In our previous study, a novel hybrid protein combining human lysozyme (Hly) with Musca domestica cecropin (Mdc) was successfully constructed. The broad antibacterial activity against various foodborne pathogens of Mdc-hly suggests its scope as a food preservative. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial mechanism of the recombinant Mdc-hly. The damage induced by Mdc-hly on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was investigated using flow cytometry (FC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results of FC showed that Mdc-hly causes bacterial membrane permeabilization. SEM and TEM studies revealed that Mdc-hly is capable of damaging both the membrane and the wall of bacteria, resulting in efflux of essential cytoplasmic contents. Both FC and EM revealed that the effects of Mdc-hly were greater than its parental peptides. Understanding the antibacterial mechanism of Mdc-hly is of a great interest in further utilization of its use in treatment of food and in clinical environments.
