Moricins: A Potential Peptide Antibiotic from Silkworm against Antibiotic-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

The rising threat of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae has severely compromised treatment efficacy, necessitating innovative solutions. Moricins, peptide antibiotics from silkworm, show promise against K. pneumoniae, offering a potential alternative to combat antibiotic resistance and enhance therapeutic outcomes against this critical pathogen.This study aimed to isolate and characterize K. pneumoniae from clinical samples and evaluate the antibacterial activity of moricin, a peptide antibiotic from silkworm, against multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae isolates. K. pneumoniae isolates were characterized using cultural, morphological, biochemical, and molecular tests. Antibiotic resistance profiles were determined using standard methods. The antibacterial activity of moricin was assessed using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. Three K. pneumoniae strains A27782, K60365 and DD02425 (KPA2, KPK6, and KPDD) were identified, exhibiting extensive multidrug resistance patterns. Moricin demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against all MDR isolates, with MIC and MBC values ranging from 0.00781 to 0.25000 mg/mL and 0.06250 to 0.50000 mg/mL, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in susceptibility patterns among the isolates (p < 0.05). Moricin exhibits promising antibacterial activity against MDR K. pneumoniae isolates, suggesting its potential as an alternative therapeutic agent against antibiotic-resistant infections. This study highlights the potential of moricin as a novel antibacterial agent against MDR K. pneumoniae, providing a new avenue for combating antibiotic resistance.