ABSTRACT:

Background: The rise of multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens poses very substantial threat to public health, necessitating development of alternative antimicrobial strategies. Probiotics, particularly those producing bacteriocins, have emerged as potential agents in combating these resistant strains.

Aim: This research intended to evaluate antimicrobial efficacy and bacteriocin activity of novel probiotic strains against MDR pathogens
Methods: This research was conducted over a period from December 2022 to December 2023. An overall of 120 participants were enrolled in research. Probiotic strains were isolated and identified from various sources. The antimicrobial efficacy of these strains was assessed by means of agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods against a panel of MDR pathogens. Bacteriocin activity was quantified through a bioassay involving indicator strains sensitive to these antimicrobial peptides. Data analysis involved comparing the inhibitory effects of the probiotic strains and their bacteriocin extracts against the selected MDR pathogens.
Results: The novel probiotic strains exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against the tested MDR pathogens. The agar well diffusion assay demonstrated clear zones of inhibition, indicating the presence of active antimicrobial compounds. The broth microdilution method confirmed the bactericidal properties of these probiotics at various concentrations. Additionally, the bacteriocin activity assays exposed that isolated peptides efficiently inhibited growth of the indicator strains, with some showing potency comparable to conventional antibiotics.
Conclusion: The novel probiotic strains investigated in this study demonstrated potent antimicrobial efficacy and substantial bacteriocin activity against MDR pathogens. Those results propose that these probiotics must serve as promising candidates for developing alternative treatments to combat antibiotic-resistant infections.
Keywords: Antimicrobial efficacy, Bacteriocin activity, Novel probiotic strains, Multi-drug resistant pathogens, Probiotics, Alternative antimicrobial strategies.