title: Activity of rabbit leukocyte peptides against Candida albicans.
abstract: Six related cysteine-rich, low-molecular-weight peptides were purified from rabbit peritoneal granulocytes and tested in vitro for fungicidal activity against Candida albicans. Two peptides (NP-1 and NP-2) were highly effective, one (NP-3a) was moderately active, and three (NP-3b greater than NP-4 much greater than NP-5) had substantially less potency. There was a general, but imperfect, correlation between the candidacidal potency of each peptide and its net cationic charge. Candidacidal activity by NP-1 was concentration and time dependent and occurred rapidly under optimal low-ionic-strength conditions. It was inhibited by increasing either the ionic strength or Ca2+ concentration of the incubation mixtures, but was relatively unaffected by Mg2+. Candidacidal activity was independent of H+ concentrations between pH 5 and 8, but decreased below pH 5. Candidacidal activity was temperature sensitive and was virtually abolished when NP-1 was incubated with C. albicans at 0 degrees C. Cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides such as NP-1 and NP-2 may equip leukocytes to deal with infections caused by C. albicans and other fungi that are susceptible to their microbicidal effects.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium