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Bazaliński D, Przybek-Mita J, Lisowicz K, Skórka M, Więch P. Defensins of Lucilia sericata Larvae and Their Influence on Wound Repair Processes in Practical Assessment-A Study of Three Cases. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5357. [PMID: 37047972 PMCID: PMC10094115 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria inhabiting chronic wounds form a biofilm that prolongs and slows down the healing process. Increasingly common antibiotic resistance requires clinicians to search for effective and alternative treatment methods. Defensins are the most common antimicrobial peptides capable of eradicating pathogens. Their discovery in maggot secretions allowed for a broader understanding of the healing mechanisms, and approving the use of Lucilia sericata fly larvae in the treatment of infected wounds resulted in an effective and safe procedure. The aim of the study was to present the possibility of biofilm elimination in a chronic wound by means of medical maggots (Lucilia sericata) with the example of three selected clinical cases. The observation included three women who met the inclusion criterion of having venous insufficiency ulcers with inhibited regeneration processes. Medical maggots were applied in a biobag for three days, and observation was conducted for 21 consecutive days. In 2 cases, a significant elimination of necrotic tissue from the wound bed with local granulation tissue was observed 72 h after application of a larvae colony on the wounds. In 1 case, the application of the larvae accelerated the repair process by reducing the wound area by approximately 40% at the time of observation. The formation of biofilm in a chronic wound is one of the main causes of disturbances in its effective healing. Combining procedures (scraping, antiseptic compresses, MDT, NPWT) related to wound debridement increases the effectiveness of biofilm elimination. The use of medical maggots is a safe and effective method of choice, and it enhances the processes of debridement. However, confirmed indisputable data on their effectiveness and frequency of use in the process of stimulating healing processes are still not available in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz Bazaliński
- Father B. Markiewicz Podkarpackie Specialist Oncology Centre, Specialist Hospital in Brzozów, 36-200 Brzozów, Poland
- Department of Nursing and Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszów, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Joanna Przybek-Mita
- Department of Medical Rescue, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszów, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
- Postgraduate Nursing and Midwifery Education Centre, 35-083 Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Lisowicz
- Department of Nursing, Institute of Health and Economy, Carpathian State University in Krosno, 38-400 Krosno, Poland
| | - Mateusz Skórka
- St Hedvig Clinical Provincial Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszów, 35-301 Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Paweł Więch
- Department of Nursing and Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszów, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
- Department of Nursing, Institute of Health Protection, State University of Applied Sciences in Przemyśl, 37-700 Przemyśl, Poland
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Morris D, Flores M, Harris L, Gammon J, Nigam Y. Larval Therapy and Larval Excretions/Secretions: A Potential Treatment for Biofilm in Chronic Wounds? A Systematic Review. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020457. [PMID: 36838422 PMCID: PMC9965881 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic wounds present a global healthcare challenge and are increasing in prevalence, with bacterial biofilms being the primary roadblock to healing in most cases. A systematic review of the to-date knowledge on larval therapy's interaction with chronic-wound biofilm is presented here. The findings detail how larval therapy-the controlled application of necrophagous blowfly larvae-acts on biofilms produced by chronic-wound-relevant bacteria through their principle pharmacological mode of action: the secretion and excretion of biologically active substances into the wound bed. A total of 12 inclusion-criteria-meeting publications were identified following the application of a PRISMA-guided methodology for a systematic review. The findings of these publications were qualitatively analyzed to provide a summary of the prevailing understanding of larval therapy's effects on bacterial biofilm. A further review assessed the quality of the existing evidence to identify knowledge gaps and suggest ways these may be bridged. In summary, larval therapy has a seemingly unarguable ability to inhibit and degrade bacterial biofilms associated with impaired wound healing. However, further research is needed to clarify and standardize the methodological approach in this area of investigation. Such research may lead to the clinical application of larval therapy or derivative treatments for the management of chronic-wound biofilms and improve patient healing outcomes at a time when alternative therapies are desperately needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Morris
- Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
- BioMonde, Bridgend CF31 3BG, UK
| | | | - Llinos Harris
- Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - John Gammon
- Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Yamni Nigam
- Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
- Correspondence:
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Abdel-Samad MRK, Taher FA. Wound healing and antibacterial activities of water-soluble chitosan nanoparticles and excretion/secretion as a natural combination from medicinal maggots, Lucilia cuprina. J BIOACT COMPAT POL 2021. [DOI: 10.1177/08839115211053921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Wounds management takes a high interest in the medical field and the addition of antimicrobial agents in an assortment of wound dressings leads to delay the wound healing. This study aimed at preparing natural combination between excretion/secretion (ES) and water-soluble chitosan nanoparticles (from Lucilia cuprina maggots) and investigating its antibacterial and wound healing activities. ES of maggots was collected, and the water-soluble chitosan nanoparticles (WSCNPs) were prepared and characterized. Antibacterial activities of combinations were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris. ES-WSC-2 combination that contains 50% ES and 1% WSCNPs showed highest antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria compared to the other combinations. In vitro, the ES-WSC-2 combination was used to study the wound healing activity by scratch assay. The synergism between ES and WSCNPs (in ES-WSC-2 combination) accelerated the wound healing rate which suggests the use of this combination as an effective natural antibacterial and wound healing agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad RK Abdel-Samad
