Publications by authors named "Lidia de Tapia"
The exploration of therapies combining antimicrobial lung proteins and conventional antibiotics is important due to the growing problem of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate whether human SP-A and a recombinant trimeric fragment (rfhSP-A) have cooperative antimicrobial activity with antibiotics against pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. We found that SP-A bound the cationic peptide polymyxin B (PMB) with an apparent dissociation constant ( ) of 0.
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- LL-37 is an antimicrobial peptide that can also cause tissue damage by interacting with host cells, particularly relevant in chronic respiratory diseases with elevated LL-37 levels.
- This study explores how the human collectin SP-A and a specific recombinant fragment (rfhSP-A) can influence the behavior of LL-37 through various scientific methods.
- Findings reveal that both SP-A and rfhSP-A bind to LL-37, reducing its harmful effects while maintaining its ability to combat harmful bacteria, indicating a potential therapeutic use for rfhSP-A in reducing LL-37's cytotoxic effects.
Non-typeable (NTHi) causes persistent respiratory infections in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), probably linked to its capacity to invade and reside within pneumocytes. In the alveolar fluid, NTHi is in contact with pulmonary surfactant, a lipoprotein complex that protects the lung against alveolar collapse and constitutes the front line of defense against inhaled pathogens and toxins. Decreased levels of surfactant phospholipids have been reported in smokers and patients with COPD.
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