title: Detection and preliminary physico-chemical properties of antimicrobial components in the native excretions/secretions of three species of Chrysomya (Diptera, Calliphoridae) in Brazil.
abstract: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals and communities increasingly threaten public health in Brazil and the rest of the World. There is an urgent need for additional antimicrobial drugs. Calliphorid blowfly larvae are a rich source of antimicrobial factors but the potential of Neotropical species has been neglected. This preliminary study evaluates the antimicrobial activity of the native excretions/secretions of larvae of three species of Brazilian calliphorids, Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya albiceps and Chrysomya putoria. Native excretions/secretions were collected from third instar larvae, sterile filtered and tested for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus 9518, Escherichia coli K12 4401 and Serratia marcescens 365. Turbidometric assays were made in micro-plates, using an ELISA reader, with readings taken up to 22 h. Bacterial suspensions at the start and end of each experiment were also serially diluted, spread on nutrient agar plates and then colony forming units counted. The physico-chemical characteristics of the native excretions/secretions were also tested by freezing/thawing, boiling, and protease digestion. The native excretions/secretions of larvae from these three Chrysomya species significantly inhibited bacterial growth. Therefore, Brazilian calliphorid flies could potentially provide new classes of antibiotics.
authors: Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales, UK.
authors: Norman Arthur
authors: NA
authors: Ratcliffe
authors: Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors: Cecilia Stahl
authors: CS
authors: Vieira
authors: Laboratório de Transmissores de Leishmanioses, Setor de Entomologia Médica e Forense, IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors: Paloma Martins
authors: PM
authors: Mendonça
authors: Laboratório de Transmissores de Leishmanioses, Setor de Entomologia Médica e Forense, IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors: Rebecca Leal
authors: RL
authors: Caetano
authors: Laboratório de Transmissores de Leishmanioses, Setor de Entomologia Médica e Forense, IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors: Margareth Maria de Carvalho
authors: MM
authors: Queiroz
authors: Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors: Eloi Souza
authors: ES
authors: Garcia
authors: Laboratório de Biologia de Insetos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors: Cicero Brasileiro
authors: CB
authors: Mello
authors: Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: azambuja.p@gmail.com.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Azambuja
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D012634:Bodily Secretions; D001938:Brazil; D004175:Diptera / Q000378:metabolism*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D048168:Escherichia coli K12 / Q000187:drug effects*; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000187:drug effects*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: Antibacterial agent; Blowflies; Chrysomya; Escherichia coli; Staphylococcus aureus