The Effect of Tannic Acid on Swimming and Swarming Motility of Proteus mirabilis

Abstract

This study was aimed to detect the effect of tannic acid on Proteus mirabilis swimming and swarming motility. Twenty-one isolates of Proteus bacteria were collected from different clinical samples and animal's sources, for the period from October 2017 to November 2017. All isolates were identified depending on microscopic characterization, biochemical tests and Vitec- 2 compact system. The results revealed that eighteen isolates were belonging to P. mirabilis. All P. mirabilis isolates were able to swim and swarm over semi-solid media. The addition of tannic acid at concentrations of 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1% was able to inhibit swimming and swarming motility. By using PCR technique, WosA a gene responsible of swarming regulation was detected in all isolates and that P. mirabilis isolates were possessed this gene and the levels of fold change of WosA gene were 0.19 and 0.12 for swimmer and swarmer cell, respectively. The levels of fold change of WosA gene were 0.27 for the concentration (0.001%) of tannic acid when compared with controls (1 fold change).