title: The effects of bee (Apis mellifera) venom phospholipase A2 on Trypanosoma brucei brucei and enterobacteria.
abstract: The potential role of phospholipases in trypanosomiasis was investigated using bee venom phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2) as a model. The effects of bvPLA2 on the survival of Trypanosoma brucei brucei, 2h and 12h cultures of Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii were studied. About 1 mg ml(-1) bvPLA2 was trypanocidal after 30 min. Some growth occurred at lower concentrations up to 2h after treatment but viability decreased up to 8h. Even very low concentrations of bvPLA2 (10(-12) mg ml(-1)) had some trypanocidal activity. Bee venom PLA2 was bactericidal to 2h bacterial cultures but bacteriostatic to 12h ones. Minimum bactericidal concentrations were 10(-5)-10(-6) mg ml(-1). The results showed that bvPLA2 had significant trypanocidal and antibacterial effects on Gram-negative bacteria. The relationship to events occurring during infection is discussed. Phospholipases may play a role in increased endotoxin levels in trypanosomiasis.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Parasitology and Infectious Diseases, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, The Crescent Salford, Lancs M5 4WT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M-C F
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Boutrin
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: V W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Pentreath
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000201:enzymology*; D001516:Bees; D016971:Citrobacter freundii / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D001514:Bee Venoms; D054467:Phospholipases A2