Open Access

Melittin, a honeybee venom‑derived antimicrobial peptide, may target methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus

  • Authors:
    • Ji Hae Choi
    • A Yeung Jang
    • Shunmei Lin
    • Sangyong Lim
    • Dongho Kim
    • Kyungho Park
    • Sang‑Mi Han
    • Joo‑Hong Yeo
    • Ho Seong Seo
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 1, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.4275
  • Pages: 6483-6490
  • Copyright: © Choi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is difficult to treat using available antibiotic agents. Honeybee venom has been widely used as an oriental treatment for several inflammatory diseases and bacterial infections. The venom contains predominantly biologically active compounds, however, the therapeutic effects of such materials when used to treat MRSA infections have not been investigated extensively. The present study evaluated bee venom and its principal active component, melittin, in terms of their antibacterial activities and in vivo protection against MRSA infections. In vitro, bee venom and melittin exhibited comparable levels of antibacterial activity, which was more marked against MRSA strains, compared with other Gram‑positive bacteria. When MRSA‑infected mice were treated with bee venom or melittin, only the latter animals were successfully rescued from MRSA‑ induced bacteraemia or exhibited recovery from MRSA‑infected skin wounds. Together, the data of the present study demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that melittin may be used as a promising antimicrobial agent to enhance the healing of MRSA‑induced wounds.
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November-2015
Volume 12 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Choi JH, Jang AY, Lin S, Lim S, Kim D, Park K, Han SM, Yeo JH and Seo HS: Melittin, a honeybee venom‑derived antimicrobial peptide, may target methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Mol Med Rep 12: 6483-6490, 2015
APA
Choi, J.H., Jang, A.Y., Lin, S., Lim, S., Kim, D., Park, K. ... Seo, H.S. (2015). Melittin, a honeybee venom‑derived antimicrobial peptide, may target methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Molecular Medicine Reports, 12, 6483-6490. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.4275
MLA
Choi, J. H., Jang, A. Y., Lin, S., Lim, S., Kim, D., Park, K., Han, S., Yeo, J., Seo, H. S."Melittin, a honeybee venom‑derived antimicrobial peptide, may target methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus". Molecular Medicine Reports 12.5 (2015): 6483-6490.
Chicago
Choi, J. H., Jang, A. Y., Lin, S., Lim, S., Kim, D., Park, K., Han, S., Yeo, J., Seo, H. S."Melittin, a honeybee venom‑derived antimicrobial peptide, may target methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus". Molecular Medicine Reports 12, no. 5 (2015): 6483-6490. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.4275