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Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Qualitative and Quantitative Assays for Detection and Characterization of Protein Antimicrobials
Published on: April 10, 2016
Nonclassical antagonism between human lysozyme and AMPs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Ian Blumenthal1, Lydia R Davis1, Chet M Berman1
1Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.
Abstract:
Combinations of human lysozyme (hLYS) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are known to exhibit either additive or synergistic activity, and as a result, they have therapeutic potential for persistent and antibiotic-resistant infections. We examined hLYS activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa when combined with six different AMPs. In contrast to prior reports, we discovered that some therapeutically relevant AMPs manifest striking antagonistic interactions with hLYS across particular concentration ranges. We further found that the synthetic AMP Tet009 can inhibit hLYS-mediated bacterial lysis. To the best of our knowledge, these results represent the first observations of antagonism between hLYS and AMPs, and they advise that future development of lytic enzyme and AMP combination therapies considers the potential for antagonistic interactions.
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