Is the Antimicrobial Peptide (Psoriasin) Absent in Palms of Nigerian Residents?

Laburpena

Psoriasin (S100A7) an antimicrobial peptide was associated with inhibition of Esherichia coli on palms but the role of geographical and racial differences were not implicated. 16 adult participants including 8 Nigerians and 8 permanent resident Philippinos/Indians who had lived in Okada, Edo State of Nigeria for at least 5 years were recruited. All the participants were requested to practised healthy hand hygiene (hand washing with hibiscrub and drying with paper towel) before inoculation. Their right and left hands were inoculated with E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus isolates (from neonatal orifices) respectively and covered with sterile gloves for 60 minutes to allow establishment of inoculum. The gloves were removed aseptically; the hands were inoculated on nutrient agar and incubated at 37 0C for 48 hours. The Gram staining and biochemical tests were carried out on the colonies formed on both hands to identify organisms in the colonies. The Gram staining on all the participants (Nigerians, Indians/Philippinos) right hands colonies formed showed Gram negative rod and the biochemical tests (oxidase, catalase etc) on these confirmed E. coli. The study concluded that psoriasin (antimicrobial peptide) that was documented to inhibit E coli on hand might be absent in permanent residents in Nigeria irrespective of their races and there is need for further study with large population.