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 AQMA1,*
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
Diserahkan: 14 Mac 2024/Diterima: 30 Julai 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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*Pengarang
untuk surat-menyurat; email: syaidatul@ukm.edu.my
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