Interference of the Antimicrobial Peptide Lactoferricin B with the Action of Various Antibiotics against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 173 - 177
• Main Authors: VORLAND, L. H, OSBAKK, S. A, PERSTØLEN, T, ULVATNE, H, REKDAL, Ø, SVENDSEN, J. S, GUTTEBERG, T. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Informa UK Ltd 1999; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - antagonists & inhibitors; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle; Drug Interactions; Drug Synergism; Erythromycin - pharmacology; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Gentamicins - antagonists & inhibitors; Gentamicins - pharmacology; lactoferricin B; Lactoferrin - analogs & derivatives; Lactoferrin - pharmacology; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Penicillin G - pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Vancomycin - antagonists & inhibitors; Vancomycin - pharmacology; Colistin; Peptides; Cyclic peptides; Escherichia coli; Gentamicin; Vancomycin; Cycloserine; Synergism; Penicillin derivatives; Antagonism; Glycopeptide; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Micrococcaceae; Drug interaction; Staphylococcus aureus; Enterobacteriaceae; β-Lactams; Benzylpenicillin; Erythromycin; In vitro; Biological activity; Antibiotic; Polypeptide; Antibacterial agent
• ISSN: 0036-5548; 1651-1980
• DOI: 10.1080/003655499750006236

The antimicrobial peptide, lactoferricin, can be generated upon gastric pepsin cleavage of lactoferrin. We have examined the interaction of lactoferricin of bovine origin, Lf-cin B, with the antibiotics penicillin G, vancomycin, gentamicin, colistin, D-cycloserine and erythromycin against E. coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. We demonstrated synergism between Lf-cin B and erythromycin against E. coli, and partial synergism between Lf-cin B and penicillin G, vancomycin and gentamicin against E. coli. Only penicillin G acted in partial synergism with Lf-cin B against S. aureus. Lf-cin B antagonized vancomycin and gentamicin against S. aureus in low concentration. We conclude that Lf-cin B may facilitate the uptake of antibiotics across the cell envelope.