title: Chemical Defence in a Millipede: Evaluation and Characterization of Antimicrobial Activity of the Defensive Secretion from Pachyiulus hungaricus (Karsch, 1881) (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae).
abstract: The chemical defence of the millipede Pachyiulus hungaricus is reported in the present paper, in which a chemical characterization is given and antimicrobial activity is determined. In total, independently of sex, 44 compounds were identified. All compounds belong to two groups: quinones and pentyl and hexyl esters of long-chain fatty acids. The relative abundances of quinones and non-quinones were 94.7% vs. 5.3% (males) and 87.3% vs. 12.7% (females), respectively. The two dominant quinones in both sexes were 2-methyl-1,4,-benzoquinone and 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of the defensive secretion was evaluated in vitro against seven bacterial strains and eight fungal species. With the aid of a dilution technique, the antimicrobial potential of the secretion and high sensitivity of all tested strains were confirmed. The lowest minimum concentrations of these compounds (0.20-0.25 mg/mL) were sufficient for inhibition of Aeromonas hydrophila, Listeria monocytogenes and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The growth of eight tested fungal species was inhibited by slightly lower concentrations of the secretion, with Fusarium equiseti as the most sensitive fungus and Aspergillus flavus as the most resistant. Values of MIC and MFC in the employed microdilution assay ranged from 0.10 to above 0.35 mg/mL. The given extract contains antimicrobial components potentially useful as therapeutic agents in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Slaviša
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stanković
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dimkić
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ljubodrag
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vujisić
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Sofija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pavković-Lučić
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Development, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Zvezdana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jovanović
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medicinal Plants Research "Dr. Josif Pančić", Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stević
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sofrenić
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Development, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mitić
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Development, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tomić
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001181:Arthropods / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060467:Disease Resistance; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001688:Biological Products