Exploring the Plasmid Curing Potential of Termite-Derived Spinigerin against Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a serious therapeutic challenge due to plasmid-mediated resistance. While antimicrobial peptides show promise as curing agents, the potential of termite-derived spinigerin for plasmid elimination against K. pneumoniae remains unexplored. This study addresses this gap by investigating spinigerin's plasmid-curing efficacy. A total of 100 urine samples were collected, and bacterial isolates were characterized using cultural, morphological, biochemical, and molecular methods. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method, followed by plasmid curing using spinigerin peptide at concentrations ranging from 30% to 90%. Three isolates (KPA2, KPK6, and KPDD) were confirmed as K. pneumoniae with >99% sequence identity. The isolates exhibited varying degrees of resistance to conventional antibiotics, with KPA2 showing the highest resistance (88.89%). The spinigerin peptide demonstrated a concentration-dependent curing effect, with complete curing achieved for isolate KPA2 at 80% concentration, while isolates KPK6 and KPDD remained partially resistant (7.69% and 5.56%, respectively) even at 90% concentration. Statistical analysis revealed that the curing effect was significantly dependent on spinigerin concentration (one-way ANOVA, F = 32.15, p < 0.001), and significant differences in curing susceptibility were observed among the three isolates (p = 0.018). In conclusion, termite-derived spinigerin effectively cured resistance plasmids from MDR K. pneumoniae in a concentration-dependent manner. However, further molecular studies are required to confirm plasmid elimination. This study contributes to knowledge by being the first to report the plasmid curing potential of spinigerin against MDR K. pneumoniae, offering a promising alternative strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance.