Basic peptide protamine exerts antimicrobial activity against periodontopathic bacteria——Growth inhibition of periodontopathic bacteria by protamine

Abstract

Protamine was investigated for its antibacterial activity against the periodontal pathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. We determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations of protamine and its hydrolysate and their bactericidal activity. Protamine inhibited the growth of all periodontopathic bacteria tested on agar plates. Protamine, which MIC was 6.3 × 10-7 g L-1, was most effective against P. gingivalis. The antibacterial effect of native protamine was higher than that of its hydrolysate. An ATP bioluminescence assay revealed that protamine showed bactericidal activity against P. gingivalis in a time-dependent manner. These results indicate that protamine could be candidate peptide for prevention of P. gingivalis infection.