APPLICATION OF LYSOZYME AND DEXTRAN CONJUGATED LYSOZYME AS NATURAL ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL SKIN WOUND IN MICE

Background: Skin wound infected by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common and painful lesion. Tetracycline is commonly used as the antibiotic of choice for its treatment.

Aim: to determine the effectiveness of hen egg white lysozyme and dextran conjugated lysozyme in decreasing the bacterial count of experimentally induced skin wound infection in mice.

Methods; Lysozyme was conjugated with dextran under mild Maillard reaction conditions. Lysozyme and conjugated lysozyme were tested in vitro for their effectiveness against S. aureus and E. coli. Mouse model of skin wound infection was prepared in 6 group of mices (n=5) by 1cm × 1cm paravertebral laceration, extending to fascia created by scalpel. Five minutes after wounding, 10 µl culture media suspension containing 10⁶ CFU⁄cm² S. aureus was inoculated. Lysozyme and dextran conjugated lysozyme were applied as a 400µg/ml eucerin ointment base in treatment groups. Tetracycline was applied topically in the third group of mice.

Results: Both Lysozyme and conjugated lysozyme exhibited in vitro antibacterial effect against S. aureus at 400µg/ml, but only the conjugated lysozyme was effective against E. coli. Results showed a 2, 2.1 and 3.5 log10⁶ CFU ⁄cm² decrease in S. aureus count after 12 days in lysozyme, conjugated lysozyme and tetracycline treated mice, respectively.

Conclusion: Although tetracycline appears to be more effective than lysozyme, due to increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance, application of natural antibacterials such as lysozyme and its derivatives is suggested in the treatment of infected skin lesions.