Host Defense Peptide Mimicking Peptide Polymer Exerting Fast, Broad Spectrum, and Potent Activities toward Clinically...

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Polymer Chemistry
• Microbiology

Background:

• Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria pose a significant threat, causing severe nosocomial infections.
• There is an urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents to combat drug-resistant bacterial infections.
• Host defense peptides (HDPs) offer a natural model for antimicrobial strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore antimicrobial peptide polymers as synthetic mimics of HDPs.
• To evaluate the efficacy of peptide polymer 80:20 DM:Bu against clinically isolated MDR bacteria.
• To assess the in vivo antibacterial performance of the peptide polymer.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and characterization of 45 bacterial strains from hospital patients.
• Synthesis of peptide polymer 80:20 DM:Bu via ring-opening polymerization.
• In vitro antimicrobial activity testing and in vivo efficacy evaluation in a rat wound model infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Main Results:

• Most isolated bacterial strains exhibited multidrug resistance.
• Peptide polymer 80:20 DM:Bu demonstrated fast bacterial killing, broad-spectrum activity, and potent efficacy against MDR bacteria in vitro.
• The peptide polymer showed comparable in vivo antibacterial efficacy to polymyxin B in a P. aeruginosa wound model.

Conclusions:

• Peptide polymer 80:20 DM:Bu is a promising synthetic mimic of HDPs for combating MDR bacteria.
• The peptide polymer exhibits potent in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activities, resistance to proteolysis, and structural diversity.
• Easy synthesis and reproducibility suggest significant potential for peptide polymer 80:20 DM:Bu in antimicrobial applications.