Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

A Ligated Intestinal Loop Model in Anesthetized Specific Pathogen Free Chickens to Study Clostridium Perfringens Virulence
Published on: October 11, 2018
Antibacterial properties of chicken intestinal phospholipase A2
Aida Karray1, Yassine Ben Ali, Youssef Gargouri
1Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Génie Enzymatique des Lipases, ENIS Route de Soukra, 3038 Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia.
Background:
The presence of chicken group-IIA PLA2 (ChPLA2-IIA) in the intestinal secretion suggests that this enzyme plays an important role in systemic bactericidal defence. We have analyzed the bactericidal activity of purified ChPLA2-IIA, on several gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria by using the diffusion well and dilution methods.
Results:
ChPLA2-IIA displays potent bactericidal activity against gram-positive bacteria but lacks bactericidal activity against gram negative ones. We have also demonstrated a synergic action of ChPLA2-IIA with lysozyme when added to the bacteria culture prior to ChPLA2-IIA. The bactericidal efficiency of ChPLA2-IIA was shown to be dependent upon the presence of calcium ions and then a correlation could be made to its hydrolytic activity of membrane phospholipids. Interestingly ChPLA2-IIA displays a higher dependence to Ca²+ ions than to Mg²+ ions.
Conclusion:
We conclude that the main physiological role of ChPLA2-IIA could be the defence of the intestine against bacterial invasions.
Related Concept Videos
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Peptic Ulcer
Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology

