Antibacterial Properties of Toad Skin Secretions. (Biological Science Section).Gallegos, A. and L. R. Ayyagari. Department of Biology, Lindenwood University Lindenwood University is a four-year liberal arts institution in St. Charles, Missouri, just northwest of St. Louis and St. Louis County. Lindenwood offers many undergraduate and graduate degrees, including a newly authorized Doctor of Education program that began in January 2007. . ANTIBACTERIAL antibacterial /an·ti·bac·te·ri·al/ (-bak-ter´e-al) destroying or suppressing growth or reproduction of bacteria; also, an agent that does this. an·ti·bac·te·ri·al adj. PROPERTIES OF TOAD toad, name applied to certain members of the amphibian order Anura, which also includes the frog. Although there is no clear-cut distinction between toads and frogs, the name toad SKIN SECRETIONS. Frogs and the closely related toads seem to have evolved and adapted to living in microbe-laden waters and mud because of a well-developed defense system. The defense system is elicited by environmental stimuli and chemical signals through the secretion of proteins from the animal's skin, which act as barriers against infection. These skin secretions were reported to contain Magainin-like proteins with inhibitory activity of both gram-negative and -positive bacteria, fungi and protozoa. In a study to investigate the composition of skin secretions, toad skin swabs were made after an injection of epinephrine at various times and after different amounts of epinephrine in frog Ringer's solution Ringer's solution n. 1. A solution resembling blood serum in its salt constituents, containing sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and calcium chloride in water, used topically for burns and wounds. 2. . Culture lawns of both gram-positive and -negative bacteria and fungi were tested with filter paper discs dipped in skin secretions at various dilutions. Inhibitory zones were observed in all cu lture plates as compared to the zones observed with control skin-swabs of the toad not given any epinephrine. Preliminary biochemical characterization of the skin secretions showed the presence of proteins. These proteins were eluted on a Sepahdex G-25 column at a marker protein size of 45,000 Daltons. After elution elution /elu·tion/ (e-loo´shun) in chemistry, separation of material by washing; the process of pulverizing substances and mixing them with water in order to separate the heavier constituents, which settle out in solution, from the through the column the peak fraction continued to show anti-microbial properties in the zone-inhibition assay. The homogeneity Homogeneity The degree to which items are similar. of this protein is presently being examined in gel-electrophoresis. A much more exhaustive study is also being conducted in Xenopus frogs. |
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