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Broad spectrum antimicrobial activity of leukocyte extracts from the American alligator (Alligator mississipiensis)

  1. Author:
    Merchant, M. E.
    Leger, N.
    Jerkins, E.
    Mills, K.
    Pallansch, M. B.
    Paulman, R. L.
    Ptak, R. G.

  2. Author Address

    McNeese State Univ, Dept Chem, Lake Charles, LA 70609 USA. So Res Inst, Dept Infect Dis Res, Frederick, MD 21701 USA. Rice Univ, Dept Bioengn, Houston, TX 77005 USA.;Merchant, ME, McNeese State Univ, Dept Chem, Box 90455, Lake Charles, LA 70609 USA.;mmerchan@mcneese.edu
    1. Year: 2006
    2. Date: Apr
  2. Journal: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
    1. 110
    2. 3-4
    3. Pages: 221-228
  4. Type of Article: Article
  5. ISSN: 0165-2427
  1. Abstract:

    Leukocytes were isolated from whole blood of wild alligators by differential sedimentation. The leukocytes were disrupted in 5% AcOH and the crude extracts processed by ultrafiltration. The extracts were subjected to solvent exchange (0.1% AcOH) and the fraction that contained macromolecules between 1 and 10 kDa were subjected to further analyses. The acid extracts of the alligator leukocytes exhibited Substantial antimycotic activities against six of eight species of Candida yeast tested. In addition, the alligator leukocyte extracts were effective as antimicrobial agents against 10 of 12 bacterial species, and displayed moderate activity against two enveloped Viruses (human immunodeficiency virus-1 and herpes simplex virus-1(HF)). Kinetic analyses revealed that the anti mycotic effects of the leukocyte extract Occurred rapidly, with 64% fungal growth inhibition within 3 min of exposure. The molecule(s) responsible for the antimicrobial activities were sensitive to proteases, heat-stable, acid Soluble, and in the 1-10 kDa range. These data Suggest that alligator leukocytes express cationic peptides that are responsible for their antimicrobial properties. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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External Sources

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  2. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2005.10.001
  3. View record in Web of Science®
  4. WOS: 000236154700003

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