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Bactericidal activity in the pig roundworm Ascaris suum
A C Wardlaw1, L M Forsyth, D W Crompton
1Department of Microbiology, University of Glasgow, UK.
The Journal of Applied Bacteriology
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Researchers found a potent antibacterial substance in Ascaris suum roundworm fluid that kills Micrococcus luteus and other Gram-positive bacteria. This substance is heat-stable and not lysozyme, offering potential for novel antimicrobial development.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- The pig roundworm, Ascaris suum, possesses a pseudocoelomic fluid with largely uncharacterized biological activities.
- Understanding innate immunity in helminths can reveal novel antimicrobial compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antibacterial properties of Ascaris suum pseudocoelomic fluid.
- To characterize the nature of the identified antibacterial activity.
Main Methods:
- Collection and processing of Ascaris suum pseudocoelomic fluid.
- Bactericidal assays against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
- Stability tests (heat, pH, ethanol) and preliminary molecular characterization (dialysis, electrophoresis).
Main Results:
- A potent, non-lysolytic, bactericidal activity was detected against Micrococcus luteus.
- The activity was heat-stable (100°C), pH-stable, and ethanol-stable.
- Antibacterial effect was observed against Bacillus megaterium and Staphylococcus aureus, but not against Gram-negative bacteria.
- Evidence suggests the active substance is basic, with a molecular weight under 14,000 Da.
Conclusions:
- Ascaris suum pseudocoelomic fluid contains a robust antibacterial factor effective against specific Gram-positive bacteria.
- This factor is distinct from lysozyme and exhibits significant stability.
- Further research into this helminth-derived antimicrobial could yield new therapeutic leads.