Corneal storage medium preservation with defensins.
We used a synthetic defensin (rabbit neutrophil peptide-1; NP-1) as a microbicide in a corneal storage medium, Optisol without antimicrobial compounds. We established growth curves in Optisol for Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Each organism was evaluated separately at 4 degrees C, 23 degrees C, and 37 degrees C in Optisol with NP-1 at each of four different concentrations including 1, 10, 100, and 200 micrograms/ml. When the three organisms were evaluated in Optisol containing NP-1, we found that a concentration of 200 micrograms/ml of NP-1 successfully killed 99.9% (the limits of our assay) of all three organisms at all temperatures tested. We conclude that NP-1 exhibits promise as a nonantibiotic preservative agent in corneal storage media, since it was effective in killing organisms at all temperatures, including 4 degrees C.
Schwab
I R
IR
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis.
Dries
D
D
Cullor
J
J
Smith
W
W
Mannis
M
M
Reid
T
T
Murphy
C J
CJ
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D003315:Cornea; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D023082:Defensins; D003911:Dextrans; D005839:Gentamicins; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D009926:Organ Preservation; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D023082:Defensins; D003911:Dextrans; D005839:Gentamicins; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; C075736:Optisol