The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to an assay that detects and quantitatively determines the activity of a lytic peptide that exhibits antimicrobial activity, such as LL-37. Particularly, the assay comprises inducing and/or transfecting bacteria to produce high levels of an enzyme, such as β-galactosidase. The bacteria are then preserved by lyophilization. After a desired amount of time, the bacteria are hydrated with a target sample from a subject suspected of having a specific disease or disorder characterized by an increase in levels of lytic peptide. In the presence of lytic peptide, the enzyme is released from the interior of the bacteria, which can then be detected by alteration of the enzyme substrate. In the absence of lytic peptide, the enzyme remains within the bacteria and no detection of the enzyme occurs.
目前公开的主题涉及一种检测方法,该方法可检测并定量确定具有抗菌活性的裂解肽(如 LL-37)的活性。特别是,该检测方法包括诱导和/或转染细菌以产生高
水平的酶(如
β-半乳糖苷酶)。然后通过冻干法保存细菌。经过一定时间后,将细菌与目标样本
水合,目标样本来自疑似患有特定疾病或失调的受试者,其特征是溶菌肽
水平升高。在存在溶菌肽的情况下,酶会从细菌内部释放出来,然后可以通过酶底物的改变来检测。在没有溶菌肽的情况下,酶会留在细菌内部,无法检测到酶。