Antibacterial Action of Melittin, a Polypeptide from Bee Venom

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Abstract
Bee venom and a derived polypeptide fraction (melittin) exhibited antibacterial activity against a penicillin-re-sistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (strain 80) This activity was demonstrated by a method similar to that used for plate sensitivity tests Both whole bee venom and melittin were also able to inhibit the growth of 20 of the 30 different bacterial organisms tested More gram-positive organisms (86%) were sensitive to bee venom and to melittin than were gram-negative organisms (46%) Among the gram-positive organisms tested the antibacterial effect of 1 mg of melittin was equal to that 0 1-93 units of penicillin, for a group of gram-negative organisms the equivalent penicillin level 93-1700 units For experimental purposes, one bee sting was defined as 100 [mu]g of solid venom in a solution volume of 0 3 ul A single bee sting has the antibiotic potency of up to 9 units of penicillin for a variety of gram-positive bacteria, and a range of 9-170 units of penicillin when measured against a selected group of gram-negative organisms.

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