In vivo activity of mutacin B-Ny266.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the in vivo activity of mutacin B-Ny266 (a bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus mutans) in order to eventually use it as an antibiotic. METHODS: Intraperitoneal infection was induced with a methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strain in mice. Some of the mice were simultaneously injected intraperitoneally with mutacin B-Ny266, some with the vehicle only and some with vancomycin. RESULTS: While there was 70 and 100% mortality in the control groups of mice, no mortality was observed in the mice injected with vancomycin or mutacin B-Ny266. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here show, for the first time, the in vivo efficacy of a mutacin (B-Ny266) against an experimental intraperitoneal infection by S. aureus in a mouse model.