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. 2020 Jun 5;15(6):e0234129. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234129

Antibacterial activity of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus isolated from entomopathogenic nematodes against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Paramaporn Muangpat 1, Manawat Suwannaroj 1, Thatcha Yimthin 2, Chamaiporn Fukruksa 1, Sutthirat Sitthisak 1, Narisara Chantratita 2, Apichat Vitta 1,3,4, Aunchalee Thanwisai 1,3,4,*
Editor: Filippo Giarratana5
PMCID: PMC7274414  PMID: 32502188

Abstract

Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, symbiotically associated with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), produce a range of antimicrobial compounds. The objective of this study is to identify Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus and their EPNs hosts, which were isolated from soil samples from Saraburi province, and study their antibacterial activity against 15 strains of drug-resistant bacteria. Fourteen isolates (6.1%), consisting of six Xenorhabdus isolates and eight Photorhabdus isolates, were obtained from 230 soil samples. Based on the BLASTN search incorporating the phylogenetic analysis of a partial recA gene, all six isolates of Xenorhabdus were found to be identical and closely related to X. stockiae. Five isolates of Photorhabdus were found to be identical and closely related to P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii. Two isolates of Photorhabdus were found to be identical and closely related to P. luminescens subsp. hainanensis. The remaining isolate of Photorhabdus was found to be identical to P. asymbiotica subsp. australis. The bacterial extracts from P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii showed strong inhibition the growth of S. aureus strain PB36 (MSRA) by disk diffusion, minimal inhibitory concentration, and minimal bactericidal concentration assay. The combination between each extract from Xenorhabdus/Photorhabdus and oxacillin or vancomycin against S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) exhibited no interaction on checkerboard assay. Moreover, killing curve assay of P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii extracts against S. aureus strain PB36 exhibited a steady reduction of 105 CFU/ml to 103 CFU/ml within 30 min. This study demonstrates that Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, showed antibacterial activity. This finding may be useful for further research on antibiotic production.

Introduction

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become an emerging public health problem. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Enterococcus faecalis are the major sources of antibiotic-resistant bacteria [1]. These bacteria develop new resistance mechanisms with the emergence and the spread of the disease. This leads to higher cost of healthcare, longer duration of illness, use of more expensive drugs, and the success of prevention and treatment. Antibiotics are used as a general antimicrobial therapy to effectively treat infections. At present, the number of antibiotics effective against drug resistance is declining, predisposing us toward a future without effective antibiotics [2–5]. It is difficult to get accurate estimates of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections which are predicted lead to nearly 10 million deaths per year by 2050 [6]. Therefore, alternative treatments are needed against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Biological compounds from natural or bacterial resources are one such alternative approach. Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, the symbiotic bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), have been reported to be bacterial resources for the production of antimicrobial compounds. Their cell suspension and metabolite compound activities effectively inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus pyogenes and S. aureus [7,8], Bacillus subtilis, Botrytis cinerea [9], Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter coloacae [10], Fusicladium effusum [11], Bacillus anthracis, Phytophthora capsici, and Rhizoctonia solani [12].

Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus are insect pathogenic Gram-negative bacilli belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family that areintestinal symbionts of the infective juvenile (IJ) stage of nematodes in the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae, respectively. The IJ can penetrate the diverse insect hosts via natural openings, e.g., mouth, spiracle, and anus and enter to digestive tract and hemocoel of the hosts. Upon entry, the nematodes release their symbiotic bacteria into the insect hemolymph where the bacteria multiply. The presence of large numbers of the bacterial symbionts has result in death of the insect larvae within 24–48 h [13]. Within the hemocoel of insect carcass the bacteria grow to stationary phase while the nematodes develop and sexually reproduce. During the final stage of development, the bacteria are able to colonize the intestine of the next generation of the IJs, and then the IJs emerge from the insect carcass to search for a new insect host. Information regarding the association between EPNs and their symbiotic bacteria is scarcely reported in Thailand. The Steinernema siamkayai associated with X. stockiae was first described by Tailliez et al. [14]. Later, H. indica, in association with P. luminescens, was found in the Khon Kaen (northeastern Thailand) and Krabi (southern Thailand) provinces [15]. Diversity of association between symbiotic bacteria and EPNs has been reported: X. stockiae associated with S. websteri, X. miraniensis lived with S. khoisanae, P. luminescens lived with H. indica, H. baujardi, H. sp. SGgi or H. sp. SGmg3, P. asymbiotica lived with H. indica [16], and Xenorhabdus sp. associated with S. websteri and was isolated from lower northern Thailand [17].

At the present, 26 species of Xenorhabdus and five species of Photorhabdus have been documented worldwide, together with approximately 100 species of EPNs [16–23]. These bacteria produce a broad range of secondary metabolites, including antimicrobial, insecticidal, and cytotoxic activities [8]. Antimicrobial compounds include benzaldehyde [12], 1-carbapen-2-em-3-carboxylic acid [10], 3, 5-dihydroxy-4-isopropystilbene [9], 3-hydroxy-2-isopropyl-5-phenethylphenyl carbamate [24], 2-isopropyl-5-(3-phenyl-2-oxiranyl0-benzene-1,3diol [25], and chaiyaphumine [26]. In the recent year, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are emerging with global spread leads to difficulties for the control of the disease. We expected that the crude extracts of Xenorhabdus or Photorhabdus combination with antibiotics could inhibit the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Natural products have been an unlimited source of biologically- active compound. Although several compounds have emerged from the process of drug discovery, many steps are needed to further carry on to achieve the goals and reduce the burden of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. The US food and drug administration (FDA) has classified the main processes for drug development as follows: (1) discovery and development in the laboratory, (2) preclinical research in the laboratory and animal testing of the drugs, (3) clinical research in human for safety and efficacy, (4) FDA review for approval of data related to the drugs, and (5) FDA post-market safety monitoring when products are usable for the public [27].

Despite technological advances in pharmaceutical productions, there is still a need to identify new potential antibiotics against the antibiotic-resistant bacteria from different resources. The objective of this study was to study the antibacterial activities of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, associated with the EPNs collected from Saraburi province, were identified using molecular techniques. In addition, a phylogenetic tree of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus was constructed to determine their phylogenetic relationship.

Materials and methods

Soil collection and EPNs isolation

The Saraburi province in central Thailand was selected as the soil sampling site. Samples were taken from a diverse of habitats, for example, natural grassland, roadside verges, woodland, and bank of ponds and rivers. No specific permission was required for the collection of soil samples. For each site, 5 soil samples were randomly taken in an area of approximately 100 m2 at a depth of 10–20 cm using a hand shovel. Approximately 500 g of each soil sample was placed into a plastic bag [16]. A total of 46 sites were sampled, and 230 soil samples were collected from the Mueang Saraburi, Phra Phutthabat, Kaeng Khoi, and Sao Hai districts. The EPNs were isolated from the soil samples using the Galleria mellonella baiting technique as described by Bedding and Akhurst [28]. White traps were used to isolate the emerging infective juvenile EPNs from the G. mellonella cadavers [29]. The larval nematodes were kept at 13–15°C in distilled water prior to molecular identification.

