title: The antibacterial potency of the medicinal maggot, Lucilia sericata (Meigen): variation in laboratory evaluation.
abstract: Research to quantify the potency of larval excretion/secretion from Lucilia sericata using liquid culture assays has produced contradictory results. In this study, viable counting was used to investigate the effectiveness of excretion/secretion against three marker bacterial species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli) and the effects of varying growing conditions in assays. Results demonstrate that factors such as number of larvae, species of bacteria and addition of nutrient influence its antibacterial potency. Therefore a standardised method should be employed for liquid culture assays when investigating the antibacterial activity of larval excretion/secretion from L. sericata.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK. K.Barnes@shu.ac.uk
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Dorothy E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Gennard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D004175:Diptera / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents