One of the health problems is the resistance of microorganisms to modern types of antibiotics. Therefore, when creating new medicines
antimicrobial peptides are used — substances based on white blood cells of healthy people. Substances have a bactericidal effect in relation to
a wide range of pathogens. Peptide complexes are able to quickly "attack" target cells. They have a wide spectrum of action, including against strains that are resistant to other antibiotics. Since some of them can destroy cells, they are more often used for the treatment of diseases of the external integuments and mucous membranes, without intravenous use.
The selective effect of the substance is provided by the difference between the membranes of bacterial and human cells. Eukaryotic cells, unlike bacterial cells, contain a nucleus with the hereditary apparatus of the organism and organoids.
— Antimicrobial peptides are a promising tool for combating microorganisms that cause diseases in hospital conditions. They are involved in the formation of innate and acquired immunity and are part of the protective mechanism of the animal and human body. These substances have a pronounced bactericidal effect. The technology of production of medicines from them includes blood sampling from healthy and non-immunized donors and isolation of leukocyte mass. Polypeptides are obtained from biological objects by ultrasonic treatment. When exposed to certain frequencies on the "white" blood cells, their permeability changes. We have optimized this method in order to obtain new compounds," says Larisa Volkova, project manager, Professor of the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology at Perm Polytechnic University, Doctor of Medical Sciences.
Previously, scientists evaluated the antibacterial effectiveness of the substance in relation to clinical strains of bacteria. To do this, they used the method
multiple dilutions in broth. Further, the researchers determined for each sample the minimum concentrations that suppress pathogenic microorganisms. Experiments have shown that the new antibiotic actively copes with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
In the new study, bacteria were isolated for the experiment on the basis of one of the clinical hospitals in Perm.
— To obtain a sample of the drug, we dissolved 0.03 g of dry matter in 3 ml of liquid nutrient medium. We conducted testing in sterile 96-
well-shaped polystyrene tablets. We introduced a suspension with microorganisms into them and compared them with containers where bacteria were not suppressed with an antibiotic. Using the method of serial dilutions in a special broth, it was possible to determine the minimum concentrations of the substance to suppress pathogens," notes one of the developers, senior lecturer of the Department of Pharmacology at the Wagner State Medical University, Candidate of Medical Sciences Alexander Volkov.
The minimum concentration to suppress most bacterial strains was 0.43 mg/ml. The highest concentration was characteristic of
strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa — 2.5 mg / ml. The antibiotic was highly effective in suppressing clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus and epidermal Staphylococcus, E. coli, with less activity — Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The scientists published the results of their work in the journal "Bulletin of PNRPU.
Chemical technology and biotechnology". According to scientists, the results of the study, which corresponds to the direction of the REC "Innovative chemical, pharmaceutical and medical technologies", will be used in the creation of new natural antibiotics of a new generation.