title: Activity of Genital Tract Secretions and Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides against Group B Streptococcus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Genital tract secretions inhibit Escherichia coli (E. coli) through antimicrobial peptides (AMP) secreted by the host and vaginal microbiota. However, there are limited data against group B Streptococcus (GBS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Group B Streptococcus were incubated with cervico-vaginal lavage (CVL) samples from healthy non-pregnant women (n = 12) or synthetic AMP and monitored for bacterial growth using a turbidimetric approach. E. coli inhibitory activity was determined by a colony-forming unit assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the CVL samples inhibited GBS. The human neutrophil peptide-1 and human defensin 5 inhibited GBS growth by ≥80% at concentrations ≥20 μg/mL and ≥50 μg/mL, respectively, while human beta-defensin 2 and LL-37 did not inhibit at highest concentration tested (100 μg/mL). In contrast, all AMP inhibited E. coli.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antimicrobial peptides may protect against E. coli colonization but have more limited activity against GBS. Future studies will focus on augmenting host defense with specific AMP to prevent genitourinary infection with these pathogenic organisms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital At Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Niall
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakra
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gialanella
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Weirong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jeny P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ghartey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012634:Bodily Secretions / Q000378:metabolism*; D023082:Defensins / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D044364:Vaginal Douching
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D023082:Defensins
keywords: Antimicrobial peptides; Escherichia coli; cervico-vaginal lavage samples; defensins; female genital tract secretions; group B streptococcus