ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES OF INVERTEBRATES
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Date
2008-06-22
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University of Agricultural Sciences GKVK, Bangalore
Abstract
The present study focussed on isolation, screening and characterization of
antimicrobial peptides from invertebrates. Sixteen invertebrates were screened
for their antimicrobial activity against six microorganisms. Body fluid extracts
of immune activated invertebrates (with overnight grown culture of Escherichia
coli) exhibited higher antimicrobial activity compared to unchallenged ones.
Higher invertebrates exhibited good antimicrobial activity even without immune
activation. Body fluid extracts of selected invertebrates when subjected to 60o C,
100o C (boiling temperature of water) and 121o C (autoclaving temperature) for
15 min, extracts showed thermo-stability by exhibiting antimicrobial activity
even with increased temperature levels.
Antimicrobial activity of body fluid extracts was reflected on its
minimum inhibitory concentration. Body fluid extract of selected invertebrates
exhibiting higher antimicrobial activity was found to be active even at lower
concentrations. Most active concentration for inhibition of test organism was
observed when assayed without dilution. Total protein content of body fluid
extracts of invertebrates decreased after being challenged compared to
unchallenged ones. However there was variation in carbohydrate contents of
challenged and unchallenged body fluid extracts. Protein fractions in both
unchallenged and challenged body fluid extracts of invertebrates were similar,
except in case of Samia cynthia ricini and Hirudo medicinalis. Minimum
inhibitory concentrations of purified fractions of body fluid extracts of selected
invertebrates showed that, most effective concentration was, when they were
used without dilution. Though activity spectrum of body fluid extracts of
invertebrates was wide, purified peptides of selected extracts exhibited activity
only against Escherichia coli.
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