title: Effect of the antimicrobial peptide tritrpticin on the in vitro viability and growth of Trichomonas vaginalis.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides are widely distributed in nature; they play important roles in several aspects of innate immunity and may provide a basis for the design of novel therapeutic agents. In this study, C-amidated tritrpticin, a 13 amino acid tryptophan-rich antimicrobial peptide derived from a porcine cathelicidin, was tested against Trichomonas vaginalis, a protozoan that causes a serious non-viral sexually transmitted disease associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, and high risk of HIV-1 infection. Tritrpticin was selected due to its reasonably easy synthesis and because analogs with lower toxicity may be designed. Our results show that tritrpticin-NH(2) at either 100 or 200 μg/ml (52.5 or 105 μM) clearly reduces the viability and growth of Trichomonas vaginalis. Together with tritrpticin-NH(2), sodium bicarbonate further limited trichomonad growth. Additionally, a low concentration of metronidazole (5.8 μM), the most commonly used medication for Trichomonas vaginalis, was more effective against the growth of the parasite when it was combined with tritrpticin-NH(2).
authors.affiliation: Division de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Departamento de Biologia, Universidad de Guanajuato, Colonia Noria Alta, Guanajuato, GTO, CP 36050, Mexico.
authors.forename: Veronica V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Infante
authors.forename: Alma D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Miranda-Olvera
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: De Leon-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anaya-Velazquez
authors.forename: Mayra C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Eva E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Avila
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009842:Oligopeptides; C402895:tritrpticin; D008795:Metronidazole; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate