title: Recombinant plasmid constructs expressing gene for antimicrobial peptide melittin for the therapy of Mycoplasma and chlamydia infections.
abstract: In view of growing number of pathogenic microbial strain resistant to routine antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides become promising agents for the therapy of infectious diseases. We studied in vivo effects of melittin, an antimicrobial peptide expressed in a recombinant plasmid vector, on infection with urogenital pathogens Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Mycoplasma gallisepticum. We obtained recombinant plasmid constructs, where melittin gene is under the control of tetracycline-dependent human cytomegalovirus promoter. Inhibition of experimental C. trachomatis, M. hominis, and M. gallisepticum infection after administration of recombinant plasmid vectors expressing melittin gene to BALB/c mice was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Gene Engineering, Institute of Physicochemical Medicine, Federal Agency on Health Care and Social Development, Moscow.
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Lazarev
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shkarupeta
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kostryukova
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Levitskii
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Titova
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Akopian
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Govorun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002645:Chickens; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008555:Melitten / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D045686:Mycoplasma gallisepticum; D019535:Mycoplasma hominis; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D008555:Melitten