Killing of Proteus mirabilis by polymorphonuclear leukocyte granule proteins: evidence for species specificity by antimicrobial proteins.
Low-molecular-weight (Mr, ca. 3,800) polypeptides containing human defensins HNP-1 and HNP-2 (T. Ganz, M. S. Selsted, D. Szlarek, S. L. Harwig, K. Daher, D. F. Bainton, and R. I. Lehrer, J. Clin. Invest. 76:1427-1434, 1985) prepared in our laboratory from acid extracts of human polymorphonuclear granulocyte granules and purified human defensins were found to exert potent bactericidal action against Proteus mirabilis. The antimicrobial action of the extracts of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes granules against P. mirabilis appears to be due to the presence of the defensins. Because P. mirabilis resists the antimicrobial action of other granule proteins, we interpret the present results to mean that the various antimicrobial proteins display species specificity in their microbicidal action.
Shafer
W M
WM
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.
Engle
S A
SA
Martin
L E
LE
Spitznagel
J K
JK
D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000382:microbiology*; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000502:physiology; D023084:alpha-Defensins
D001798:Blood Proteins; D023084:alpha-Defensins; C406413:human neutrophil peptide 1