Effect of Tryptanthrin on the Expression of the Bap Gene  in Biofilm-Forming Acinetobacter baumannii

Tabark Fawzi Mahdi; Rana Mujahid Alshwaikh

doi:10.30526/39.3.4337

Authors

Tabark Fawzi Mahdi Department of Biology, College of Education Pure Sciences (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8561-2430
Rana Mujahid Alshwaikh Department of Biology, College of Education Pure Sciences (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6017-2005

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30526/39.3.4337

Keywords:

Tryptanthrin, bap gene, Acinetobacter baumannii, Biofilm formation, Gene expression, Antibacterial

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that mainly causes disease in individuals with immunocompromising conditions, burn and wound infections, and individuals who are hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of biofilm-forming A.baumannii isolated from burn and wound infections in Baghdad hospitals and to evaluate the effect of Tryptanthrin on the expression of the biofilm-associated bap gene using real-time PCR analysis. A total of 100 clinical samples were collected from patients with burn and wound infections admitted to multiple hospitals in Baghdad City. Thirty A. baumannii isolates were obtained from clinical samples, including 17 isolates from burn infections (56.7%) and 13 isolates from wound infections (43.3%). . The biofilm-forming ability of the isolates was also evaluated using the microtiter plate assay, and all isolates demonstrated the ability to produce biofilm with varying levels of intensity. PCR analysis revealed that the bap gene was detected in 19 (62%) of the isolates, suggesting its role in biofilm formation. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated a reduction in bap gene expression after treatment with tryptanthrin, suggesting its potential role as an antibiofilm agent against A. baumannii. These results suggest that Tryptanthrin may function as an anti-virulence agent because it inhibited the biofilm-associated bap gene expression and could be utilized as a method in controlling the virulence of A. baumannii

Author Biographies

Tabark Fawzi Mahdi, Department of Biology, College of Education Pure Sciences (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

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Rana Mujahid Alshwaikh, Department of Biology, College of Education Pure Sciences (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.

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