Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 15, 2001
Publication Date: N/A
Interpretive Summary: Compounds with antibacterial activity have been identified from a wide variety of invertebrate species, including gastrointestinal nematodes. These compounds are thought to constitute a primitive humoral defense system which may protect GI helminths from pathogens which are present in the microbe-rich environment. Antibacterial activity was observed in Trichuris suis ESP against Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and Esherichia coli. The activity was found to be heat stable and resistant to digestion with pronase E and trypsin.
Technical Abstract:
Antibacterial activity was detected in excretory-secretory products (ESP) of adult Trichuris suis cultured in vitro in serum-free media. Gram-negative bacteria (Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and Esherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) were sensitive to ESP. Susceptibility was dependent on the concentration of ESP but not the inoculum size. Preliminary assessment of the mode of action suggests a bacteriocidal mechanism. This antibacterial activity was heat stable and resistant to digestion with pronase E and trypsin. Based on ultrafiltration experiments, the activity is less than 10,000 MW. This excreted/secreted antibacterial activity from T. suis is likely a component of a humoral defense system for this helminth.
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