Analysis of xanthyletin and secondary metabolites from Pseudomonas stutzeri ST1302 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ST2501 against Pythium insidiosum

• Main Authors: Kittiya Wittayapipath, Saline Laolit, Chavi Yenjai, Sirinart Chio-Srichan, Maitree Pakarasang, Ratree Tavichakorntrakool, Chularut Prariyachatigul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019-04-01
• Series: BMC Microbiology
• Subjects: P. insidiosum; P. stutzeri ST1302; K. pneumoniae ST2501; Xanthyletin; Synchrotron radiation-based Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12866-019-1452-4

Abstract Background Pythium insidiosum is a member of the oomycetes class of aquatic fungus-like microorganisms. It can infect humans and animals through skin wounds and the eyes, causing pythiosis, an infectious disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. Antifungal agents are ineffective as pythiosis treatments because ergosterol, the target site of most antifungal agents, is not found in the P. insidiosum cytoplasmic membrane. The best choice for treatment is surgical removal of the infected organ. While natural plant products or secretory substances from bacterial flora have exhibited in vitro anti-P. insidiosum activity, their mechanism of action remains unknown. Therefore, this study hypothesized that the mechanism of action could be related to changes in P. insidiosum biochemical composition (such as lipid, carbohydrate, protein or nucleic acid) following exposure to the inhibitory substances. The biochemical composition of P. insidiosum was investigated by Synchrotron radiation-based Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy. Results Fraction No.6 from the crude extract of P. stutzeri ST1302, fraction No.1 from the crude extract of K. pneumoniae ST2501 and xanthyletin were used as anti-P. insidiosum substances, with MFCs at 3.125, 1.57–1.91, 0.003 mg/ml, respectively. The synchrotron FTIR results show that the deconvoluted peak distributions in the amide I, amide II, and mixed regions were significantly different between the treatment and control groups. Conclusions Xanthyletin and the secondary metabolites from P. stutzeri ST1302 and K. pneumoniae ST2501 exerted anti-P. insidiosum activity that clearly changed the proteins in P. insidiosum. Further study, including proteomics analysis and in vivo susceptibility testing, should be undertaken to develop a better understanding of the mechanism of anti-P. insidiosum activity.