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
- Al-Azhar Technology Incubator (ATI), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Fatma A Taher
- Al-Azhar Technology Incubator (ATI), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (Girls), Cairo, Egypt
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4
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Gazi U, Taylan-Ozkan A, Mumcuoglu KY. The effect of Lucilia sericata larval excretion/secretion (ES) products on cellular responses in wound healing. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 35:257-266. [PMID: 33314340 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Chronic wounds are still regarded as a serious public health concern, which are on the increase mainly due to the changes in life styles and aging of the human population. There are different types of chronic wounds, each of which requires slightly different treatment strategies. Nevertheless, wound bed preparation is included in treatment of all types of chronic wounds and involves tissue debridement, inflammation, and infection control, as well as moisture balance and epithelial edge advancement. Maggot therapy (MT) is a form of biological debridement which involves the application of live medical grade Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae. Whereas it was initially thought to act mainly through debridement, today MT is known to influence all four overlapping physiological phases of wound repair: homeostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling/maturing. During MT, medical-grade larvae are applied either freely or enclosed in tea-bag like devices (biobag) inside the wounds, which suggests that larva excretion/secretion (ES) products can facilitate the healing processes directly without the need of direct contact with the larvae. This review summarizes the relevant literature on ES-mediated effects on the cellular responses involved in wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Gazi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - A Taylan-Ozkan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hitit University, Corum, Turkey
| | - K Y Mumcuoglu
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
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Harman RM, Theoret CL, Van de Walle GR. The Horse as a Model for the Study of Cutaneous Wound Healing. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2021; 10:381-399. [PMID: 34042536 DOI: 10.1089/wound.2018.0883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Significance: Cutaneous wounds are a major problem in both human and equine medicine. The economic cost of treating skin wounds and related complications in humans and horses is high, and in both species, particular types of chronic wounds do not respond well to current therapies, leading to suffering and morbidity. Recent Advances: Conventional methods for the treatment of cutaneous wounds are generic and have not changed significantly in decades. However, as more is learned about the mechanisms involved in normal skin wound healing, and how failure of these processes leads to chronic nonhealing wounds, novel therapies targeting the specific pathologies of hard-to-heal wounds are being developed and evaluated. Critical Issues: Physiologically relevant animal models are needed to (1) study the mechanisms involved in normal and impaired skin wound healing and (2) test newly developed therapies. Future Directions: Similarities in normal wound healing in humans and horses, and the natural development of distinct types of hard-to-heal chronic wounds in both species, make the horse a physiologically relevant model for the study of mechanisms involved in wound repair. Horses are also well-suited models to test novel therapies. In addition, studies in horses have the potential to benefit veterinary, as well as human medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M. Harman
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | | | - Gerlinde R. Van de Walle
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
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Ashour DS, Othman AA. Parasite-bacteria interrelationship. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3145-3164. [PMID: 32748037 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06804-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Parasites and bacteria have co-evolved with humankind, and they interact all the time in a myriad of ways. For example, some bacterial infections result from parasite-dwelling bacteria as in the case of Salmonella infection during schistosomiasis. Other bacteria synergize with parasites in the evolution of human disease as in the case of the interplay between Wolbachia endosymbiont bacteria and filarial nematodes as well as the interaction between Gram-negative bacteria and Schistosoma haematobium in the pathogenesis of urinary bladder cancer. Moreover, secondary bacterial infections may complicate several parasitic diseases such as visceral leishmaniasis and malaria, due to immunosuppression of the host during parasitic infections. Also, bacteria may colonize the parasitic lesions; for example, hydatid cysts and skin lesions of ectoparasites. Remarkably, some parasitic helminths and arthropods exhibit antibacterial activity usually by the release of specific antimicrobial products. Lastly, some parasite-bacteria interactions are induced as when using probiotic bacteria to modulate the outcome of a variety of parasitic infections. In sum, parasite-bacteria interactions involve intricate processes that never cease to intrigue the researchers. However, understanding and exploiting these interactions could have prophylactic and curative potential for infections by both types of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia S Ashour
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.
