Melittin-stimulated antimycobacterial activity of the membrane fraction isolated from phagocytes of guinea pigs.
Virulent tubercle bacilli were incubated in Kirchner semi-solid agar medium with the membrane fraction prepared from guinea-pig peritoneal exudate cells. A marked inhibition of mycobacterial growth was observed in the presence of added melittin which is known as an activator of membrane phospholipase A. The bactericidal activity in a buffer environment was also demonstrated by the fraction alone and that stimulated by melittin.
D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008555:Melitten / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000502:physiology*; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D001514:Bee Venoms; D008555:Melitten