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Photodynamic antimicrobial activity of avian eggshell pigments
Author(s) -
Ishikawa Shin-ichi,
Suzuki Kazuto,
Fukuda Eriko,
Arihara Keizo,
Yamamoto Yuji,
Mukai Takao,
Itoh Makoto
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.12.041
Subject(s) - eggshell , bacillus cereus , pigment , antimicrobial , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , staphylococcus aureus , escherichia coli , salmonella enteritidis , salmonella , cereus , chemistry , biology , food science , bacillus (shape) , gram positive bacteria , biochemistry , ecology , genetics , organic chemistry , gene
Pigmentation in avian eggshells appears to be associated with shell strength, temperature regulation, and camouflage. The pigments found in eggshells are mainly porphyrins, which have been utilized therapeutically as photosensitizers. Here, we examined the photoinactivation of gram‐positive ( Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus cereus ) and gram‐negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli , Salmonella enteritidis ) by hen eggshells and their pigments. The results indicated that eggshells have a light‐dependent antimicrobial activity against gram‐positive, but not gram‐negative, bacteria. Our results indicate the possibility that the natural pigments used therapeutically have evolved in nature as a defence system.