Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (1)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Cirioni, O.
Right arrow Articles by Scalise, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Cirioni, O.
Right arrow Articles by Scalise, G.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Vol 42, 141-145, Copyright © 1998 by The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

In-vitro activity of lytic peptides, inhibitors of ion transport systems and ionophorous antibiotics against Pneumocystis carinii

O Cirioni, A Giacometti, F Barchiesi and G Scalise
Institute of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, University of Ancona, Italy. cmalinif@popcsi.unian.it

The in-vitro activity of two vertebrate lytic peptides, two ion transport system inhibitors and two polyether ionophores was investigated against four clinical isolates of Pneumocystis carinii recovered from bronchoalveolar lavages of AIDS patients. The susceptibility tests were performed by inoculating the isolates on to cell monolayers and determining the parasite count after 72 h incubation at 37 degrees C. The culture medium was supplemented with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing serial dilutions of cecropin P1, magainin II, benzamil, 5-(Nmethyl-Nisobutyl)amiloride (MIBA), lasalocid and nigericin. The two vertebrate lytic peptides showed high activity against trophozoites and cysts. At a concentration of 66.77 mg/L, cecropin P1 produced a 93.3% and 98.1% reduction in cyst and trophozoite counts, respectively, while magainin II at a concentration of 49.33 mg/L produced a 90.6% and 98.7% reduction in cyst and trophozoite counts, respectively. The IC50s of benzamil and MIBA were observed at the highest concentrations tested, 35.62 and 29.98 mg/L, respectively. However, 90% inhibition was not achieved. Lasalocid and nigericin at 0.05 mg/L gave inhibition comparable to that observed with the highest tested concentrations of cecropin P1 and magainin II, but significant injury to the cell monolayer was also observed when nigericin was tested at this concentration. Lasalocid 0.05 mg/L produced a reduction of 91.3% and 92.0% in cyst and trophozoite counts, respectively. Our results suggest that lytic peptides and lasalocid may be effective in inhibiting P. carinii growth at concentrations which are not toxic for the cell monolayer.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.