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Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans
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The role of released ATP in killing Candida albicans and other extracellular microbial pathogens by cationic peptides

Slavena Vylkova1, Jianing N Sun, Mira Edgerton

  • 1Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA.

Purinergic Signalling
|April 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Cationic peptides, like salivary histatin 5, rapidly trigger non-lytic release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from fungal pathogens. This rapid release occurs while cells remain viable, suggesting novel antimicrobial mechanisms beyond cell death.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Cationic peptides are crucial in antimicrobial defense, often targeting microbial membranes.
  • Selective release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a common mechanism observed with various antimicrobial peptides.
  • Salivary histatin 5 (Hst 5) serves as a model peptide for studying non-lytic ATP release from Candida albicans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the non-lytic release of ATP induced by cationic peptides, specifically Hst 5, from Candida albicans.
  • To characterize the conditions and implications of rapid, metabolically active ATP release.
  • To explore the potential roles of extracellular ATP in microbial pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Candida albicans as a fungal model.
  • Applied salivary histatin 5 (Hst 5) and other cationic peptides (lactoferricin, defensins, bactenecin, cathelicidins).
  • Monitored rapid adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release from metabolically active and polarized cells, distinguishing it from cell lysis.

Main Results:

  • Hst 5 rapidly induces non-lytic release of ATP from metabolically active Candida albicans.
  • ATP release occurs independently of cell membrane permeabilization or lysis.
  • Other cationic peptides also induce selective ATP release from microbial pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Cationic peptides can trigger rapid, non-lytic ATP release from microbial cells, indicating a mechanism distinct from membrane disruption.
  • The extracellular ATP released may play roles in potentiating antimicrobial activity, peptide uptake, or signaling innate immune responses.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise functions of extracellular ATP in host-pathogen interactions.

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