Sains Malaysiana 53(9)(2024): 3059-3070

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5309-12

Unravelling Virulence Activities of Hospital Isolated Acinetobacter baumannii: Exploring the Prospective Application of Aspirin as an Antivirulence Agent

(Membongkar Aktiviti Kevirulenan Acinetobacter baumannii Pencilan Hospital: Meneroka Prospektif Penggunaan Aspirin sebagai Agen Antivirulen)

NURRUL SYAIRAH A SHUKOR¹, KHALIDA KHALIL¹, RAMLIZA RAMLI² & WAN SYAIDATUL AQMA^1,*

¹Department of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

²Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Medical Faculty, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 14 March 2024/Accepted: 30 July 2024

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii infections pose a global public health threat due to the increasing resistance to various antimicrobial agents. This study reports the virulence characteristics of A. baumannii strains isolated from patients at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM (HCTM) and explores the potential of aspirin as an antivirulence agent. Fourteen A. baumannii isolates from various infection sites exhibited resistance to at least two antibiotics. Among them, 43% (n=6) displayed high motility, correlating with the site of isolation. Additionally, 58% (n=7) formed strong biofilms, 36% (n=5) secreted proteases and 36% (n=5) resisted oxidative stress. Notably, isolates Ab_H4 and Ab_H10 displayed the highest virulence, warranting further investigation. Molecular analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that both Ab_H4 and Ab_H10 possessed the bap and katG genes. Although both strains were capable of secreting proteases, only Ab_H4 possessed the cpaA gene, suggesting the involvement of other genes in protease secretion in Ab_H10. Despite high motility, no pilT gene was detected in any isolates. Treatment with sub-inhibitory concentrations of aspirin (3.25 mg/ml) restored susceptibility to previously resistant antibiotics, disrupted biofilm formation and reduced proteases and catalases secretion. However, no significant impact on bacterial motility was observed. Interestingly, sub-inhibitory concentrations of aspirin induced biofilm formation in the environmental strain control (Ab_UKMCC), which was significantly reduced upon exposure to the MIC. These findings highlight the high virulence capabilities of several strains isolated from HCTM and show the potential of aspirin as an antivirulence agent, offering valuable insights for combating A. baumannii infections.

Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii; antivirulence; aspirin; biofilm; virulence

Abstrak

Jangkitan Acinetobacter baumannii adalah ancaman kesihatan awam global kerana peningkatan kerintangan terhadap pelbagai agen antimikrob. Kajian ini melaporkan ciri virulen A. baumannii yang dipencilkan daripada pesakit di Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM (HCTM) dan meneroka potensi aspirin sebagai agen antivirulen. Empat belas strain A. baumannii daripada pelbagai tapak jangkitan menunjukkan kerintangan terhadap sekurang-kurangnya dua antibiotik. Sebanyak 43% (n=6) pencilan menunjukkan tahap motiliti yang tinggi berkolerasi dengan lokasi pencilan. Selain itu, 58% (n=7) membentuk biofilem yang kuat, 36% (n=5) merembeskan protease dan 36% (n=5) menahan tekanan oksidatif. Pencilan Ab_H4 dan Ab_H10 menunjukkan kevirulenan tertinggi yang memerlukan penyelidikan lanjutan. Analisis molekul menggunakan tindak balas berantai polimerase (PCR) menunjukkan kedua-dua Ab_H4 dan Ab_H10 mempunyai gen bap dan katG. Walaupun kedua-dua strain mampu menghasilkan protease, hanya Ab_H4 memiliki gen cpaA, mencadangkan keterlibatan gen lain dalam rembesan protease di Ab_H10. Walaupun mempunyai motiliti tinggi, tiada gen pilT dikesan dalam mana-mana pencilan. Rawatan dengan kepekatan sub-perencatan minimum aspirin (3.25 mg/mL) mengembalikan kerentanan terhadap antibiotik yang sebelumnya adalah rintang, mengurangkan pembentukan biofilem, pengeluaran protease dan katalase tetapi tiada kesan yang signifikan dalam motiliti bakteria. Tambahan lagi, kepekatan sub-perencatan minimum aspirin merangsang pembentukan biofilem dalam strain pencilan persekitaran (Ab_UKMCC), namun pengurangan ketara diperhatikan apabila terdedah kepada kepekatan minimum perencatan (MIC) aspirin. Penemuan ini menunjukkan keupayaan virulen yang tinggi bagi beberapa strain A. baumannii pencilan HCTM serta menunjukkan potensi aspirin sebagai agen antivirulen, menawarkan sumbangan bernilai dalam usaha berterusan untuk memerangi jangkitan A. baumannii.

Kata kunci: Acinetobacter baumannii; antivirulens; aspirin; biofilem; virulen

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*Corresponding author; email: syaidatul@ukm.edu.my