Off-campus WSU users: To download campus access dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your WSU access ID and password, then click the "Off-campus Download" button below.

Non-WSU users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this thesis through interlibrary loan.

Access Type

WSU Access

Date of Award

January 2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Department

Anatomy and Cell Biology

First Advisor

Elizabeth Berger

Abstract

Recombinant human thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a small endogenous protein with growing therapeutic applications, including in the treatment of infections. However, the antibacterial potential of the peptide remains unclear. Previous research on the human peptide and its shellfish homologs suggests broad-spectrum activity, including against Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, this study investigated the antibacterial potential of recombinant human Tβ4 and its ability to synergize with antibiotics in vitro against S. aureus strain 8325-4. To this end, the antibacterial potential of Tβ4 (0-16,000 µg/mL) was assessed using the broth microdilution method followed by colony-forming unit (CFU) enumeration. The synergistic effect of Tβ4 with antibiotics (moxifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, oxacillin, and vancomycin) was evaluated using checkerboard assays, considering the total bacterial population as well as the planktonic and biofilm subpopulations, with the latter quantified using the crystal violet assay. Tβ4 exhibited bacteriostatic activity against S. aureus, and adjunctive Tβ4 demonstrated synergism with the tested antibiotics, reducing growth in the total and planktonic bacterial populations. Lastly, Tβ4 showed insignificant correlation with biofilm formation, but its efficacy against biofilms as an adjunct varied by antibiotic.

Download
Off-campus Download

Share

COinS