Objective: This study was made to isolate and purify antibacterial polypeptides from human cervical mucus.
Methods: Human cervical mucus was collected from human healthy subjects, and the acid-soluble extract was obtained by solving the mucus with 5% acetic acid in the presence of protease inhibitor. By using gel overlay technique, one protein band that was potently antibacterial against E. coli ML-35P was identified. To purify the antibacterial polypeptide, the preparative acid-urea gel electrophoresis and Reverse Phase HPLC were performed.
Results: A purified antibacterial polypeptide was obtained and named HCP-1. Tricine-SDS-PAGE indicated that the relative molecular mass of HCP-1 was around 14 x 10(3). Agar radial diffusion assay showed that the purified polypeptide had antibacterial activities against E. coli ML-35P and Pseudomanas aeruginosa ATCC65922.
Conclusion: HCP-1 may be a new effector molecule of human cervical mucus.