title: Antimicrobial effects of coprisin on wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus in rats.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are naturally produced antibiotics that play important roles in host defense mechanisms. These proteins are found in variety of animal and plant species. The antibiotic effects of AMPs are gaining attention for use in human medicine. In this study, the antimicrobial effects of coprisin, a novel AMP isolated from the dung beetle (Copris tripartitus), were evaluated. The peptide was used to treat rats with wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Coprisin accelerated wound closure both grossly and microscopically compared with the untreated group. Additionally, treatment with this peptide decreased phosphorylated-Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3) levels, a downstream factor of the transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway which is believed to inhibit reepithelization, in the nucleus and cytoplasm of regenerating cells. Moreover, increased cell populations and angiogenesis were observed in lesions treated with coprisin, suggesting that this peptide promotes wound healing via its antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. Our results demonstrated that coprisin is a potential therapeutic agent that can possibly replace traditional antibiotics and overcome microbial resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Daegu, Gyenonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jingoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seon-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Ae-Ri
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Jin-Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Il-Hwa
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Mi-Ran
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ki
authors.forename: Eun-Mi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ah-Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun-Joo
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae-Sam
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Juneyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Gun
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyu-Shik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001517:Coleoptera; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D051381:Rats; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497784:Smad2 protein, rat; D051900:Smad3 Protein; C497787:Smad3 protein, rat; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C570442:coprisin peptide, Copris tripartitus; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat