Poster Presenter

Lucifensin, The Key Antimicrobial Player Of Maggot Therapy And Its Possible Applications
Václav Čerovský, Jiřina Slaninová, Jan Zdárek, Lenka Monincová, Vladimír Fučík
Czech Republic

From the extracts of various tissues (gut, salivary glands, fat body, haemolymph) of the green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata) larvae and from their excretions/secretions we have recently isolated and characterized novel homolog of insect defensin designated lucifensin (Lucilia defensin). This is 40 residues and three intramolecular disulfide bridges peptide which is very similar to other dipteran defensins. We assume that lucifensin is the key antimicrobial component that protects the larvae when they are exposed to the highly infectious environment of a wound during the medicinal process known as maggot therapy. We also believe that lucifensin is one of the crucial disinfectants of the wound produced by the maggots which contributes to the healing process. Here, we present the total chemical synthesis of lucifensin by means of the solid phase peptide synthesis method utilizing both the "step by step" strategy and the segment condensation. In antimicrobial assay using a set of different bacteria lucifensin shows activity preferentially against Gram-positive ones including Staphylococcus aureus. The discovered lucifensin may have a potential as a new agent for topical therapeutic applications in the treatment of serious surface infections. A promising aspect in the treatment of non-healing wounds could be the combination of conventional antibiotics with lucifensin and/or the use of this antimicrobial peptide as a supportive mean to bolster the healing effect of maggot therapy.