Nidhi Agarwal1, Niall Buckley2, Natasha Nakra2, Philip Gialanella3, Weirong Yuan4, Jeny P Ghartey5. 1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital At Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA. 3. Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA. 4. Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 5. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
Abstract
PROBLEM: Genital tract secretions inhibit Escherichia coli (E. coli) through antimicrobial peptides (AMP) secreted by the host and vaginal microbiota. However, there are limited data against group B Streptococcus (GBS). METHOD OF STUDY: Group B Streptococcus were incubated with cervico-vaginal lavage (CVL) samples from healthy non-pregnant women (n = 12) or synthetic AMP and monitored for bacterial growth using a turbidimetric approach. E. coli inhibitory activity was determined by a colony-forming unit assay. RESULTS: None of the CVL samples inhibited GBS. The human neutrophil peptide-1 and human defensin 5 inhibited GBS growth by ≥80% at concentrations ≥20 μg/mL and ≥50 μg/mL, respectively, while human beta-defensin 2 and LL-37 did not inhibit at highest concentration tested (100 μg/mL). In contrast, all AMP inhibited E. coli. CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial peptides may protect against E. coli colonization but have more limited activity against GBS. Future studies will focus on augmenting host defense with specific AMP to prevent genitourinary infection with these pathogenic organisms.
PROBLEM: Genital tract secretions inhibit Escherichia coli (E. coli) through antimicrobial peptides (AMP) secreted by the host and vaginal microbiota. However, there are limited data against group B Streptococcus (GBS). METHOD OF STUDY: Group B Streptococcus were incubated with cervico-vaginal lavage (CVL) samples from healthy non-pregnant women (n = 12) or synthetic AMP and monitored for bacterial growth using a turbidimetric approach. E. coli inhibitory activity was determined by a colony-forming unit assay. RESULTS: None of the CVL samples inhibited GBS. The human neutrophil peptide-1 and humandefensin 5 inhibited GBS growth by ≥80% at concentrations ≥20 μg/mL and ≥50 μg/mL, respectively, while humanbeta-defensin 2 and LL-37 did not inhibit at highest concentration tested (100 μg/mL). In contrast, all AMP inhibited E. coli. CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial peptides may protect against E. coli colonization but have more limited activity against GBS. Future studies will focus on augmenting host defense with specific AMP to prevent genitourinary infection with these pathogenic organisms.
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