Drosophila cecropin as an antifungal agent

The effects of Drosophila and Hyalophora cecropins were tested against diff erent fungi, both insect pathogens and fungi from the normal environment of Drosophila. The fungi were generally found to be as susceptible to the cec ropins as most bacteria, the only exception being the insect pathogen Beauv eria bassiana which is completely resistant. This is also the only fungus t ested which is virulent to Drosophila, giving 100% lethality within 5 days after injection. Lethal concentrations of cecropins against other fungi tes ted ranged between 0.4 and 4 mu M. Andropin is less fungicidal than the cec ropins, and Drosophila cecropin A is somewhat more potent than cecropin B. Even dense cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be cleared by micromola r concentrations of cecropin, whereas Geotrichum candidum is unaffected by cecropin when tested in a dense culture. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.