Lysates of Locusta migratoria brain exhibit potent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity

Sir, In recent years, the burden of infectious diseases has exacerbated with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and lessening efficacy of the available antimicrobial compounds. 1 Vancomycin-resistant enterococci and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have recently emerged as major threats to public health. In fact, the drug of choice to treat MRSA is vancomycin, but it has emerged recently that vancomycinintermediate S. aureus is exhibiting some levels of resistance against vancomycin. In addition, there are reports from the USA of MRSA showing high-level resistance to glycopeptides due to acquisition of the vanA gene complex. 2 Thus, new antimicrobial agents are required to meet the challenge posed by the emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. The search for new antibiotic compounds originating from natural resources is an important research area. Insects are the largest (80% of all fauna) and most widespread group within the Animal Kingdom, and synthesize a variety of antibacterial compounds, including the defensins and cecropins, as part of their innate immune response to infection. 3‐5 Up to 50% of the