Structure-related activity of tick defensin and antibody monitoring system in wildlife

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Defensins are major group of antimicrobial peptides and are found widely in vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. Invertebrate defensins have been identified in ticks. In this study, chemically synthesized tick defensins were used to investigate the activity spectrum against bacteria isolated from the midgut. Synthetic tick defensin showedantimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus but not Borrelia garinii and symbiotic Stenotrophomonas maltophila. The results demonstrate that the activity of antimicrobial peptides from tick is important for selection and reservation of specific bacteria such as Lyme disease spirochetes in the midgut. The teriary structure brought more potent activity to S. aureus than primary one in short-time killing. The killing activity is related to the structure of tick defensing. Antibody against tick defensing in wildlife monitoring system can useful to know the risk of tick-borne diseases.