Melittin, a honeybee venom‑derived antimicrobial peptide, may target methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is difficult to treat using available antibiotic agents. Honeybee venom has been widely used as an oriental treatment for several inflammatory diseases and bacterial infections. The venom contains predominantly biologically active compounds, however, the therapeutic effects of such materials when used to treat MRSA infections have not been investigated extensively. The present study evaluated bee venom and its principal active component, melittin, in terms of their antibacterial activities and in vivo protection against MRSA infections. In vitro, bee venom and melittin exhibited comparable levels of antibacterial activity, which was more marked against MRSA strains, compared with other Gram‑positive bacteria. When MRSA‑infected mice were treated with bee venom or melittin, only the latter animals were successfully rescued from MRSA‑ induced bacteraemia or exhibited recovery from MRSA‑infected skin wounds. Together, the data of the present study demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that melittin may be used as a promising antimicrobial agent to enhance the healing of MRSA‑induced wounds.
Radiation Biotechnology Research Division, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup Si, North Jeolla 580‑185, Republic of Korea.
Ji Hae
JH
Choi
Radiation Biotechnology Research Division, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup Si, North Jeolla 580‑185, Republic of Korea.
A Yeung
AY
Jang
Radiation Biotechnology Research Division, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup Si, North Jeolla 580‑185, Republic of Korea.
Shunmei
S
Lin
Radiation Biotechnology Research Division, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup Si, North Jeolla 580‑185, Republic of Korea.
Sangyong
S
Lim
Radiation Biotechnology Research Division, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup Si, North Jeolla 580‑185, Republic of Korea.
Dongho
D
Kim
Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco and Northern California Institute for Research and Education, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
Kyungho
K
Park
Sericultural and Apicultural Materials Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Association, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 441‑100, Republic of Korea.
Sang-Mi
SM
Han
Sericultural and Apicultural Materials Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Association, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 441‑100, Republic of Korea.
Joo-Hong
JH
Yeo
Radiation Biotechnology Research Division, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup Si, North Jeolla 580‑185, Republic of Korea.
Ho Seong
HS
Seo
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D001516:Bees / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008297:Male; D008555:Melitten / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001514:Bee Venoms; D008555:Melitten