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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1969 October; 18(4): 641-645
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Prophylactic Effects of {gamma}-Aminobutyrylhistidine (Homocarnosine) on Experimental Staphylococcal Infections in Mice

Antony J. Mukkada1, Leo G. Nutini and Elton S. Cook

Division of Biology and Experimental Medicine, Institutum Divi Thomae, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
Division of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institutum Divi Thomae, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206

ABSTRACT

Prophylactic administration of the dipeptide homocarnosine induced a high degree of resistance to staphylococcal infections in Swiss albino mice. It expressed its antistaphylococcal properties 1 hr after administration, and this protection lasted for at least 1 month. Although 5 mg per animal (approximately 200 to 250 mg/kg) was routinely used in our studies, experiments showed that comparable results could be obtained with 1.5 mg per animal. Rechallenge experiments indicated that an active infection by itself may confer immunity up to 4 weeks, but an infection after treatment with homocarnosine gave complete immunity to reinfection for at least 2 months. Studies in vitro showed that homocarnosine had no effect on the growth or certain other characteristics (ability to ferment mannitol, liquefy gelatin, and to produce coagulase, deoxyribonuclease, and pigment) of S. aureus. It appears that resistance induced by this peptide is an indirect effect mediated by some nonimmunological host reaction. The possible involvement of homocarnosine, among other compounds, in the protective action of deproteinized beef extract against staphylococcal infections is suggested.

FOOTNOTES

1 Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221.

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1969 October; 18(4): 641-645
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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