Antibacterial properties of larval secretions of the blowfly, Lucilia sericata.
The antibacterial properties of secretions aseptically collected from larvae of the greenbottle fly Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were examined. These investigations revealed the presence of small (<1 kDa) antibacterial factor(s) within the larval secretions, active against a range of bacteria. These include the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, both methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Streptococcus pyogenes and to a lesser extent the Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These secretions were shown to be highly stable as a freeze-dried preparation and, considering the activity against organisms typically associated with clinical infection, may be a source of novel antibiotic-like compounds that may be used for infection control and in the fight against MRSA.
Kerridge
A
A
Medilarv Ltd. Innovation Centre, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PS, U.K.
Lappin-Scott
H
H
Stevens
J R
JR
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000187:drug effects; D004175:Diptera / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents