The in vitro activity of ranalexin alone and in combination with other cationic peptides, macrolides, rifampin, and rifabutin
was investigated against a clinical isolate of
Cryptosporidium parvum. Susceptibility tests were performed by inoculation of the isolate onto cell monolayers and determining the parasite count
after 48 h of incubation at 37 °C. Antibiotic-free cultures were used as controls in the study. Ranalexin showed low anticryptosporidial
activity: it suppressed the growth of parasites by ≥40% at 50 μM. Ranalexin showed enhanced activity when it was combined
with noninhibitory concentrations of other compounds: a 74.4–94.1% reduction in the number of parasites was observed when
ranalexin 50 μM was combined with magainin II 50 μM, indolicidin 50 μM, clarithromycin 8 mg/l, azithromycin 8 mg/l, rifampin
8 mg/l, and rifabutin 8 mg/l. The results suggest that ranalexin may be effective in inhibiting
Cryptosporidium parvum growth in vitro upon combination with other peptides and hydrophobic antibiotics.