Insect antimicrobial peptides: isolation, separation and antimicrobial activity

Abstract

In modern conditions of intensification of agriculture the industrial animal breeding involves the use of antibacterial drugs aimed at the prevention of infectious diseases. However, uncontrolled use of antibiotics leads to the selection of antibiotic-resistant strains, it should be noted that the treatment of diseases caused by these strains is difficult. Insect peptides have a barrier function and are able to protect the macroorganism from various pathogenic agents. In this study the original method of isolating protein fractions from the biomass of insect G. mellonella and M. domestica larvae was developed. The 19 protein fractions (PF) were obtained and their antimicrobial activity was studied as related to S. aureus ATCC 6538 (209-P), S. typhimurium 1626, C. albicans РКПГY –401/NCTC–885-653, B. cereus ATCC 10702. It was found that protein fractions No. 2, 2.3, 2.6, 3.4, 3.6 had antimicrobial activity as related to S. aureus ATCC 6538 (209-P); protein fractions No. 2, 2.6, 3.2, 3.6 inhibited the growth of S. typhimurium 1626; protein fractions No. 2, 2.3, 2.6, 3.3, 3.6 had an inhibiting effect on C. albicans РКПГY-401/NCTC-885-653, PF 2, 2.6, 3.2, 3.6, 3.7 had antimicrobial activity as related to B. cereus ATCC 10702.