea extract had an effect on bacterial growth rate and bacterial morphology It affected P. mirabilis swarming differentiation, hemagglutination and biofilm formation on glass and polystyrene. These findings suggest that I. lutea may have a role as an agent for the control of P. mirabilis UTI
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