Identification of EPNs

PCR amplification and sequencing of a partial region of 28S rDNA gene or internal transcribed spacer (ITS) were performed according to Hominick et al. and Stock et al [30,31]. The primers TW81_F (5’-GTTTCCGTAGGTGAACCTGC-3’) and AB28_R (5’-ATATGCTTAAGTTCAGCGGGT-3’) were used to amplify a region of internal transcribed spacers for Heterorhabditis, while 539_F (5’GGATTTCCTTAGTAACTGCGAGTG-3’) and 535_R (5’TAGTCTTTCGCCCCTATACCCTT-3’) were used to amplify a region of 28S rDNA for Sternernema. The genomic DNA samples of nematodes were extracted using a protocol described previously in Thanwisai et al. [16]. The PCR conditions were as described in Thanwisai et al. and Vitta et al. [16,17]. The PCR components (30 μl) comprised of 7.5 μl of a DNA-extracted solution (approximately 200 μg), 0.6 μl of 200 μM dNTPs, 1.2 μl of 5μM each primer, 4.2 μl of 25 mM MgCl2, 3 μl of 10X buffer, 0.3 μl of 5 U/ml Tag polymerase, and 12 μl of distilled water. The cycling conditions for ITS were used as follows: one cycle of 95°C for 5 min, followed by 35 cycles of 94°C for 1 min, 50°C for 30 sec, 72°C for 1 min, and a final extension at 72°C for 7 min. The cycling conditions for 28s rDNA were used as follows: one cycle of 95°C for 5 min, followed by 35 cycles of 94°C for 1 min, 55°C for 30 sec, 72°C for 45 sec, and a final extension at 72°C for 7 min. Both PCR conditions were performed in the Applied Biosystems thermal cycler (Applied BiosystemsTM VeritiTM thermal cycler, Pittsburgh, USA). The PCR products were visualized on ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel and purified using a Gel/PCR DNA Fragments Extraction Kit (Geneaid Biotech Ltd., Taiwan). Sequencing was performed by Macrogen Inc. (Korea). A BLASTN search was performed against a nucleotide database to identify EPN species (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/blast/Blast.cgi). A similarity above 97% was considered as the same species.

Isolation, identification, and phylogenetic tree of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus

Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus were isolated from the haemolymph of dead Galleria mellonella, which was infected with EPNs. Approximately 1 μl of haemolymph was streaked on nutrient bromothymol blue triphenyltetrazolium chloride agar (NBTA) (HiMedia, Mumbai, India), which is a selective and differential medium. A dark green colony of Photorhabdus and a blue colony of Xenorhabdus were observed after incubation in the dark at room temperature for 3–4 days [16]. A single colony from each isolate was sub-cultured on NBTA. All the bacterial isolates were kept in a Luria Bertani broth (HiMedia, Mumbai, India) containing 20% glycerol at -40°C.

Species identification and phylogenetic analysis of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus isolates were performed based on a partial recA sequence. Genomic DNA was extracted from a 3 ml LB overnight culture of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus using a Genomic DNA Mini Kit (Geneaid Biotech Ltd., Taiwan). A set of primers, recA_F (5′-GCTATTGATGAAAATAAACA-3′) and recA_R (5′- RATTTTRTCWCCRTTRTAGCT-3′), was used to amplify an 890 bp region of the recA gene [32]. A total volume of 30 μl PCR reagent contained 3 μl of DNA extract, 0.6 μl of 200 μM dNTPs, 1.2 μl of 5μM of each primer, 4.2 μl of 25mM MgCl2, 3 μl of 10X reaction buffer, 0.3 μl of 5U/ml Tag polymerase, and 12 μl of distilled water, as carried out in the Applied Biosystems thermal cycler (Applied BiosystemsTM VeritiTM thermal cycler, Pittsburgh, USA) with PCR parameters and as described by Thanwisai et al. [16]. PCR products were visualized on ethidium bromide-stained agarose-gel electrophoresis and purified using a Gel/PCR DNA Fragment Extraction Kit (Geneaid Biotech Ltd., Taiwan). The purified PCR products were sequenced by Macrogen Inc. To identify Xenorhabdus/Photorhabdus into species level, BLASTN search against the NCBI nucleotide database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/blast/Blast.cgi) was performed using a partial recA gene. Multiple nucleotide sequences representing all the known species and subspecies of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus were downloaded from the NCBI database, aligned with the sequences from the study isolates, and trimmed to 588 bp using Clustal W included in MEGA software version 7.0. A phylogenetic tree was constructed by maximum likelihood (ML) and neighbor joining (NJ) with 1,000 bootstrap replicates using the Nearest-Neighbor-Interchange (NNI) and Tamura-Nei model by MEGA software version 7.0. Bayesian analysis was performed based on the Markov chain Monte Carlo method in MrBayes v3.2. The recA sequences were deposited in Genbank under the accession number MK478066 to MK478071 for six Xenorhabdus isolates and MK478072 to MK478079 for eight Photorhabdus isolates.

