title: Effects of synthetic form of tracheal antimicrobial peptide on respiratory pathogens.
abstract: We have synthesized a C-terminal portion of tracheal antimicrobial peptide (TAP) with 38 amino acids and tested it for efficacy on various clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from patients with cystic fibrosis and also on Aspergillus fumigatus. Our results indicate that the synthetic TAP has both potent bactericidal and fungicidal activities and that a combination of TAP and amphotericin B showed strong additive effects of growth inhibition on A fumigatus. These results suggest that TAP is potentially an effective therapy for Aspergillus and multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas, pathogens that are often a serious threat to patients with cystic fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Depariment of Internal Medicine Pulmonary Division, Southern Illinois University, Springfield 62702, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lawyer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watabe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bakir
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eagleton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watabe
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; C068629:tracheal antimicrobial peptide, bovine