In vitro antibacterial activity of whole body extracts from bacteria-pretreated Lucilia cuprina maggots

• Published in: International journal of tropical insect science 2024-02, Vol.44 (1), p.71-77
• Main Authors: Dillmann, Janaína Brand, Lopes, Thaísa Regina Rocha, de Vasconcelos, Adriana Righi, Matos, Antônio Francisco Igor Magalhães de, Cargnelutti, Juliana Felipetto, Monteiro, Silvia Gonzalez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibacterial activity; Antimicrobial activity; Bacteria; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Debridement; Disinfection; Drug resistance; Entomology; Gram-negative bacteria; Gram-positive bacteria; Larvae; Life Sciences; Lucilia cuprina; Maggots; Methicillin; Original Research Article; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus infections; Veterinary medicine; Wound healing
• ISSN: 1742-7592; 1742-7584; 1742-7592
• DOI: 10.1007/s42690-023-01136-x

Maggot debridement therapy is an alternative method for treating of infected wounds in both human and veterinary medicine. Sterile larvae, such as from Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae), stimulate wound healing through debridement of necrotic tissue and disinfection. Hence, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity from bacteria-pretreated L. cuprina maggot extracts against the most commonly isolated Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria from wounds. In short, whole-body extracts were collected after the sterile larvae were incubated for 24 h with a bacterial suspension of Staphylococcus aureus (Bacillales: Staphylococcaceae), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonadales: Pseudomonadaceae) or Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Larvae were cut into multiple pieces in a microtube containing sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), centrifuged, and the supernatant was filtered and used to test antibacterial activities. A Colony-Forming Unit assay was performed at two incubation times (0 and 6 h) with pre-treated and non-treated (PBS) larval extracts groups, compared to a bacteria growth control group. The results showed effective activity against P. aeruginosa , a slight decrease in bacteria growth for S. aureus , and no significant differences for MRSA. With higher antibacterial activity for P. aeruginosa , L. cuprina may represent a powerful tool to the clinical approach of gram-negative wound healing.