Antibacterial activity of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Preparation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The experiments involving antibiotic-resistant bacteria were approved by Naresuan University Institutional Biosafety Committee (NUIBC MI62-06-25). Fifteen strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including Acinetobacter baumannii (four clinical strains), Escherichia coli (two clinical strains), E. coli ATCC35218, Klebsiella pneumoniae (two clinical strains), K. pneumoniae ATCC700603, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC51299, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus (two clinical strains), and S. aureus ATCC20475 were used as pathogens for antibacterial activity. These bacteria were streaked on Mueller–Hinton agar (MHA) and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. A single colony was dissolved in 0.85% sodium chloride (NaCl), and the turbidity was adjusted to 0.5 McFarland standards. One hundred microliters of the bacterial suspension was swabbed on MHA for disk diffusion method [33].

Screening of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus isolates

To initially evaluate the antibacterial activity of whole cell culture of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria against antibiotic resistant bacteria, the Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus isolates were cultured on NBTA for four days at room temperature. A single colony from each isolate was transferred into LB broth and cultured with shaking at room temperature for 48 h. The whole cell suspension of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus was used for the screening of antibacterial activity. Twenty μl of whole cell suspension was dropped on a Mueller–Hinton (MH) agar plated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The plates were then incubated at 37°C for 24 h. A clear zone from the edge of growth colony of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus was read as positive. The Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus isolates that showed potential inhibition of at least one antibiotic-resistant bacteria were selected for metabolic extraction in the disc sensitivity test.

Bacterial extracts

A single colony of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus on NBTA was transferred and cultured in a 1000 ml flask containing 500 ml LB. The culture was incubated at room temperature with shaking at 180 rpm for 72 h. For extraction, 1000 ml of ethyl acetate was added to the culture and mixed well. The flask was then allowed to stand at room temperature for 24 h. All bacterial extracts were concentrated using a rotary vacuum evaporator (Buchi, Flawil, Switzerland). The extraction was performed thrice to maximize the level of crude compounds. The extract was dried under laminar airflow and stored at -20°C until it was used for the disk diffusion method.

Disk diffusion method

Bacterial extracts from Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to a concentration 500 mg/ml. Ten microliters of the solution were dropped into a sterile 6 mm paper disc, which was then placed on the MHA plated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotic discs with vancomycin, tigecycline, ampicillin, ceftazidime, and ceftazidime/clavulanic acid were used as positive control and disc with DMSO was used as a negative control. The plates were then incubated at 37°C for 24 h. The diameter of clear zone (millimeter), representing the zone of inhibition, was measured in millimeter using a ruler.

Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) and Minimal Bactericidal Concentrations (MBC)

Bacterial extracts with the most effective result in disk diffusion method were further evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) using broth microdilution method. Two-fold serial dilutions of bacteria extract were performed in a 96-well micro titer plate. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria cultured, antibiotic-resistant bacteria cultured mixed with DMSO, and sterile Mueller-Hinton (MH) broth were used as control. Plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 h. The MIC is defined as the lowest concentration of extract in which there is no visible growth of testing bacteria in the well. In addition, the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) was evaluated. Ten microliters from each well of 96-well micro titer plates from MIC was sub-cultured onto the MHA plates. The plates were then incubated at 37°C for 24 h. The lowest concentration of each extract without growth of bacteria was considered as MBC.

Checkerboard determination of synergistic effect of combined drugs

Bacterial extracts exhibiting highest MIC and MBC against S. aureus strain PB36 (clinical isolate) were further evaluated using Checkerboard assay. Antimicrobial combinations were performed following Teethaisong et al. [34]. The methods of bacterial culture and preparation of antibacterial agents were performed as described for the MIC broth microdilution. Fifty μl of Cation–Mueller–Hinton broth (CaMHB) was transferred into each well of 96-well micro titer plate. The antibiotics (vancomycin and oxacillin) of the combination were two-fold serially diluted along the ordinate, while the bacterial extracts were diluted along the abscissa. Each well was inoculated with 100 μl of a S. aureus strain PB36 suspension (0.5 MacFarland). The plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 h. The MICs were determined as the lowest concentration drugs in combination with bacterial extracts. The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index or FICI was calculated as follows: FIC index = FIC A + FIC B, where FIC A is the MIC of drug A in the combination/MIC of drug A alone, and FIC B is the MIC of drug B in the combination/MIC of drug B alone. The combination is considered synergistic when FICI ≤ 0.5, no interaction when the FICI is 0.5–4.0, and antagonism when the FICI is > 4.0.

