The Antibacterial Effect of American Cockroach Hemolymph on the Nosocomial Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract

Background:Insects are able to recognize many pathogenic microorganisms and defend against them due to their long evolutionary history. Due to the development of resistance to synthetic antibiotics, researchers are trying to apply insect immune-derived products. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the antibacterial effect of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) hemolymph on susceptible and resistant strains of nosocomial bacteria. Materials and Methods: To stimulate adult cockroaches' immune system, Escherichia coli cells were injected. The antimicrobial effect of the extracted induced and non-induced hemolymph was assayed on many susceptible and resistant pathogenic bacteria. Results: The comparison of antimicrobial effects of the induced and non-induced hemolymph strains showed that about 43% of bacteria were sensitive to induced hemolymph (P < 0.001), whereas non-induced hemolymph showed no inhibitory effect on the bacteria. Also, evaluation of induced hemolymph effect on the types of strains showed that induced hemolymph affected about 75% of the susceptible bacterial strains (P < 0.001); whereas, it did not affect the resistant strains. Among the tested bacteria, ceftazidime-sensitive E. coli and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus showed sensitivity to the induced hemolymph (P < 0.001). Conclusions:The study results showed that stimulation of the American cockroach's immunity system lead to production of antibacterial proteins and peptides which had inhibitory effect on the bacteria, depending on the bacterial strains and their sensitivity. Likely this feature of insects can be used as therapeutic strategies to produce natural antimicrobial compounds against the pathogenic bacteria.

Bacteria associated with cockroaches: health risk or biotechnological opportunity?

“…The brain lysate and hemolymph of Pe. americana showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (Ali et al 2017;Latifi et al 2015). Because the antimicrobial activity of the hemolymph was induced by abdominal sublethal injection with viable E. coli cells (Basseri et al 2016), innate immunity is probably involved in the response (Kim et al 2016).…”

Exploring the global animal biodiversity in the search for new drugs - insects

“…Other examples besides those extensively addressed in this paper are the readily available and cost-effective anti-inflammatory glycosaminoglycans from the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer, 1773 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) [247] and the powerful proteolytic enzyme mantis egg fibrolase (MEF) from the egg cases of the Chinese mantis Tenodera sinensis (Saussure, 1871) (Mantodea: Mantidae) [248]. Furthermore, products from the American cockroach Periplaneta americana Linnaeus, 1758 (Blattodea: Blattidae) [249], certain dipteran species [250], and the larvae of the dobsonfly Protohermes grandis Thunberg, 1781 (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) [251] displayed broad-spectrum in vitro antibiotic activity, including activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Notably, the insect antimicrobial peptide cecropin from the housefly Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Muscidae) elicited interesting anticancer effects in a cell culture model [252].…”

Edible cockroaches as food and feed – A systematic review on health benefits, nutritional aspects and consumer acceptance

“…This protein have the ability to recognise harmful bacteria and trigger the innate immune response against pathogens. Currently, there are 50 antimicrobial compounds in medical use that have been sourced from insects (Latifi et al, 2015). Cockroaches have been noted to exhibit antimicrobial effects against both grampositive and gram-negative bacteria as well as antiamoebic effects, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), M. luteus, and Bacillus subtilis.…”