| | - Ahmad A Othman
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
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7
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Isabela Avila-Rodríguez M, Meléndez-Martínez D, Licona-Cassani C, Manuel Aguilar-Yañez J, Benavides J, Lorena Sánchez M. Practical context of enzymatic treatment for wound healing: A secreted protease approach (Review). Biomed Rep 2020; 13:3-14. [PMID: 32440346 PMCID: PMC7238406 DOI: 10.3892/br.2020.1300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Skin wounds have been extensively studied as their healing represents a critical step towards achieving homeostasis following a traumatic event. Dependent on the severity of the damage, wounds are categorized as either acute or chronic. To date, chronic wounds have the highest economic impact as long term increases wound care costs. Chronic wounds affect 6.5 million patients in the United States with an annual estimated expense of $25 billion for the health care system. Among wound treatment categories, active wound care represents the fastest-growing category due to its specific actions and lower costs. Within this category, proteases from various sources have been used as successful agents in debridement wound care. The wound healing process is predominantly mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that, when dysregulated, result in defective wound healing. Therapeutic activity has been described for animal secretions including fish epithelial mucus, maggot secretory products and snake venom, which contain secreted proteases (SPs). No further alternatives for use, sources or types of proteases used for wound healing have been found in the literature to date. Through the present review, the context of enzymatic wound care alternatives will be discussed. In addition, substrate homology of SPs and human MMPs will be compared and contrasted. The purpose of these discussions is to identify and propose the stages of wound healing in which SPs may be used as therapeutic agents to improve the wound healing process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Meléndez-Martínez
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64849, Mexico
| | | | - José Manuel Aguilar-Yañez
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64849, Mexico
- Scicore Medical SAPI de CV, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64920, Mexico
| | - Jorge Benavides
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64849, Mexico
| | - Mirna Lorena Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Materiales Biotecnológicos, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes-Imbice-Conicet-Cicpba, Bernal, Buenos Aires B1876BXD, Argentina
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8
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Pharmacological Properties of the Medical Maggot: A Novel Therapy Overview. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2018; 2018:4934890. [PMID: 29853956 PMCID: PMC5960508 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4934890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade, maggot has been hailed as the miraculous “medicinal maggot” for its diverse properties, including antimicrobial, antibiofilm, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing activities. The fact that maggots show so many beneficial properties has increased the interest in these tiny larvae dramatically. Whilst there is relatively abundant clinical evidence to demonstrate the success of maggots as debridement agents, not so much emphasis has been placed on the basic science evidence, which was a combination of physical and biochemical actions. This review differs from those earlier works in that it is undertaken to provide an update of the latest scientific basis published on maggot, particularly active ingredients within maggot excretions/secretions (ES). Further investigations should focus on the isolation, identification, recombination, transgenosis, and mass production of the beneficial molecules within maggots.
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9
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Abstract
Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is an effective method for debriding wounds such as leg ulcers, supporting the concept of wound bed preparation ( Dumville et al, 2009 ; Soares et al, 2009 ; Mudge et al, 2014 ). New evidence is emerging to suggest that maggots might contribute to wound healing in other ways. For example, the reduction of biofilms and disinfection of wounds ( Van Der Plas et al, 2008 ; Brown et al, 2012 ; Pritchard and Brown, 2015 ) plus regulation of protease levels ( Chambers et al, 2003 ; Van Der Plas et al, 2009a ; Van Der Plas et al, 2009b ). This review will discuss research exploring new benefits of maggots in the management of individuals with chronic leg ulcers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Abela
- PgDip Wound Healing and Tissue Repair, Cardiff University, Practice Nurse, Tissue Viabilty, VGH Rehabilitation Hospital Karin Grech, Malta
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10
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Pickles SF, Pritchard DI. Quality control of a medicinal larval (Lucilia sericata) debridement device based on released gelatinase activity. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 31:200-206. [PMID: 28117913 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Lucilia sericata Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae are manufactured worldwide for the treatment of chronic wounds. Published research has confirmed that the primary clinical effect of the product, debridement (the degradation of non-viable wound tissue), is accomplished by a range of enzymes released by larvae during feeding. The quality assessment of larval activity is currently achieved during production using meat-based assays, which monitor insect growth and/or the reduction in substrate mass. To support this, the present authors developed a complementary radial diffusion enzymatic assay to produce a visual and measureable indication of the activity of larval alimentary products (LAP) collected under standardized conditions, against a gelatin substrate. Using basic laboratory equipment and reagents, the assay is rapid and suited to high throughput. Assay reproducibility is high (standard deviation: 0.06-0.27; coefficient of variation: 0.75-4.31%) and the LAP collection procedure does not adversely affect larval survival (mortality: < 2%). Because it is both cost- and time-effective, this method is suited to both academic and industrial use and supports good manufacturing and laboratory practice as a quality control assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- S F Pickles
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K
| | - D I Pritchard
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K
