Orally inoculated Escherichia coli strains colonize the gut and increase bacterial translocation after stress in rats.

Coliforms are the members of the indigenous gut flora that most often translocate to mesenteric lymph nodes. Very few strains of Escherichia coli found in cecal contents of rats are able to translocate. The present study investigated the role of the composition of the gut flora for the occurrence of bacterial translocation.

Antimicrobial peptides in the first line defence of human colon mucosa.

Antimicrobial peptides and proteins are effector molecules in the protection of epithelial surfaces. We have evaluated the presence of antimicrobial peptides/proteins that can participate in human colonic defence against microbes. A peptide/protein extract of normal human colon mucosa was found to be active against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi.

Phylogeny, processing and expression of the rat cathelicidin rCRAMP: a model for innate antimicrobial peptides.

A database search identified a rat cDNA clone which phylogenetic analysis revealed to encode a cathelicidin most similar to mouse cathelicidin CRAMP. The analysis also showed that the evolutionary pattern of the cathelicidin family is lineage specific. The rat cathelicidin is called rCRAMP.