Synergistic effects of ovine-derived cathelicidins and other antimicrobials against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus 1056 MRSA

Synergistic effects of ovine-derived cathelicidins SMAP29 and OaBac5mini with the antimicrobials polymyxin B, lysozyme, nisin and lactoferrin were investigated against E. coli O157:H7 and S. aureus 1056 MRSA. Lysozyme showed synergy against E. coli O157:H7 with SMAP29, polymyxin B and lactoferrin. Synergy was also found between SMAP29 and lactoferrin against this host. Against S. aureus 1056 MRSA, lysozyme showed synergy with OaBac5mini, polymyxin B and nisin, while synergy was also found between nisin and OaBac5mini and polymyxin B. Other combinations of the antimicrobials were either additive or non-synergistic.