[In vitro antimicrobial activity of defensins from rabbit neutrophils against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its multiple-drug-resistance strains].

Objective: To investigate the role and mechanism of defensins from rabbit neutrophils against the multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Methods: Defensins were extracted from rabbit peritoneal neutrophil granules with citric acid and purified by acid urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (AU-PAGE). An agrose gel radial diffusion assay for bactericidal activity in vitro was used and ultrastructural changes of the killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa were examined by use of transmission electron microscope.