Antibacterial activity of snake, scorpion and bee venoms: a comparison with purified venom phospholipase A2 enzymes.

AIMS: Venoms of snakes, scorpions, bees and purified venom phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) enzymes were examined to evaluate the antibacterial activity of purified venom enzymes as compared with that of the crude venoms. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-four crude venoms, nine purified PLA(2)s and two L-amino acid oxidases (LAAO) were studied for antibacterial activity by disc-diffusion assay (100 microg ml(-1)). Several snake venoms (Daboia russelli russelli, Crotalus adamanteus, Naja sumatrana, Pseudechis guttata, Agkistrodon halys, Acanthophis praelongus and Daboia russelli siamensis) showed activity against two to four different pathogenic bacteria. Daboia russelli russelli and Pseudechis australis venoms exhibited the most potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus, while the rest showed only a moderate activity against one or more bacteria. The order of susceptibility of the bacteria against viperidae venoms was -S. aureus > Proteus mirabilis > Proteus vulgaris > Enterobacter aerogenes > Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against S. aureus was studied by dilution method (160-1.25 microg ml(-1)). A stronger effect was noted with the viperidae venoms (20 microg ml(-11)) as compared with elapidae venoms (40 microg ml(-1)). The MIC were comparable with those of the standard drugs (chloramphenicol, streptomycin and penicillin). CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate that viperidae (D. russelli russelli) and elapidae (P. australis) venoms have significant antibacterial effects against gram (+) and gram (-) bacteria, which may be the result of the primary antibacterial components of laao, and in particular, the PLA(2) enzymes. The results would be useful for further purification and characterization of antibacterial agents from snake venoms. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The activity of LAAO and PLA(2) enzymes may be associated with the antibacterial activity of snake venoms.

Multiple vasoactive factors in epidermal secretions of the Arabian Gulf catfish, Arius bilineatus (Valenciennes).

1. The Arabian Gulf catfish produces proteinaceous epidermal secretions when threatened or injured. 2. The soluble fraction of the catfish epidermal secretions (SES) has vasoconstrictor activities on sheep renal arteries, which can be inhibited by several antagonists, including atropine, indomethacin, prazosin, and verapamil. 3. Mepyramine, yohimbine, and ketanserin have negligible effects on SES-induced contraction. 4. SES exhibits a significant tachyphylaxis upon addition of a second (8.4% reduction) and third (47% reduction) dose of SES to the organ bath, which can be partially prevented by addition of a fresh arterial section prior to each addition. 5. A vasoconstricting activity has been partially purified from SES by gel filtration on Fractogel HW-65(F) and appears to be a protein with a pI near 7.3. This activity is affected only by verapamil and prazosin.

Biochemical characterization of E. coli transconjugants with plasmids derived from Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Sixty-three strains of E. coli transconjugants derived from E. coli K12 J62-1 containing plasmids derived from Klebsiella pneumoniae, were examined for the presence of phenotypic markers other than antibiotic resistance. This investigation was carried out using API 50CHE and API ZYM tests. Beta-glucosidase was found in 63/63 J62-1 transconjugants. Dulcitol dehydrogenase was present in 92.1% while beta-galactosidase was present in 70% of transconjugants. None of the three enzymes were present in the recipient. Dulcitol dehydrogenase was present only in the transconjugants and is absent from the donors and recipient. The transconjugants, cured of their antibiotic resistant plasmids retained dulcitol dehydrogenase activity. The Klebsiella donors were not cured of antibiotic resistance by the curing process.