Time killing assay

The bacterial extract at 1× MIC, was mixed with a culture of S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) in the CaMHB and then adjusted to a final inoculum of 105 CFU/ml. The mixture was diluted and counted using a drop plate technique on MHA at following time point 0, 30 min, 1h, 2h, 3h 4h, 5h, 6 h and 24 h. The plate was then incubated at 37°C. The growing colonies were counted after 24 h. The variability of S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) treated with the bacterial extracts at different time was statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by multiple comparison, using the Bonferroni correction (STATA version 13). The P-value lower than 0.05 was considered as significant difference.

Results

EPNs isolation and identification

A total of 46 sample sites with 230 soil samples yielded 14 isolates of EPNs belonging to the genus Steinernema (six isolates) and Heterorhabditis (eight isolates). After the BLASTN search, six isolates of Steinernema were identified as S. surkhetense (99% identity) while two isolates of Heterorhabditis were identified as H. indica (99% identity). The remaining six isolates of Heterorhabditis were unidentified at the species level because of the low amount of genomic DNA.

Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus isolation and identification

Six isolates of Xenorhabdus and eight isolates of Photorhabdus were isolated from the 14 EPNs isolates. The colony of Xenorhabdus was blue on NBTA agar, while Photorhabdus was green. Based on a region of the recA gene, Xenorhabdus was identified as X. stockiae (six isolates with 98–99% identity), while Photorhabdus was identified as Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. akhurstii (five isolates with 98% identity), Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. hainanensis (two isolates with 98–99%), and Photorhabdus asymbiotica subsp. australis (one isolate with 100% identity).

Phylogenetic tree of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus

Maximum likelihood (ML) tree of Xenorhabdus revealed that six isolates of Xenorhabdus in the present study were clustered with X. stockiae strain TH01. The maximum likelihood tree of seven isolates of Photorhabdus was grouped with Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. hainanensis strain C8404 and Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. akhurstii strain FRG04, while one isolate of Photorhabdus was placed in the group of Photorhabdus asymbiotica subsp. australis strain 9802892 (Fig 1).

Fig 1. Maximum likelihood tree based on a 588 bp region of recA for six Xenorhabdus isolates and eight Photorhabdus isolates from Saraburi province, Thailand (codes ending with TH), together with the Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus sequences downloaded from GenBank.

Fig 1

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The bootstrap values are based on 1,000 replicates. The numbers shown above the branches are bootstrap percentages of Maximum likelihood, Neighbor-joining and Bayesian posterior probabilities, respectively) for clades, supported above the 50% level. The bar indicates 1% sequence divergence. The EPN species from which they were isolated are also shown.

Antibacterial activity

Screening of whole cell culture and the extracts by the disk diffusion method demonstrated that seven isolates of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus showed the potential inhibition of the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Table 1 and Fig 2). Four bacterial extracts, including X. stockiae (bSBR31.4_TH) and P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii stains bSBR11.1_TH, bSBR12.3_TH, and bSBR36.2_TH could inhibit S. aureus ATCC20475, S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA), S. aureus strain PB57 (MRSA), A. baumannii strain AB320 (extensively drug resistant or XDR), A. baumannii strain AB321 (multi drug resistant or MDR), A. baumannii strain AB322 (MDR), and E. faecalis ATCC51299. In contrast, three bacterial extracts from X. stockiae stains bSBR4.5_TH, bSBR18.3_TH, and bSBR19.1_TH were unable to inhibit any antibiotic-resistant bacteria by the disk diffusion method. P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii bSBR36.2_TH showed the most board–range inhibition of up to 11 strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These included A. baumannii strain AB320 (XDR), A. baumannii strain AB321 (MDR), A. baumannii strain AB322 (MDR), A. baumannii strain AB324 (XDR), S. aureus ATCC20475, S. aureus strain PB36 (methicillin-resistant S. aureus or MRSA), S. aureus strain PB57 (MRSA), E. coli strain PB1 (Extended Spectrum Beta- Lactamase or ESBL and MDR), E. coli strain PB231 (ESBL and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae or CRE), P. aeruginosa strain PB30 (MDR), and E. faecalis ATCC51299.

Table 1. Antibacterial activity of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus extracts against antibiotic-resistant bacteria as assessed by disk diffusion.

Bacteria (code)
 Inhibit the growth of drug-resistant bacteria*
A. baumannii strain AB320 (XDR) a A. baumannii strain AB321 (MDR) b A. baumannii strain AB322 (MDR) b A. baumannii strain AB324 (XDR) a S. aureus ATCC20475 S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA)c S. aureus strain PB57 (MRSA)c E. coli ATCC35218 E. coli strain PB1 (ESBL and MDR) d,b E. coli strain PB231 (ESBL and CRE) d,e P. aeruginosa strain PB30 (MDR)b E. faecalis ATCC51299 K. pneumonia ATCC700603 K. pneumoniae strain PB5 (ESBL and MDR) d,b K. pneumoniae strain PB21 (ESBL and CRE) d,e
X. stockiae (bSBR4.5_TH) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR11.1_TH) + + + + +++ +++ +++ - + - - ++ - - +
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR12.3_TH) + + + - +++ +++ ++ - - - - ++ - - -
X. stockiae (bSBR18.3_TH) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
X. stockiae (bSBR19.1_TH) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
X. stockiae (bSBR31.4_TH) + + + - ++ ++ + - - - - + - - -
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR36.2_TH) + + ++ + +++ +++ ++ - + + + ++ - - -
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*- No activity (6 mm), + weak inhibition (7–10 mm.), ++ moderate/average inhibition (11–15 mm.), +++ stronger inhibition (16–20 mm.)

a Extensively drug resistant

b multidrug resistance

c methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus, and

d extended spectrum beta-lactamase

eCarbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

Fig 2. Disk diffusion method of bacterial extracts against three antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Fig 2

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Clear zone of S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA; A and B), A. baumannii strain AB322 (MDR; C and D), E. faecalis ATCC51299 (E and F) after exposure to bacterial extracts from bSBR4.5_TH X. stockiae (1) bSBR11.1_TH P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (2), bSBR12.3_TH P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (3), bSBR18.3_TH X. stockiae (4), bSBR19.1_TH X. stockiae (5), bSBR31.4_TH X. stockiae (6), bSBR36.2_TH P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (7), antibiotic disks (P) and negative control (N).

Based on the result of MIC and MBC, one isolate of X. stockiae and three isolates of P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii were further evaluated against five strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA), S. aureus strain PB57 (MRSA), A. baumannii strain AB321 (MDR), A. baumannii strain AB322 (MDR), and E. faecalis ATCC51299. The inhibitory effect of bacterial extracts on these antibiotic-resistant bacteria showed the MICs and MBCs ranging from 7.81 to 0.98 mg/ml (Table 2).

Table 2. Antibacterial activity of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus extracts against antibiotic-resistant bacteria as assessed by minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimal bactericidal concentration.

Bacteria (code) Concentration of inhibition (mg/ml)
S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) S. aureus strain PB57(MRSA) A. baumannii strain AB321 (MDR) A. baumannii strain AB322 (MDR) E. faecalis ATCC51299
MIC MBC MIC MBC MIC MBC MIC MBC MIC MBC
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR11.1_TH) 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98 1.95 3.90 3.90 7.81
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR12.3_TH) 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98 ND ND 3.90 7.81 3.90 7.81
X. stockiae (bSBR31.4_TH) 3.90 7.81 ND ND ND ND 7.81 7.81 ND ND
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR36.2_TH) 0.98 0.98 ND ND ND ND 3.90 3.90 1.95 3.90
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ND = Not determined

In the checkerboard assay, the results of the combination against S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) are shown in Table 3. Based on the FIC index calculation, the combination of oxacillin and bacterial extracts exhibited no interaction with FIC index 0.53 and 1. Moreover, the combination of vancomycin and bacterial extracts exhibited no interaction with FIC index at 1.

