title: Flow Cytometry and Electron Microscopy Study of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli Treated with Mdc-Hly.
abstract: In our previous study, a novel hybrid protein combining human lysozyme (Hly) with Musca domestica cecropin (Mdc) was successfully constructed. The broad antibacterial activity against various foodborne pathogens of Mdc-hly suggests its scope as a food preservative. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial mechanism of the recombinant Mdc-hly. The damage induced by Mdc-hly on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was investigated using flow cytometry (FC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results of FC showed that Mdc-hly causes bacterial membrane permeabilization. SEM and TEM studies revealed that Mdc-hly is capable of damaging both the membrane and the wall of bacteria, resulting in efflux of essential cytoplasmic contents. Both FC and EM revealed that the effects of Mdc-hly were greater than its parental peptides. Understanding the antibacterial mechanism of Mdc-hly is of a great interest in further utilization of its use in treatment of food and in clinical environments.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Basic Courses,Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center,Guangdong Pharmaceutical University,280 Wai Huan Dong Road,Guangzhou,Guangdong 510006,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: 1School of Basic Courses,Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center,Guangdong Pharmaceutical University,280 Wai Huan Dong Road,Guangzhou,Guangdong 510006,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaobao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: 1School of Basic Courses,Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center,Guangdong Pharmaceutical University,280 Wai Huan Dong Road,Guangzhou,Guangdong 510006,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiayong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D054807:Cecropins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006793:Houseflies; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009113:Muramidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D054807:Cecropins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D009113:Muramidase
keywords: electron microscopy