Combating Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Plasmid Curing Potentials of Novel Termicin Peptides from Termite Gut

Abstract

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become a critical public health threat, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies such as plasmid curing. This study aimed to investigate the plasmid-curing potentials of novel termicin peptides extracted from termite gut against MDR P. aeruginosa isolated from fish pond water samples in Uli community, Anambra State, Nigeria. A total of 100 water 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 termicin peptide at concentrations ranging from 30% to 90%. Three isolates (PA03, PA065, and PA076) were confirmed as P. aeruginosa with >99% sequence identity. The isolates exhibited a multidrug resistance rate of 82.35% and an overall resistance rate of 43.59%. The termicin peptide demonstrated a concentration-dependent curing effect, with complete curing achieved for isolate PA076 at 80% concentration, while isolate PA065 remained partially resistant (7.14%) even at 90%. Statistical analysis revealed that the curing effect was significantly dependent on termicin concentration (one-way ANOVA, F = 28.47, p < 0.001), and significant differences in curing susceptibility were observed among the three isolates (p = 0.021). Therefore, termicin peptides from termite gut effectively cured resistance plasmids from MDR P. aeruginosa 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 termite gut-derived termicin peptides against MDR P. aeruginosa, offering a promising alternative strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance.