title: Antibacterial hemoglobin peptides in human menstrual blood.
abstract: This work documents that normal menstrual vaginal blood of healthy females is exceptionally rich in hemocidins--hemoglobin (Hb) fragments having bactericidal properties. The peptide fractions were isolated from the plasma of vaginal discharge of three healthy nulliparous women and subjected to identification by automatic sequencing as well as by mass spectrometry. All 44 identified peptides originate from Hb (mainly from the N-terminal part of alpha-globin) and all demonstrated differential killing activity toward Escherichia coli. The screening of antimicrobial activity was performed using two synthetic peptides identical to those found in menstrual blood. These peptides were active mainly toward Gram-negative bacteria and to a less degree toward Gram-positive bacteria. Our results confirm recent observations that Hb-derived fragments manifest pronounced antibacterial activity and suggest that these peptides help in maintaining human vaginal homeostasis during physiologic menstrual bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 7 Gronostajowa St., 30-387 Kraków, Poland. makp@mol.uj.edu
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wójcik
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wicherek
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suder
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dubin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides