Listericidal activity of human neutrophil cathepsin G

Abstract

We demonstrate that cathepsin G, derived from human neutrophils, exhibits potent in vitro antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes. Cathepsin G listericidal activity was by a non-enzymic mechanism and was dependent on the cationic nature of the molecule. The listericidal activity of cathepsin G occurred in a manner that was both time-dependent and concentration-dependent.