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Pritchard DI, Čeřovský V, Nigam Y, Pickles SF, Cazander G, Nibbering PH, Bültemann A, Jung W. TIME management by medicinal larvae. Int Wound J 2016; 13:475-84. [PMID: 26179750 PMCID: PMC7950164 DOI: 10.1111/iwj.12457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Wound bed preparation (WBP) is an integral part of the care programme for chronic wounds. The acronym TIME is used in the context of WBP and describes four barriers to healing in chronic wounds; namely, dead Tissue, Infection and inflammation, Moisture imbalance and a non-migrating Edge. Larval debridement therapy (LDT) stems from observations that larvae of the blowfly Lucilia sericata clean wounds of debris. Subsequent clinical studies have proven debriding efficacy, which is likely to occur as a result of enzymatically active alimentary products released by the insect. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities of LDT have also been investigated, predominantly in a pre-clinical context. This review summarises the findings of investigations into the molecular mechanisms of LDT and places these in context with the clinical concept of WBP and TIME. It is clear from these findings that biotherapy with L. sericata conforms with TIME, through the enzymatic removal of dead tissue and its associated biofilm, coupled with the secretion of defined antimicrobial peptides. This biotherapeutic impact on the wound serves to reduce inflammation, with an associated capacity for an indirect effect on moisture imbalance. Furthermore, larval serine proteinases have the capacity to alter fibroblast behaviour in a manner conducive to the formation of granulation tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Václav Čeřovský
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Yamni Nigam
- College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | | | | | - Peter H Nibbering
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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12
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Next Generation Sequencing Identifies Five Major Classes of Potentially Therapeutic Enzymes Secreted by Lucilia sericata Medical Maggots. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:8285428. [PMID: 27119084 PMCID: PMC4826915 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8285428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Lucilia sericata larvae are used as an alternative treatment for recalcitrant and chronic wounds. Their excretions/secretions contain molecules that facilitate tissue debridement, disinfect, or accelerate wound healing and have therefore been recognized as a potential source of novel therapeutic compounds. Among the substances present in excretions/secretions various peptidase activities promoting the wound healing processes have been detected but the peptidases responsible for these activities remain mostly unidentified. To explore these enzymes we applied next generation sequencing to analyze the transcriptomes of different maggot tissues (salivary glands, gut, and crop) associated with the production of excretions/secretions and/or with digestion as well as the rest of the larval body. As a result we obtained more than 123.8 million paired-end reads, which were assembled de novo using Trinity and Oases assemblers, yielding 41,421 contigs with an N50 contig length of 2.22 kb and a total length of 67.79 Mb. BLASTp analysis against the MEROPS database identified 1729 contigs in 577 clusters encoding five peptidase classes (serine, cysteine, aspartic, threonine, and metallopeptidases), which were assigned to 26 clans, 48 families, and 185 peptidase species. The individual enzymes were differentially expressed among maggot tissues and included peptidase activities related to the therapeutic effects of maggot excretions/secretions.
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13
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Wilson MR, Nigam Y, Jung W, Knight J, Pritchard DI. The impacts of larval density and protease inhibition on feeding in medicinal larvae of the greenbottle fly Lucilia sericata. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 30:1-7. [PMID: 26463514 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Larval therapy, the therapeutic use of blowfly larvae to treat chronic wounds, is primarily used in debridement. There are, however, gaps in current knowledge of the optimal clinical application of the therapy and mechanisms of action in the debridement process. Using an artificial assay, two studies were undertaken to investigate these aspects of larval debridement by Lucilia sericata Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae); the first studied the effects of the density of larvae on tissue digestion and larval mass, and the second considered the effects on the same parameters of incorporating protease inhibitors into the feeding substrate. The total mass of tissue digested increased with larval density until saturation was observed at 5.0-7.5 larvae/cm(2) . This range was considered optimal as lower doses resulted in the removal of less tissue and higher doses offered no additional tissue removal and appeared to exacerbate competition for feeding. In the second study, increased protease inhibitor concentration led to significant decreases in tissue digestion and larval mass, suggesting that serine proteases, particularly trypsin, may play major roles in larval digestion. Such information is important in elucidating the main constituents that make up larval digestive products and may be significant in the development of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Wilson
- College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, U.K
| | - Y Nigam
- College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, U.K
| | - W Jung
- Department of Research and Development, BioMonde GmbH, Barsbüttel, Germany
| | - J Knight
- College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, U.K
| | - D I Pritchard
- School of Pharmacy, Nottingham University, Nottingham, U.K
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14
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Cazander G, Pritchard DI, Nigam Y, Jung W, Nibbering PH. Multiple actions ofLucilia sericatalarvae in hard-to-heal wounds. Bioessays 2013; 35:1083-92. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201300071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gwendolyn Cazander
- Department of Surgery; Bronovo Hospital; The Hague The Netherlands
- Department of Surgery; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
| | | | - Yamni Nigam
- College of Human and Health Sciences; Swansea University; Swansea UK
| | | | - Peter H. Nibbering
- Department of Infectious Diseases; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
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