In vitro growth inhibition of human intestinal bacteria by sarcotoxin IA, an insect bactericidal peptide

Sacotoxin IA, an anti-microbial peptide of insects, inhibited the growth of harmful human intestinal bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Clostridium ra mosum and Clostridium paraputrificum, in vitro. Interestingly, E. coli O157 which is well-known to cause food poisoning, was most sensitive to the pep tide among the bacteria tested. The peptide, however, did not affect the gr owth of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacteroides thetaiotamicron, Bacteroid es uniformis and Bacteroides ovatuss which are abundant in the intestines o f healthy people. The evidence suggests that sarcotoxin IA could change the composition of the intestinal flora to improve human health.