melitten and Chlamydia-Infections

In view of growing number of pathogenic microbial strain resistant to routine antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides become promising agents for the therapy of infectious diseases. We studied in vivo effects of melittin, an antimicrobial peptide expressed in a recombinant plasmid vector, on infection with urogenital pathogens Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Mycoplasma gallisepticum. We obtained recombinant plasmid constructs, where melittin gene is under the control of tetracycline-dependent human cytomegalovirus promoter. Inhibition of experimental C. trachomatis, M. hominis, and M. gallisepticum infection after administration of recombinant plasmid vectors expressing melittin gene to BALB/c mice was demonstrated.

Topics: Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Chickens; Chlamydia Infections; Chlamydia trachomatis; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; Genetic Therapy; Genetic Vectors; Humans; Melitten; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mycoplasma gallisepticum; Mycoplasma hominis; Mycoplasma Infections; Plasmids

A plasmid construct was designed in which the gene of antimicrobial peptide melittin is controlled by the tetracycline-responsive promoter of human cytomegalovirus, aided by a constitutively expressed trans-activator protein gene. Its vaginal administration and induction of melittin gene transcription with doxycycline markedly suppressed subsequent genital tract infection of mice by Mycoplasma hominis and Chlamydia trachomatis. At least half of the melittin-protected animals proved free of either pathogen within 3-4 weeks. Recombinant plasmids expressing genes of antimicrobial peptides hold much promise as agents for prevention and control of urogenital latent infections.

Topics: Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Chlamydia Infections; Chlamydia trachomatis; Female; Gene Transfer Techniques; Genetic Therapy; Melitten; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mycoplasma hominis; Mycoplasma Infections; Plasmids; Treatment Outcome; Vaginitis