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Antimicrobial activity of molluscan hemocyanins from Helix and Rapana snails
Dolashka, P.; Dolashki, A.; Van Beeumen, J.; Floetenmeyer, M.; Velkova, L.; Stevanovic, S.; Voelter, W. (2016). Antimicrobial activity of molluscan hemocyanins from Helix and Rapana snails. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 17(3): 263-270. dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389201016666150907113435
In: Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. Bentham Science Publ Ltd: Sharjah. ISSN 1389-2010; e-ISSN 1873-4316, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Escherichia coli Castellani & Chalmers, 1919 [WoRMS]; Helix aspersa; Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) [WoRMS]; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus epidermidis; Streptococcus pyogenes
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Antibacterial activity; hemocyanins; Helix aspersa (HaH); Rapana venosa(RvH); Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus epidermidis; Streptococcuspyogenes; Escherichia coli

Authors  Top 
  • Dolashka, P.
  • Dolashki, A.
  • Van Beeumen, J., more
  • Floetenmeyer, M.
  • Velkova, L.
  • Stevanovic, S.
  • Voelter, W.

Abstract
    For the first time the antimicrobial activities of hemocyanins from the molluscs Rapana venosa (RvH) and Helix aspersa (HaH) have been tested. From the hemolymph of the garden snail H. aspersa one structural subunit (beta c-HaH) and eight functional units (FUs, beta c-HaH-a to beta c-HaH-h) were isolated, and their N-terminal sequences and molecular weights, ranging between 45 and 65 kDa, determined. The antimicrobial test of the hemocyanins against different bacteria showed that only two FUs from Rapana, RvH1-b and RvH1-e, exhibit a low inhibition effect against Staphylococcus aureus. In contrast and surprisingly, the structural subunit beta c-HaH of H. aspersa not only shows strong antimicrobial activities against S. aureus and the likewise Gram-positive Streptococcus epidermidis, but also against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. We suggest that this subunit therefore has the potential to become a substitute for the commonly used antibiotics against which bacterial resistance has gradually been developed.

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