Inhibition of swarming in Proteus mirabilis by Alum (Hydrated Aluminum Potassium Sulfate

Abstract

The antibacterial activity of different concentrations of Alum (Hydrated Aluminum Potassium Sulfate) were examined against Proteus mirabilis that causes upper urinary tract infections .During our experiments we found that the following concentrations ( 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 , 0.8, 0.9 mg/ ml ) were given gradual effect on swarm, a phenotype that was associated with motility. These concentrations were used to inhibit swarming and motility the two important virulence factors coupled closely with the ability to invade urothelial cells. The present study revealed that Alum began significantly inhibited swarming at 0.3 mg/ml for all seven isolates of P. mirabilis that tested in the study . It was considered that the concentration 0.6 mg/ml completely inhibition the phenomenon of swarming because the bacteria appear as separated small colony on nutrient agar . The diameter of swarming was decreased by increasing the concentration of Alum. Although it was found that this bacteria losses the motility on semi-solid media in 0.6 mg/ ml of alum( Hydrated Aluminum Potassium Sulfate) after 24 hrs incubation but the Minimum Inhibition Concentration ( MIC ) of Alum was 0.8 mg/ml .The study revealed that Alum has the potential effect against P. mirabilis