Osteomyelitis caused by resistant bacterial strains can be dealt with antimicrobial agents which have a different mode of action compared to antibiotics. A very promising appears to be antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We found and verified in vitro experiments that one of the most effective and least toxic antimicrobial peptides are contained in the wild bee venom.

The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of topically applied, synthetically prepared antimicrobial peptide (Hal 2/27) with carrier, originally isolated from the venom of the wild bee in experiments on laboratory rats.

It was used 18 rats, which were indicated osteomyelitis of the left femurs. After a week of six rats were injected calcium phosphate carrier with AMP Hal 2/27, six rats received only a carrier without AMP and six other rats remained without further intervention. After a week, rats were sacrificed and X-ray was performed in all rats limbs.

Rats who received carrier with AMP Hal 2/27 had less X-ray evidence of osteomyelitis of femurs compared to rats after administration of the carrier without AMP.

Topical application of a new synthetic antimicrobial peptides isolated from wild bee venom (Hal 2/27) using local carriers seems to be a promising way to treat and prevent infectious complications in orthopedics and traumatology.

Internal grant of University Hospital Motol, Advanced Therapies, NO: 9777 and Internal grant of University Hospital Motol, NO 6010