Table 3. MIC (mg/ml) and FIC index of Oxacillin and Vancomycin when used either alone or in combination with bacterial extracts against S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA).

Combination of agents MIC (mg/ml) in combination (A+ B) FIC index* Type of interaction
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR11.1_TH) 0.0153 1 No interaction
Oxacillin 0.156
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR12.3_TH) 0.49 0.53 No interaction
Oxacillin 0.0049
X. stockiae (bSBR31.4_TH) 0.06125 1 No interaction
Oxacillin 0.156
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR36.2_TH) 0.49 0.53 No interaction
Oxacillin 0.0049
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR11.1_TH) 0.0153 1 No interaction
Vancomycin 0.003125
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR12.3_TH) 0.0153 1 No interaction
Vancomycin 0.003125
X. stockiae (bSBR31.4_TH) 0.06125 1 No interaction
Vancomycin 0.003125
P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR36.2_TH) 0.0153 1 No interaction
Vancomycin 0.003125
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*FIC index = FIC A + FIC B, where FIC A is the MIC (mg/ml) of drug A in the combination/MIC of drug A alone, and FIC B is the MIC of drug B in the combination/MIC of drug B alone. The combination is considered synergistic when FICI ≤ 0.5, no interaction when the FICI is 0.5–4.0, and antagonism when the FICI is > 4.0.

Fig 3 shows time-kill curves for bacterial extracts against S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA). Photorhabdus extracts of strains bSBR11.1_TH, bSBR12.3_TH, and bSBR36.2_TH exhibited a steady reduction of S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) from 105 CFU/ml to 103 CFU/ml within 30 min and did not recover within 24 h. Xenorhabdus extract (bSBR31.4_TH), on the other hand, increased with the growth of S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) was observed over 6–24 h. The controls revealed no reduction in viable count and steady growth throughout 24h. The variabilities of S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) was significant difference compared with control at all tested times (p < 0.05). However, the variabilities of S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) after exposure to the extract of Photorhabdus strain bSBR31.4_TH at 24 h was no significant differences compared with control (p > 0.05).

Fig 3. Time-kill curves for S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) using four extracts, including bSBR11.1_TH, bSBR12.3_TH, bSBR31.4_TH, and bSBR36.2_TH compared with S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) cultured alone.

Fig 3

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Discussion

In the present study, the EPNs of six Steinernema surkhetense and two Heterorhabditis indica were isolated from soil samples in Saraburi province, central Thailand, and were identified based on ITS and 28S rDNA sequences. Our finding that S. surkhetense and H. indica were common EPN species found in several provinces of Thailand is consistent with a previous study [16,17]. Fourteen isolates of symbiotic bacteria were identified as X. stockiae (six isolates), P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (five isolates), P. luminescens subsp. hainanensis (two isolates), and P. asymbiotica subsp. australis (one isolate). Our previous study reported that these bacteria were commonly found in several provinces of Thailand, including Phetchabun, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Khon Kaen, and Suphanburi [16,17].

The different strains of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabus have been reported with variation in antibacterial activity. In the present study, four isolates of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus extracts showed efficacy against many antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bSBR36.2_TH) extract showed the most inhibitory effect compared with the bacterial isolates tested. The previous study showed that P. luminescens could inhibit the growth of B. subtilis, E. coli, S. pyogenes, and S. aureus RN4220 (drug-resistant and clinical isolate) [10]. Photorhabdus can inhibit the growth of up to 32 species of fungi [9]. In addition, trans-cinnamic acid (TCA), produced by Photorhabdus, showed the inhibition of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. fragariae, and C. acutatum at 10–100 μg/ml. This substance also inhibits the growth of Fusicladium effusum, which is the cause of Pecan scab [35]. In addition, our study demonstrated that the ethyl acetate extract of bMW27.4_TH P. temperata subsp. temperata could inhibit up to 10 strains of drug-resistant bacteria. All Photorhabdus extracts of Mae Wong national park could inhibit S. aureus ATCC20475, S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA), and S. aureus strain PB57 (MRSA) [36]. Xenorhabdus produced xenocoumacin derivatives [37] and amicoumacin derivatives [38], were found to be potent antibiotics against S. aureus [8], while all the Photorhabdus spp. produced isopropylstilbene [39,40], which had multiple biological activities, including antibiotic activity against S. aureus and E. coli [24].

