title: Insights into the antibacterial and immunomodulatory functions of tilapia hepcidin (TH)2-3 against Vibrio vulnificus infection in mice.
abstract: The antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions of the antimicrobial peptide, tilapia hepcidin (TH)2-3, against a bacterial endotoxin under in vitro conditions was previously reported. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial and immunomodulatory functions of TH2-3 in mice infected with the pathogen, Vibrio vulnificus. A TH2-3 injection in V. vulnificus-infected mice produced an increased survival rate compared to mice injected with V. vulnificus only. In addition, a TH2-3 injection increased the bacteriostatic property against V. vulnificus in mice. Gene expressions examined using a microarray demonstrated that TH2-3 modulated several V. vulnificus-responsive genes in the host. A neutralizing antibody assay of mice serum against inactivated V. vulnificus antigen-coated plates demonstrated the induction of an immune response by TH2-3 against the pathogen. Taken together, TH2-3 enhanced the survival rate of mice against the bacterial pathogen V. vulnificus through both antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions. These properties make the TH2-3 peptide a good candidate for development as a new antimicrobial drug and suggest that TH2-3 can underpin the design of adjuvants for further development of vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chieh-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Shang-Chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Venugopal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rajanbabu
authors.forename: Cheng-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jyh-Yih
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D064451:Hepcidins; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D056747:Immunomodulation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D017210:Tilapia / Q000276:immunology; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; C579599:Hamp protein, mouse; D064451:Hepcidins