Sensitivity of Dormant and Germinating B, Anthracis Spores to Polycationic Compound

摘要

The antimicrobial peptide protamine was found to be highly effective for rapid inactivation of Bacillus anthracis spores in aqueous suspension. Treatment of spores at the onset of germination with 10-, 100- and 1OOO-mug/ml protamine for 15 min at 37 deg C reduced viability by 80.9, 99.4 and 99.7%, respectively. Partially-germinated spores exposed to 10- or 100-mug/ml protamine became permeable to propidium iodide. Activity of protamine against dormant spores was a function of exposure temperature. while treatment of dormant spores with 1000-mug/ml protamine at ambient temperature did not significantly affect viability, dormant spores exposed to protamine at elevated temperatures were rendered susceptible to the toxicity of the peptide. Viability of dormant spores as a suspension subjected to 1000-mug/ml protamine at 55 deg C for 15 min was reduced by 99.5%. Protamine could be utilized as an effective enhancement of non-caustic treatments employed to process materials contaminated with the spore form of B. anthracis.