Maggot metabolites and their combinatory effects with antibiotic on Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

BackgroundMaggot therapy has been in practice for effective debridement, disinfection and healing of chronic wounds. Due to their antiseptic action during wound healing, their metabolites have been investigated in the past for antibacterial activity. They have been particularly useful for treatment of wounds infected with multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics, on the other hand, can predispose bacteria to develop resistance. Substances that are able to modulate or delay the occurrence of resistance in bacteria are under investigation by many researchers around the world. In the present study, antibacterial activity in excretions/secretions (ES) from maggots of Lucilia cuprina blowfly was demonstrated. The extracts were also screened in combination with antibiotic, ciprofloxacin.MethodsL. cuprina blowfly maggots were reared for extraction of its metabolites. The ES extracted was screened against S. aureus, alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin, both for short term and long term exposure analysis. A microchannel-based device and system was used for experiments instead of conventional techniques.ResultsThe original ES had shown partial bacterial growth inhibition. However, in combination with ciprofloxacin, at sub-inhibitory concentrations, certain combinations revealed anti-staphylococcal activity, with bacterial reduction of up to 50%, after 24 hours. The six day study on S. aureus exposed to ES-ciprofloxacin combination suggested a potential delay in development of adaptive resistance as opposed to when ciprofloxacin was used as single agent.ConclusionsThe combination effect of ES and ciprofloxacin at sub-MIC levels showed enhanced antibacterial activity compared to the effect of ES and ciprofloxacin as single agents. Based on the results of ES-ciprofloxacin combinations, a more effective means of treatment for S. aureus can be proposed.

A metagenomic assessment of the bacteria associated with Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

“…This is important from a maggot debridement therapy point of view because if wounds are infected with these bacteria, then most maggot treatment will not work on these wounds unless paired with other treatments like antibiotics. Such observations may support published literature on the effectiveness of maggot treatment of wound infections with the famous superbug methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which are conflicting and inconclusive (Arora et al 2011;Mumcuoglu 2001;van der Plas et al 2008). One possibility is that the larvae are capable of breaking down and disrupting biofilm formation by MRSA but prevent multiplication of planktonic bacteria and do not kill them (Cazander et al 2013).…”

Emerging topics in cutaneous wound repair

“…Maggots are gradually finding their way into a more acceptable system of wound management, and they have been used for treating diabetic foot ulcers unresponsive to conventional therapy 58,59 . Maggot secretions and excretions possess antibacterial activity against a wide range of pathogens and in their wound‐healing capabilities in biosurgery 60 …”

Molecular events underlying maggot extract promoted rat in vivo and human in vitro skin wound healing

“…The beneficial effects of maggot excretion/secretion mixture or body extracts on skin wound healing have been well documented, suggesting their potential values as a kind of bioactive agent in alternative treatment of skin wounds, especially the hard‐to‐heal ones . However, it is still not clear which parts of maggots play better growth‐promoting roles in the healing processes and what molecular effects they exert on the wound tissues.…”