title: In-vitro activity of polycationic peptides against Cryptosporidium parvum, Pneumocystis carinii and yeast clinical isolates.
abstract: The in-vitro activity of magainin II, indolicidin and ranalexin against 14 clinical isolates of eukaryotic microorganisms was evaluated. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution, and activity against Pneumocystis carinii and Cryptosporidium parvum was determined by inoculation on to cell monolayers. For yeasts, peptide MICs and MFCs ranged from 6.25 to > 50 mg/L. Ranalexin showed the highest activity against Candida spp., while magainin II demonstrated greatest anticryptococcal activity. The peptides suppressed the growth of P. carinii by > or = 50% and > or = 90% at 5 and 50 microM, respectively, with the exception of indolicidin. Ranalexin, the most effective compound against C. parvum, suppressed its growth by > or = 40% at 50 microM.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, University of Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giacometti
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cirioni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barchiesi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caselli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scalise
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects*; D002412:Cations; D003049:Coccidiostats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000187:drug effects*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D054806:Magainins; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011073:Polyamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002412:Cations; D003049:Coccidiostats; D054806:Magainins; D010455:Peptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C073143:indolicidin; C053301:magainin 2 peptide, Xenopus; C086618:ranalexin