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Inhibiting effect of melittin on pathogens of crops

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

The spectrum of antimicrobial effects of melittin were investigated on 19 pathogens by using a cylinder-plate method with serial dilutions. Bacteriostatic efficiency and possible mechanistic effects were monitored via growth curves. The mechanism of inhibition was further analyzed by SDS-PAGE, flow cytometry and electron microscopy. Melittin had a wide inhibition spectrum and killed pathogens effectively, and bacteriostatic action was influenced by factors such as pH and temperature. We elucidated three inhibitory mechanisms: melittin integrated with the cell membrane causing cell bursting and cytoplasm release, inhibited the synthesis of proteins and caused the cytoplasm to condense, and delayed pathogens in phase I (or phase G1) so that they could not complete the cell cycle. These results suggest that melittin could serve as a broad-spectrum biological pesticide with fast-action and high-efficiency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, 116029, China

    Pan LingZi, Na Jie, Xing Zhuo, Fang HongJun & Wang GuanLin

Authors
  1. Pan LingZi
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  2. Na Jie
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  3. Xing Zhuo
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  4. Fang HongJun
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  5. Wang GuanLin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wang GuanLin.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30170112), and the International Cooperation Project (Grant No. 30310103130)

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Pan, L., Na, J., Xing, Z. et al. Inhibiting effect of melittin on pathogens of crops. CHINESE SCI BULL 52, 639–644 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0117-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0117-0

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