Based on the MIC and MBC, the ability to inhibit the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria varied on each isolate of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus. This may be due to either the ability of each symbiotic bacterium to produce effective metabolites or the susceptibility of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The MIC of Photorhabdus extracts on S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) was found in 0.98 mg/ml in this study. In contrast, the Stephania suberosa Forman extract (SSE) against ampicillin-resistant S. aureus showed higher MIC with 4 mg/ml [34]. High MIC was also noted in the olive oil polyphenol extract [41], Camellia sinensis, and Azadirachta indica leaves extracts [42] against S. aureus. This indicates that Photorhabdus extracts are more effective than SSE, olive oil polyphenol extract, Camellia sinensis, and Azadirachta indica leaves extracts.

The combination of bacteria extracts and antibiotics (oxacillin and vancomycin) exhibited no synergistic activity against S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA). These results were in contrast with a previous study suggesting that Stephania suberosa Forman extract demonstrates synergistic interaction with ampicillin against the clinical isolates of S. aureus [34]. Moreover, the combinations of Cyperus rotundus L. extract and ampicillin antibiotics showed a synergistic interaction against S. aureus [43].

In terms of time kill assay for S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA), the extracts of bSBR11.1_TH, bSBR12.3_TH, and bSBR36.2_TH had stronger bactericidal activities than extracts of bSBR31.4_TH. This result correlates with the MIC and MBC assays. Moreover, the assay time for killing S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA) was rapidly limited to 30 min. These results differ from the previous findings, wherein Stephania suberosa Forman extract plus ampicillin antibiotic exhibited synergistic activity against the ampicillin-resistant S. aureus [34]. Apart from this, the combinations of Cyperus rotundus L. extract and ampicillin antibiotics showed that the killing of ampicillin-resistant S. aureus cells was dramatically reduced by these combinations [43]. Although, mechanism by which the products from Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus exhibited activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria is not known. The results from previous studies based on known antibacterial compounds produced from Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus suggest that the products may inhibit bacterial growth by Xenocoumacins [7], Fabclavines, 1-carbapen-2-em-3-carboxylic acid [10], 2-isopropyl-5-(3-phenyl-2-oxiranyl) benzene-1,3-diol [25]. Confirmation of the mechanism and identification of the specific target on bacterial cell are important for the novel drug discovery. In addition, cytotoxic testing of the novel compounds could be promoting the use of the new drug. At present, a few toxins identified from Photorhabdus bacteria showed cytotoxicity to mammalian cells [44–46]. This indicates that several concerns of drug recovery need to be seriously considered before use.

In summary, fourteen isolates of EPNs were obtained from a total of 230 soil samples, with 46 soil sites collected from Saraburi province, central Thailand. Steinernema surkhetense and Heterorhabditis indica were the common species found in soil samples. For symbiotic bacteria, Xenorhabdus stockiae (six isolates), P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (five isolates), P. luminescens subsp. hainanensis (two isolates), and P. asymbiotica subsp. australis (one isolate) were also isolated from EPNs in the Saraburi province. Based on antibacterial activity, Photorhabdus spp. showed the potential to inhibit the growth of S. aureus strain PB36 (MRSA). This finding might be useful in further drug discovery from natural resources.

Acknowledgments

We thank Mr. Apirak Miyawong and Mr. Sirawit Kornnithikul, for their assistance in soil collection. We also thank Dr. Sarunporn Tandhavanant for her assistance in statistical analysis. We are grateful to Professor Gavin P. Reynolds, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University who gave comments and assist in editing English on the manuscript.

Data Availability

All relevant data are within the paper.

Funding Statement

This work was supported by The National Research Council of Thailand through Naresuan University (Grant Number R2562B083). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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