Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Quantification of Violacein in Chromobacterium violaceum and Its Inhibition by Bioactive Compounds
07:13

Quantification of Violacein in Chromobacterium violaceum and Its Inhibition by Bioactive Compounds

Published on: August 8, 2025

Fungicidal activity of lysozyme is inhibited in vitro by commercial sinus irrigation solutions

Charmaine M Woods1, David N Hooper, Eng H Ooi

  • 1Flinders Ear, Nose and Throat, Department of Surgery, Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia.

American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy
|July 18, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Lysozyme

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Lysozyme is a key innate immune peptide with antimicrobial properties.
  • Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients exhibit increased lysozyme but still suffer recurrent infections.
  • Commercial sinus irrigation solutions may interfere with lysozyme's ionic interaction mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess if lysozyme's fungicidal activity (FA) decreases with increasing ionic strength.
  • To determine if commercial sinus irrigation solutions inhibit lysozyme's FA.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro colony-forming unit (CFU) assay used to test lysozyme (5 μM) against Aspergillus fumigatus.
  • Fungicidal activity tested in solutions of varying ionic strengths and commercial sinus irrigation solutions.
  • Results presented as percentage of control activity.

Main Results:

  • Lysozyme's FA against A. fumigatus was 95% at 21 mM ionic strength.
  • Fungicidal activity decreased with increasing ionic strength, becoming undetectable at 46 mM.
  • Commercial sinus irrigation solutions completely abolished lysozyme's fungicidal activity.

Conclusions:

  • Lysozyme's in vitro fungicidal activity is significantly dependent on solution ionic strength.
  • The efficacy of commercial sinus irrigation solutions needs further evaluation to ensure they don't impair innate sinonasal immunity.
  • Maintaining the functional activity of antimicrobial peptides in sinus rinses is crucial for managing CRS.

More Related Videos

Inactivation of Pathogens via Visible-Light Photolysis of Riboflavin-5′-Phosphate08:25

Inactivation of Pathogens via Visible-Light Photolysis of Riboflavin-5′-Phosphate

Published on: April 6, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis01:25

Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

Aminoglycosides constitute a highly potent class of bactericidal antibiotics that exert their antimicrobial effects by targeting the bacterial ribosome, specifically disrupting protein synthesis. These polycationic molecules consist of amino-modified sugars linked via glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol core such as 2-deoxystreptamine or streptamine. Their strong positive charges facilitate tight binding to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily at the 16S...
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control01:27

Chemical Agents for Microbial Control

Chemicals play important roles in controlling microbial growth by targeting microbial structures and functions as sanitizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, and sterilants.Alcohols are commonly used sanitizers, effectively disrupting lipid membranes, which compromises cell integrity. They are also used as antiseptics and disinfectants due to their rapid action and versatility.Phenols and their derivatives phenolics , known for denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, are particularly...
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration01:26

Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration

Radiation and filtration are essential tools for microbial control, targeting microorganisms through distinct mechanisms. Radiation eliminates microbes by damaging their DNA, either killing them or inhibiting their growth. Based on wavelength, radiation is classified into two types: nonionizing and ionizing radiation.Non-ionizing radiation, such as UV radiation (200–400 nm), is absorbed by DNA, causing defects that effectively disinfect surfaces, air, and water, including safety cabinets.