title: A promising broad spectrum antimicrobial red fluorescent protein present in silkworm excreta.
abstract: The purified silkworm excretory red fluorescent protein (SE-RFP) has exhibited a potent broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. The anti-microbial assays of purified SE-RFP against several pathogenic bacterial (both Gram positive and Gram negative) and fungal strains were performed by agar cup plate method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of SE-RFP against pathogenic bacteria and fungi was evaluated by agar dilution technique. The SE-RFP has exhibited highest activity (lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and largest zone of inhibition) against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans among the tested bacteria and fungi, respectively. For the first time, we are reporting here the bioactivity of a red fluorescent protein purified from the silkworm excreta against clinically important bacteria and fungi. The bioactive SE-RFP has two absorption peaks at 280 and 603 nm and, it has exhibited fluorescence emission peaks at 334 and 619 nm upon exciting at 280 and 603 nm, respectively. The SE-RFP being an aqua-soluble, economically feasible and eco-friendly protein, it can therefore be used for the practical applications as an effective antimicrobial agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad-580003, India.
authors.forename: Kalyankumar Marikallappa
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Matti
authors.forename: Chandrashekhar Jagadeeshshastri
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Savanurmath
authors.forename: Shivayogeppa Bangareppa
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hinchigeri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012831:Bombyx / Q000737:chemistry*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein