Death by A Thousand Cuts: Moringa Oleifera Lysis Escherichia Coli by Altering Multiple Biological Processes

We know that bacterial infections are associated with and are the primary cause of preterm labor. We also know that current antibiotic‐based therapies are either unsafe or are increasingly less effective due to bacterial resistance. Previously, we reported that Moringa oleifera (MO), a medicinal plant, exhibits anti‐bacterial properties against Escherichia coli (E. coli), a key bacteria associated with preterm labor infections. In the current study, we attempt to delineate the underlying mechanisms for MO's anti‐bacterial activity against E.coli using proteomics. Our data shows that MO alters the expression of over 64 proteins in E. coli, 13 of which undergo significant alterations associated with stress response (4), metabolism (2), translation (1), ribosomal synthesis (1), membrane synthesis (1), ATP synthesis (3), and periplasmic‐binding (1). Specifically, MO inhibits ribosomal synthesis and translation while enhancing oxidative stress, membrane instability, DNA packaging, DNA fragmentation and breakdown, ultimately leading to E. coli lysis. The present study supports the use of MO as a natural antibacterial agent to manage and prevent the infection‐induced preterm labor. MO has the potential to address the shortfalls of the current therapies for infection‐induced preterm labor, cited earlierSupport or Funding InformationUniversity Research Council, Appalachian State University.