Synergistic antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of temporin A and modified temporin B in vivo

PLoS One. 2009 Sep 28;4(9):e7191. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007191.

Abstract

Temporins are antimicrobial peptides secreted by the granular glands of the European red frog (Rana temporaria). They are 10-14 amino acid long polypeptides active prevalently against gram positive bacteria. This study shows that a synthetic temporin B analogue (TB-YK), acquires the capacity to act in synergism with temporin A and to exert antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity in vivo against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Administration of 3.4 mg/Kg of temporin A (TA)+1.6 mg/Kg TB-YK, given to individual mice concurrently with a lethal dose of bacteria (gram positive or negative), rescued 100% of the animals. More importantly, the same doses of temporins, administered one week after experimental infection with a sub lethal dose of bacteria, sterilized 100% of the animals within 3-6 days. Also, it is described an animal model based on the use of sub lethal doses of bacteria, which closely mimics bacterial infection in humans. The model offers the possibility to test in a preclinical setting the true potential of TA and TB-YK in combination as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Female
  • Listeria monocytogenes / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Rana temporaria
  • Salmonella enterica / metabolism
  • Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Peptides
  • Proteins
  • temporin