Anotace:
Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria are recognized worldwide as a significant and pressing concern for human health. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics have further exacerbated the issue by giving rise to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, rendering infections caused by these strains virtually untreatable. The objective of the study was to assess colicin's capability to prevent the growth of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria. Forty E. coli samples were obtained and subjected to diagnostic and confirmatory tests to verify their purity and ability to produce colicin. Isolates producing colicin were identified using the agar plate diffusion method. Colicin was subsequently isolated, purified, and its approximate molecular weight was determined. The activity of colicin was then assessed on 10 antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria, resulting in different inhibition rates. The gene expression of blaCTX and blaSHV genes was determined using RT-qPCR analysis, revealing significant effects on the gene expression level. The responses of blaCTX and blaSHV genes to colicin treatment were found to be significant. The impact of colicin varied among pathogenic bacterial isolates, with some showing a strong response to colicin treatment, while others did not exhibit significant differences after treatment. In summary, the findings of this study suggested that the colicin protein in E. coli has the potential to be an alternative to traditional antibiotics for addressing antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria.